Homesick

“Let’s go around the room and have everyone say their name, where they’re from, and something interesting about themselves.” Chances are you’ve been in a situation similar to this at some point in your life.

We’ve all been there…

I attended a Christian university that had nightly discipleship group meetings with the girls on the hall. At the beginning of each school year, 8-12 girls would gather in a dorm room to meet the other members of their discipleship group for that year.

Undoubtedly, the first meeting began every year with the “interesting fact” icebreaker, so I have experienced this situation on countless occasions. If you’re anything like me, you struggle with coming up with something to share.

I realized the best way to avoid the awkwardness of 8-12 pairs of eyes staring at me while I’m trying to think of something somewhat intriguing about myself is to have one fact ready to use at any time these situations arise. My interesting go-to fact is that I’m a citizen of two countries—the US and Canada.

Canada, eh?

My parents are from Kingston, Nova Scotia and moved to the US right before I was born. Since my parents are Canadian, I have Canadian citizenship, and since I was born in the US, I have natural-born US citizenship.

I’m proud to say that I am American and Canadian, but there’s a third country to which I belong that holds my highest loyalty. As a Christian, I am a citizen of heaven. I have a culture that does not belong to this world.

Interacting with people from different cultures and learning about their heritage intrigues me. I co-teach an ESL Sunday school class for Chinese students and have learned much about Chinese customs, practices, and values. My adherence to godly customs, practices, and values sets me apart from this sin-saturated world I’m living in, and, as a result, my heavenly heritage should be evident to those around me.

I love traveling and have had the opportunity to go to some awesome places, but the most awe-inspiring, most fulfilling journey I will ever complete is a life lived faithfully serving the Lord. Thankfully, I am not living this Christian life alone.

We’re Not Alone

Faithful men and women across the globe are alongside me making the long trek Home. The purpose of the “Dual Citizen” blog is to provide encouragement for those fellow travelers voyaging through life destined for that glorious heavenly country of which we are citizens.

Just as I am not alone on my Christian journey, I am not alone in the creating of this blog. My friend Andrew Rysta (who is skilled in writing, editing, and impersonating Shawn Mendes) will also be contributing his insights and experiences that he has gained during his walk with the Lord.

We hope to have guest contributors of all ages and stages of the Christian walk share their stories as well.

We desire to equip you with truths that will help you become a better citizen of heaven during your time here on earth. We hope that you will be encouraged and revitalized as you read and will join us in wholeheartedly singing the old hymn that fervently declares,

“This world is not my home. I’m just a-passin’ through

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.

The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,

And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”