Choose your family

Let me start by clarifying this: I love my family.  My mother is my hero & my sister is my best friend.

A new friend mentioned the idea of being able to choose your family... ...I was struck by the comment. As I left Denver, my home for the past 5+ years, I realized that I was leaving a lot of family.  If we are lucky our biological families love us unconditionally.  I have tested that with mine! It is truth.  Living in Denver, especially this past year, I have found people that choose to love me in that manner without a biological connection.  I have brothers from the Marine Corps, siblings from college, stand-in mom's from work, big sister's in Evergreen, & even a few father-like friends. This doesn't even include the "Family of Rotary!"

I arrived 'home' this week & found it empty, & I am wrestling with the concept of home. I have a small token in my pocket that reads, "There's No Place Like HOME" on one side & has a embossed image of the globe on the other.  I am from a small family & small towns.  Growing up everything seemed immense comparatively.  As I grow my family through meaningful and loving relationships the world begins to shrink.  The flip side of the token begins to inform my definition of home. Home is where there the people you trust live. Home is where you have loving and generous relationships. Home is wherever I want or need it to be at that stage of my life... ...reassuring for someone who struggles with a bit of wanderlust.

I tried using my ipod to catch a quick thought today... ...unfortunately its sideways :)


Heading Home? from Keith B. Ives on Vimeo.