Not Home Yet

Ever feel out of place? Like you somehow don't belong in the crowd you find yourself in? Building 429 has this great song out titled, "Where I belong." The words go like this, "...I'm not home yet. Take this world and give me Jesus, this is not where I belong." Great stuff. But that's not what I'm talking about.
I've felt out of place walking out my faith in the free world thus far. It's difficult to transition. The toughest part is the lack of solid relationships like I had inside. Each day I was surrounded by Jesus Freaks who were a short walk away and no further. I didn't need to pick up the phone, only wait until the next move. Guys who, in such a confined space ensured accountability and holiness.
There was my buddy Chuck Davis who would remind us each day that God is more about grace than wrath. Earnie Eads who, when talking, you could rest assured it was about the Bible. There was Shawn Sanchez who made us all feel connected when things felt so distant. There was Tim Mills who always reminded us to enjoy life even if it had to be spent inside the walls. Ray Able who's smile was infectious even on the worst day. And there was Mario who embodied God's unfathomable forgiveness.
I'm living each day desiring that connection, yearning for the accountability groups we formed which kept us ever reminded of Who it actually was we were supposed to live for. I've only been home a little more than a week; the days are going by and I'm loving each day. Yet I have a tendency to want things yesterday. Beki said, "Oh Jeff. I understand. You should have done planted a church by now, saved a thousand people and had a successful ministry off the ground and running - you poor baby." I wish I could type sarcasm.
I know that I'm in a transition. Life is moving in the direction God wills for my life and I'm cool with that. Though it's normal to feel out of place sometimes, heck, Paul puts it beautifully in 2 Corinthians 5: 2, "Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling." That groaning for more out of our Christian lives should be the mark of everyone of us. Jesus didn't call us to settle or to be less than anything other than a game changer.
So until I'm at Home - The Home - I'll be out of place everywhere.