Home

Melany Bagnola February 10, 2014

“Momma once told me
You’re already home where you feel loved”
-“Lost in my Mind” The Head and the Heart

“Home is wherever I’m with you”
-“Home” Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

“Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m gonna make this place your home
Settle down, it’ll all be clear
Don’t pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m gonna make this place your home”
-“Home” Phillip Phillips

                  It always amazes me how God can speak through anything and everything. So often, I hear God’s voice in the most unexpected of places; but really, shouldn’t they be the most expected of places since God is everywhere all the time? Yes. God certainly is everywhere all of the time and He will always find a way to reach you if you are willing to listen.

                  This semester (Spring 2013), I am studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Before flying across the pond, I had flown only once and I had never left the time zone before. The idea of leaving the comfort of my community in Ohio honestly terrified me, but even though I couldn’t see how, I knew God would make everything okay.

                  When I first arrived here in January, I was immediately struck by a pretty severe case of homesickness. Everything was so new and I just felt lost and scared. But God always shows up in those times. During those first few weeks, almost every time I passed someplace that was playing the radio, I would hear one of the above songs.

                  It was God reminding me that my home is in Him. The Head and the Heart say “you’re already home where you feel loved” and I always have God’s love. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros say “home is wherever I’m with you” and God is ALWAYS with me. And then there’s good ol’ Phillip Phillips. This song acted as a prophetic word for me (a pretty serious statement to make about an American Idol victory song, right?). God was calling me to truly hold on to Him throughout this crazy journey abroad. There were lots of unfamiliar roads and I was even faced with demons that I was called to cast out, but God never left and I could always feel safe in Him. Just like Phillip Phillips sings, God really did make this place my home. I was welcomed into a religious life community here in Barcelona that I never thought I would find. Awaken, which is something similar to the Well, especially became a refuge for me.

                  Now, here I sit, 4 days until my flight back to the states. Although I am filled with so much joy and excitement to come back to my families in Canton and Ashland, my heart aches as I am faced with the dozens of goodbyes I must say to my new family here in Barcelona. I never thought I would meet people whom I would grow to love so much while I was here. God has wrecked and rocked my world in some of the most amazing ways throughout this semester, but throughout it all He always provided for me a home in Him. 

« Back to Blog
Copyright © 2024 The Well. All rights reserved.