Citizenship
Citizenship defined:
A citizen is a participatory member of a political community. Citizenship is gained by meeting the legal requirements of a national, state, or local government. A nation grants certain rights and privileges to its citizens. In return, citizens are expected to obey their country's laws and defend it against its enemies. Grolier's New Book of Knowledge.Copyright © 2016 Grolier Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
Paul, writer and follower of Jesus, gives some pretty stout advice. It's so stout it's followed by an "above all". He tells his friends who, by the way, live in Philippi - a small Roman colony in the province of Macedonia in Northern Greece - to live as citizens of heaven.
As a person living in a country in which I am not a "citizen", I get that. I have had to apply to live and stay here by getting "legal" status. Natives have not. I have had to learn the language to succeed in the culture. Natives have not. I have had to forgo seeing my national flag, countrymen, or news on a regular basis. Natives have not.
This did not come as a surprise to me. I didn't go into this living abroad thing thinking I would keep my American peanut butter, norms, and rituals. I knew what I had to give up. I adapted. Yet, I do not live as an Austrian citizen. I speak the language, I function in society, I buy groceries, and expertly and with great frequency drink the native coffee but I do not live as a citizen.
I don't hate Austria. I just love America - it's my home. In fact, I can remember the first time I returned to my beloved homeland. It was 2010 and I was going home for the first time since living in Vienna in over 17 months. A family member was dying and I was able to come home to say my last goodbye's. My port of entry was Washington D.C. As I walked through customs, the uniformed TSA agent behind the counter took one look at my passport and said, "Welcome home, Mrs. Elledge". I burst into tears! No kidding!! She smiled (and I'm pretty sure mumbled a "Bless her heart" under her breath) as I tried to compose myself and explain this was my first time home in 17 months. I was home.
What's so great about citizenship? Everything! It defines who you are and to what land, people, and core values you belong. I can honestly say I love being an American, but it doesn't take me more than about 5 minutes of watching the latest episode of the news to figure out my citizenship to my "homeland" is becoming less and less identifiable with who I am and to what land, people and core values I belong. That's OK! My primary citizenship is that as a citizen of heaven.
Citizen of heaven.
Let that trickle down, melt and turn into yummy goodness in your heart. I am a legal member and have met the legal requirements of a place called heaven. There are certain rights and privileges I am granted. In return, I get to obey and defend its' core values.
There is so much more I want and could say here ... But this is the thing: live as a citizen of the place you belong.
A passport that never expires,
Christina
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