Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

“For God alone, my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm 62.5

Perhaps you are old enough to remember the Simon and Garfunkel hit “Homeward Bound”. Paul Simon wrote it as he was touring in England. While he and Art Garfunkel had just recorded their first album, Paul decided to return to England and tour the Country. Along the way, he met a young woman, Kathy Chitty and was smitten. 

Yet, the show had to go on. He left his newfound love to ply his trade in venues across England. He wrote the song “Homeward Bound” as he missed his new love while traveling through England. Recorded by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel in 1966 for their third album, it became a hit around the world. Seems everyone is fascinated with a love song, especially one where the singers are silently waiting for their true love.

Hearing “Homeward Bound” on the radio not too long ago, I was thinking that as Christians, is that how we should feel? As I read from the 62nd Psalm, I hear a love song much like “Homeward Bound”. Attributed to King David, it sings of being stung by the “world”, and the author “waits in silence” for the Lord, the key to his salvation. Just as the pop duo sang of silently waiting to be with their love, so too does the Psalmist.

I wonder how many Christians long to be home? It is a phrase that is often used to describe what is happening when someone dies. Yet, that means that they were not, and perhaps could not, be at home in their time of life on earth. Strictly speaking, one can rightly say that we cannot be fully with God until we have left our earthly bodies behind. Yet, Jesus told His disciples that they could be with God every day, growing closer and closer each minute. 

As Christians, we often talk of “doing better, sinning less, loving our neighbors more”. However, do we feel the longing for God so much that we are silently waiting to return home? Remember back to Psalm 62:5, “For God alone, my soul waits in silence”.  Are we willing to have God, Father, Son and Spirit be the love we long for every day; the place where we will finally be happy; the only place we can really be fulfilled? Is God the place where your love life is waiting for you? 

Keith Leach is Pastor of College Church and College Chaplain at Hampden-Sydney College. He can be reached at kleach@hsc.edu.