Yes, it has been almost 25 years since the death of John Denver on October 12, 1997. Some think he was a scam while others still reflect on his words. I am in the latter category. He once wrote that 'some days are diamonds and some days are stones.' He sang about country roads and mountain top experiences. But his best song ever was called Rocky Mountain High.
Yep, it is a song title with options. You might think about getting high or standing on a 14,000-foot peak. Either way, you can't leave behind the idea that he was coming home to a place he had never been before.
Coming home is the key. A home is a place, it is a people, it is a frame of mind, it is a sense of being present in the right place at the right time. At the heart, it may stir up memories of turmoil and pain. Or it brings a simple smile.
I just returned from a home of sorts. It is a little half-acre on the outskirts of Arad, Romania. The community is actually called Arad Nou. It is the 'new' section of town which means that it is only 500 years old.
On a little street called Constitutiei at the intersection of Strada Campia Turzii sits the original House of Hope. It was the first purchase of land and housing by Global Hope. On the back of that lot is a large white house with a lovely red roof. It is Ana's House. My home. I have never spent the night and I only drop in once every few years, but my heart smiles every time I climb the steps.
My most recent trip to Ana's House was remarkable. New house parents, fresh paint, new floors, and a feel of family everywhere you look. The kids are getting older and many have graduated on to adult life. It is a remarkable place where the Spirit of God resides.
From the first moment, it has been a refuge. It is a safe place for children. Many were abandoned, left behind, discarded, or (the worst word in history), irredeemable.
Today it stands as a symbol of hope. It offers peace. It has love, discipline, education, music, art, faith, and joy. What more could you want?
Next time you are in Arad, Romania...drop in. You will always be welcome. I think you will find a place called home.
