Alex is playing a computer game where he competes his Hobo against other Hobos.

I asked the kids what a Hobo is. Here are some of their answers.

--Weird guy.

--Guy who doesn’t believe in Jesus.

--Man who doesn’t have a house.

--Homeless person.

What do you think a Hobo is?

I think of guys during the Depression who hopped on a (moving) train and went to a remote town, looking for work. I once read that the Hobos had a secret code to inform other Hobos of pertinent information. If a house they were approaching was friendly or hostile, they’d leave a specific sign on the road or the mailbox. Seeing the mark, Hobos would know if they should turn down the driveway, or keep pressin’ on.

Hobos are fascinating to me.

The word “Hobo” does not actually mean weird homeless guy who doesn’t believe in Jesus.

Hobo is short for “Homeward Bound.” Hobos were on the move, looking for work, food, purpose…and longing for home.

It occurs to me that as believers, we are Hobos in this world. Scripture tells us that this world is not our home. Our citizenship is in heaven. (Philippians 3:20). Like Hobos, we’re just passin‘ through….

Yesterday I had lunch with some dear friends and deep thinkers. We were talking about obituaries. I like to read obituaries. I’m looking for the stellar ones, not the cookie-cutter obituaries. See, to my sorrow, many obits are exactly the same. They are like a resume. This is because the funeral home gives the grieving family a “fill-in-the-blank” form and the information provided becomes a standard obituary.

Job Held?
Military Service?
Clubs and Organizations?
Schools & Churches attended?
Positions of Honor held?

I search the obituaries to find the occasional gem that breaks this mold and actually gives insight about the person. The best obituaries, I think, are those that inspire or give a challenge to the reader. For instance, when my friend Lisa went to live in Heaven, her sister Claire lovingly wordsmithed a gorgeous tribute. It challenged me. It shared how Lisa lived sacrificially, cheerfully and simply. Lisa lived without complaint. That is likely NOT how I will be remembered. But it’s a challenge and a beautiful snapshot of a Christ-like woman. I will always remember it and strive to be more like her.

How would you like to be remembered? How would you describe yourself? What advice would you leave to those left behind?

I’m not kidding when I say I think we should all be working on our Snapshots. (I propose that would be a more exciting term than “Obituary”.) After all, why do we take snapshots? To remember. To celebrate. To hold a moment in time. This snapshot, then, would be a celebration of what and WHO we loved. It could feature our most important life lessons. It might show what we wish we’d done differently.
It would highlight our faith and our Lord. Think about it. This final snapshot would be viewed by a totally captive audience.

No one is going to argue with you.

Because you’re no longer Homeward Bound…You Are Home!

From today forward, let’s think of dying as moving home. Let’s think of our time here as being Homeward Bound. And let’s consider our obit…er, Snapshots!, to be simply “Change of Address Cards.”

So be it.