Restless for Home

I grew up in the 1970s and 80s, and one of my favorite television shows from childhood was Little House on the Prairie. Each week, I would look forward to watching the adventures of the Ingalls family, especially Laura, whom I paralleled in age. I loved the drama between her and her nemesis, Nelly Olsen.

I also cherished the book series by the real Laura Ingalls Wilder and faithfully read each of them to my daughters over the years. I was such a fan of the stories and TV show, I convinced my family to trek across the country on vacations to visit many of the places mentioned in the books. My inner child squealed with glee when my daughters and I waded in Plum Creek—the same waters where Laura and Mary splashed around in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. We saw the site of the well Pa Ingalls dug in Independence, Kansas and also traveled to the Ingalls’ homestead in De Smet, South Dakota.

Seeing the stories through Laura’s eyes as a little girl, captured my sense of adventure and pioneer spirit. I wanted to be Laura Ingalls. However, reading them again as a mom of three daughters was more like a jolt of reality. How Caroline Ingalls managed to travel across the prairie with little girls in tow, facing dangers of all kinds—natural disasters, disease, harsh weather, wildlife, fire, to name a few—amazes and humbles me. It truly took a woman of strong faith and  character to willingly face the perils of traveling west, hoping it would all culminate in a better future for her family. 

In the Ingalls family, Pa and Laura were typically the ones who carried a restless spirit and kept wanting to push west. Pa seemed determined to find that perfect piece of land on which to settle down and raise his family. 

As followers of Jesus, the apostle Paul also talks about this restless spirit—because earth is not our home. Heaven is our final destination and what we are to yearn for. While our journey to eternal life with God may have fewer conestoga wagons and tall prairie grasses, we will still face troubles of all kinds on this side of heaven. Following Jesus in this world also takes strong faith and character to, “keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is [ours] because God has called [us] through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven” (Philippians 3:14 ERV).

Like the Ingalls family and other pioneers, I want to possess this restless spirit for heaven, my true home. I want to shake off complacency and comfort and run hard to the finish line. Will you join me on this adventure?

Feel free to pray with me:

Dear Jesus, thank you for inviting me to spend eternity with you and for paving the way to heaven with your death and resurrection. I confess that the comforts of this world often ensnare me and distract me from You. Enable me, in the power of Your Holy Spirit, to press on toward the finish line of heaven. Be with me, protect me, and guide me on this journey. May I yearn as Paul did for my true home with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Additional Scripture:

Philippians 3:20-21