Homecoming!
Last night my daughter came home. She has been on a 10 day pilgrimage to her own holy land… the space 
in her heart where she could remember and met herself and find glimpses of God. She did this by partaking in the World Youth Day experience in Sydney, Australia. A far way to travel for a hometown Detroit, Michigan girl. Her plane touched down at 12:30am (yes, just after midnight) and we were up until 3am talking. Well, I should say, she talked I listened, and listened, and listened… My sullen, sad face little girl was bubbling with stories and antidotes and information. And I gave praise to God.
You see my relationship with my daughter is a bit different then most mother/daughter things. I know people say this all the time but it seems true to me. She is an only child. I have been isolated from family and friends. I homeschooled her until the 4th grade. And, I realize now a big part of what created this closeness is that we banded together as survivers in an emotionally depressed home. I mean no disrespect to those who are children of major abuse. Ours was minute compared to what is out there. But for many, many, many years we only had each other. That has created some dependancy issues for both of us and in these past months we have both had to struggle to relearn our roles. But,I will forever be greatful to God for this WYD because I helped both of us to grow up and beyond what has been and invited us into what could be.
I will never understand why parents deny their children such experiences. Oh I completely understand it being too expensive (well over $5,000 when all was said and done). And I can understand issues of maturity (knowing the child is too young). But to simply say “no” because of their own fear at what could happen; to simply say “no” because they don’t see such moments as important; to simply say “no” because they have the power to do so — in my mind it cripples them both, the parent and child.
You see, I too have grown through these past few days. Like her my faith has been made richer. I stayed up each night to watch and (in my own limited fashion being thousands of miles away and watching on TV) participated in what I could. I saw the power of the Holy Spirit in the mere fact that over 600,000 gathered to experience this moment, to meet Christ. Tell me of a movie or rock star that has had caused this type of gathering? I watched this present generation scream with excitment and delight at seeing an 81 year old cleric – Pope Benedict XVI. Even my own daughter, who normally roles her eyes at structure church activities, telling me with excitement and awe that she was only 7 feet away from him. It has been awesome.
In past blogs I have written about wanting to find safty and security. That I often feel like a frighten child 
needing the comfort of strong arms to comfort and protect me. Last night as I lay in bed reflecting on these past few weeks It occured to me that it wasn’t just my daughter who came home last night. I was been on my own pilgrimage these past days, weeks, months and even though my daughter lived it out I also experienced it. We have both changed. We are both richer. We both came home — to ourselves and to one another. And I praise and thank God!
So now, after we catch our breath (and up on our sleep) and do a ton of laundry; we, my daughter and I, must search for a new way to be family for each other. Our challenge is to “Receive the Spirit” (the theme of WYD 2008) each and every day; to learn how to live with a mountain top experience in the ho-hum of day to day valley life. And with God as our guide its as good as done! I remain, Your servant in Christ,
Theresa
Tags: change, daughter, growth, Holy Spirit, Homecoming, mother, Receive the Spirit, WYD 2008
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