Shades of Sepia

I bought myself a new pair of sunglasses at the weekend. I always think the world looks better through sunglasses: the sepia tints soften harsh lines and give everything a golden glow.

When I look at the world through sunglasses and see everything shaded with sepia, I am reminded of old photographs.  Old photographs of distant family, or towns and cities in the "Olden Days".

There seems to have been an increased popularity in sepia toned photos lately: not just in the way photos can be edited, but in discovering and framing and selling old sepia photographs and recreating a 'vintage' feel.

I think we like sepia because we like to be reminded of the past.  Or, at least, to be reminded of what we think of as "The Past": a time when the world was safer, when people were kinder, and life was easier.

We are nostalgic about this imaginary past.

But, originally, the word "nostalgia" didn't mean a sad or painful longing for the past so much as a painful longing for home.  It was an extreme form of homesickness, a desire to return to the safety and comfort of home (The Greek word "nostos" means "to return home" and "algos" means "pain").

I think we all suffer from a kind of nostalgia; not so much a feeling of longing for the past per se, but a longing for home.  Our true home.

The Bible tells us that our true home is with God in His Kingdom. 

"You're no longer wandering exiles.  This kingdom of faith is now your home country."

[Ephesians 2:19 MSG]

But although we have a new home, we don't see or know or experience the fullness of it whilst we're still on earth.  And so we long for the day when it will be completed and everything will be made new.

"Look!  God's home is now among his people!  He will live with them, and they will be his people.  God himself will be with them.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  All these things are gone forever."

[Revelation 21:3-4 NLT]

Rather than looking back on "The Past" with longing, let's look to the future - to our real home - with longing and excitement and expectation.

"Look ahead with joy.  Anticipate what I'm creating: I'll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, my people as pure delight."

[Isaiah 65:18 MSG]

True nostalgia.