One of my favorite songs is “Caledonia” by Dougie MacLean. Dougie is from Scotland, and he refers to the song as a “wee homesickness song.” Before reading further, click on the video clip below and listen to the song.
I’ve thought about this song and often wondered why it strikes such a chord with me. There’s a melancholy element there that is appropriate to a song about homesickness.
So I’ve been telling old stories, singing songs that make me think about where I came from, and that’s the reason why I seem so far away today.
But in spite of this, it’s not a “sad” song. It also contains an element of hope.
Caledonia you’re calling me, and now I’m going home.
Perhaps part of the reason for the song’s impact on me is my own occasional homesickness for the place where I grew up. I have lived in my new place of residence for over fifteen years, but it still does not feel like “home” to me.
I think there is more to it than that, however. As a Christian, I also feel out of place in this present fallen world. The reason, I believe, is because we as Christians are resident aliens. Scripture tells us “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20). In this world, we are “sojourners and exiles” (1 Pet. 2:11). Like our Old Testament forefathers in the faith, we desire “a better country” (Heb. 11:14-16). So this world is not our true home.
Those of us who are believers, therefore, feel something akin to homesickness, and a song like “Caledonia” resonates in our soul. We take joy in and give thanks for the grace and mercy that is now ours because of the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we give thanks for the many blessings we have in this life, but we also daily struggle with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We see the suffering caused by sin around us, and we experience it ourselves. We see friends and family go home before us, leaving us to carry on without them. We cry out, “How long, O Lord?”
And what do we do? We gather together as the Lord’s people and, as in the song, we “tell old stories” – old true stories. And we sing songs that make us think about our true home. And we can become “homesick.” But we do not despair. We press on with the duties to which we have been called in this present age, but we also look forward to the day when we can say, “Lord you’re calling me, and now I’m going home.”
Well I live in Caledonia and certainly appreciate the song, but I also share with you, or Keith (I’m not sure whose sentiments are expressed in the accompanying text) the sense that my homeland is also a foreign land as compared to my true home. Much as I love Scotland there are many things which cause me unease because they are so far removed from Kingdom values.
I recently read Ravi Zacharias’ book, ‘Has Christianity failed you’ and, in it, he shares about a Chinese pastor he met in Shanghai who had spent 22 years in prison for his faith. Every morning whilst in prison this pastor started his day singing,
‘All the way my Saviour leads me,
What have I to fear beside?
Can I doubt his tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide’.
This pastor knew this world was not his home and was at peace within himself, and his daily testimony led many of his captors to seek after the One he loved so much. Would that we could have such an impact wherever we live.
Heartfelt post that reflects my own sentiments, thanks.
Yep,
I know the feelings tugging upon my soul well!
In some sense, that is what makes a song great. Does the song rearrange the soul somewhat or in a major way? If it does either, it will have a greater acceptance when heard.
The soul is a very fickle thing, in need of a restoring Savior:
Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
I loved this so very much PJ, it expresses everything my heart yearns for right now. Thank you so much for posting this, it blessed me so much today.
Very moving post, thanks.