Susan LaffertyTemporary place. A familiar part of the faith journey.
Each stop stirs mute awareness in the back of my mind. And the depths of my soul.
This is not for always. But only for a season.
Temporary. No matter where we move. Set up house. And make a home.
Desert town with main street revitalized.
Colorful shops and cafes, side by side. In aged buildings freshly painted with desert hues. Sand and sage and purple.
We wander in the warren of shops connected through inner doors. And find antiques, curiosities, junk.
Collecting dust.
Exiles in Babylon.
God’s Word to them felt deeply personal to us. During a particularly violent and unsettling season.
People were leaving our city. Families sent back to their home countries. Anti-American sentiment had ramped up more than ever.
Should we leave?
At one point my dad—who never, ever tried to interfere or direct us in any way—wrote “In my daily Bible study I keep seeing the words, ‘Flee Babylon…flee Babylon.” (Jeremiah 49:30; 50:8,16; 51:6)
