Dear Friends,
As most of you know, Debra and I recently moved to Wilton. We love our new house at 123 Abbot Hill Acres Road. After only a couple of weeks of unpacking I said to Debra, “This feels like it will take another three months before we’re in and settled.”
“That Christ may dwell in our hearts with faith…” Ephesians 3:17
Those of you who have moved know it’s a long, messy process. It’s great when you get most of the large boxes unpacked and you can see some floor space. But right now there are still endless boxes and crates in our garage, the kitchen, the basement, and in my little study. It seems like there’s clutter everywhere. As we get one room in order, things from the next box come out and life gets messy again.
One of the challenges is losing track of things you need. The daily conversations at our house go like this: “Have you seen the Zip Lock bags anywhere?” “Where’s the screwdriver?” “Have you run across the shade for this lamp yet?” “In which box did we pack the kitchen towels?” “How about the Crock Pot?” “Where are my sweaters and tennis shoes?” “I can’t find my drill; I know it’s here somewhere.” “Think we should move this dresser to the other room?” “No, it works better in this room.” “Where’s the deodorant?”
When you move into a house you clean and explore every nook and cranny. You decide what will go where. You move things around, try this and that, until the place becomes you. Gradually, over time, an empty house becomes “home.”
You’re at home and you’re there to stay.
This reminds me of a prayer the writer of Ephesians offers for the early Christians at Ephesus. It’s a prayer that speaks across the centuries to us: “I bow my knees before the Father…and I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through the Holy Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:14-17).
The writer prays that Christ “may dwell in our hearts through faith.” That Christ may “move into” our lives and take up permanent residence — as you or I would move into a house and make it home. It’s also a prayer that we will grow in Christ’s love.
Christ moving into and dwelling in our lives eventually fills every room, every nook and cranny, and transforms everything. Life is never the same again. It happens through faith, through being open to God’s presence in our lives. During this Christmas season and during the new year ahead, may you know the joy of the love of Christ dwelling in your heart and life.
(By the way, we had to buy some new deodorant.)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Rev. Gary and Debra