People have been asking me where I’ll go next, and how long I’ll be staying. That it’s so great to have me close and home. While I still don’t have answers to those questions, this poem entered my mind. This has made me realize that the greatest distance isn’t physical — it’s the space between a heart and God’s presence. This poem is my reminder that love isn’t found in traveling, striving, or wandering. It’s found in Him.

They say love needs the test of distance.
That it can show us our persistence.
But distance doesn’t make the heart grow fonder,
It just leaves my mind and soul to wander. 

Wandering felt fun and freeing at first.
But feelings don’t quench my thirst.
I hunger and thirst but nothing fills the void.
Nothing can help me with the pain I avoid.

But You know—sowing avoidance grows distance.
Growing distance leads to reaping resistance.
Reaping resistance means rejecting Your advance.
Rejecting You is forfeiting our predestined love.

Yet even in rejection You whisper and reach out.
You wait, with mercy anew— never a shout.
Your whisper echoes in the distance to be heard.
Your love weaves time and space just to touch us.

Love is not in distance from You.
Love is within You.
Love is You.

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” -‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬