Years ago, I wandered into a used book store and found a treasure, titled “Hamewith,” a collection of poetry by Charles Murray published in 1918. The poetry is written in Gaelic and there is a glossary in the back for translating. Hamewith translated from the Gaelic means ‘homewards’ and Murray describes it like this:

“Hamewith- the road that is never dreary,
Back where the heart is a’ the time.”

The heart of our home is a large stone fireplace that burns real logs that we retrieve from fallen trees in the woods. The hearth provides warmth and quickly becomes a gathering place in our home. Today, leaves are fading, falling off the trees and an Autumn chill has set in. This evening, we are gathered around a glowing hearth.

When life gets chilly, colors fade and disappointments begin to decay, what turns your heart homeward?

At times, we find it hard to live in human skin, hard to deal with the human condition both within and around us. Our restless questions move us to look for answers outside of ourselves far beyond our reach. Finding the road home no matter what the circumstances requires that we look deep within and give room for our true selves to grow. Intimacy with God develops when the glow of light appears in the center of our being and what has been alien and unknown becomes a gathering place for mercy and peace.

May your road home never be dreary and may your heart ever dwell in the soft glow and warmth of Love.