Just another place called "Home"

When I was a young adult, I had many occasions to drive up the North Shore.  I lived nearby for two summers in college, and then lived right at the gateway to the shore the first two years I taught.  Each time I passed by this place:

It looked ridiculously cheesy, and I never had a reason to go in, and yet...

there was always a curious part of me just wishing for an excuse.

I remember that being one of the lonely parts of being single.

Honestly, I can feel that like it was yesterday.

When we arrived up north last week,

I was thankful to have these fellow travelers to come and explore with me.

They were the perfect excuse.

Gooseberry Falls, on the other hand,

is a place I went many times

with friends

or by myself.

It was not a lonely place.

It was a holy place.

God joined me there.  Every.  Time.

The awesome creator God

who draws near to us when we draw near to him.

How I pray

that my kids will have touch points like that in their lives.

Places where they will always remember 

having walked with God

and discovering in times when he is all they have

that he is all they need.

Do you have a place like that ?  An emotional or spiritual home of sorts?

I would love to hear about it.