My House

'If we really think that home is elsewhere and that this life is a 'wandering to find home' why should we not look forward to the arrival?'

C. S. Lewis

A home is a dwelling place, a retreat, the place from where we come, a place where we belong. C. S. Lewis knew that our real home is not a place on this earth but rather in heaven. Truly our home is not a place that has been built  to suit our earthly needs but a place where we were made to be; so that we might live with our maker. Our homes here should therefore reflect this; a home or at least a good home should be a safe place, a refuge, a place of comfort, of belonging, freedom, relaxation even a place to hide when the world gets too much.Our homes on earth should give us a picture of this asspect of heaven and although even at best it would be only a glimps it is a sad fact that many homes fall far short of this potential.

 While the majority of a home is the people that live in it, the house forms an integral part and in this blog I'm planing to record my journey as I try to turn a house back into a home, This is my house:

My house sits in a suburb known being undesirable, many of the houses there have seen better days and unfortunately some of the people I have met have not. My house was built bu the housing commission, I believe in the seventies; three bedrooms, a living room, a small kitchen and dinning area, small bathroom, separate toilet and a laundry. Since then it has been neglected and abused. I don't know its whole history but from a conversation with an elderly neighbor I know that it has been home to a number of families over the years, at least 4 or 5 and has recently stood empty for a 5 months or so. I think that in the last 5 months it has had to endure the most damage and now could be described as little more than a tired shell of a home.

Since I put in the winning bid at the auction just under a month ago ideas have been running through my head; images of what this home could be but as you can see there is work to be done. As I've mentioned; this blog will tell that story, but I am also very aware that no matter how nice a house is Lewis was right and our true home is elsewhere. It is my hope and prayer that God will use me as I go on this journey. I feel like this is where God wants me at the moment so I'm sure that in the process of redeeming this mistreated little home I will meet some people and it will be my aim to point them in the direction of someone who can redeem them.