I’m glad that we’re trusted friends, you and I. Because of that familiarity and relational faith, I can bring you in on my current situation. Cheri and I are in Switzerland today – on a personal “roots” trip – but still want to read you in on what I’m experiencing. We’re time-zones distant, but we’re on the same wavelength, I trust. Have you seen any kings in your neighborhood today?

            Back home in the USA, the No Kings movement has been sloshing through the lower 48 recently, but – here in my ancestral homeland – there’s a mini-movement to bring in a royal.

            That may be a bit inflated. “Mini-movement” exaggerates the reality surrounding Jonas Lauwiner and his effort to be Switzerland’s first king.

            He was mostly dismissed as an eccentric when he – in 2019, at the age of 24 – used a loophole in Swiss law to acquire a 177,000 square meter “land empire,” and scheduled his coronation over that mini-domain of 43 acres. There’s no mention of a royal family in the Swiss constitution, but that didn’t slow Lauwiner’s quirky plan.

            In Nydegg Church – a building that dates back to 1346 – he assembled several clergy members to validate his self-elevation to the role of “Symbolic” Monarch. His day-job at a pharmaceutical company has allowed him to use personal time to conduct his affairs as the King.

            In the past decade, this Swiss and Moroccan citizen has taken advantage of a loophole in Swiss law that states if a piece of land has no owner, anyone can claim it – for free. Using that obscure regulation, he has assembled a portfolio of territory over which he – as the landowner – now presides. “I’m a symbolic monarch. There is a king in Switzerland, and it’s me, King Jonas.” I’m hoping to meet him while we’re here, in his country; It’s great to have connections in high places…

            Truth be told, we’re all longing to be in a place where there is steady leadership in place that we can trust, and whose term of service stretches beyond the horizon. I’ll be honest: I’m not expecting to meet King Jonas, but I am related – through adoption – with King Jesus.

            Phil Wickham recorded the song that has become my repeat fav. Maybe you can relate:

      My heart belongs to a country and a King of a land I’ve always known but I’ve never seen.

            Some call it paradise or the land of the living. Well, I call it home, and I’m homesick for Heaven.

      I wanna walk with Moses on streets of gold, and dance with David before Your throne.

            To thank You face to face for the grace You’ve given.

      I wanna see my children run into Your arms and worship the Savior who wears my scars.

            There’s an ache in my heart: I’m homesick for Heaven.

      In my Father’s house there are many rooms; enough for everyone, enough for you.

            I know it takes some faith but today you can know without question.

      Believe in the power of Jesus’ name and you’re going to Heaven. Hallelujah, in Jesus’ name we’re

            going to Heaven.

      No more fear, no more pain, every tear wiped away, crying Holy, Holy.

            Every knee on the floor, every voice evermore, crying Holy, Holy.

      Oh, I wanna go home. Oh, I wanna go home

            To see the ones I love, who’ve gone before, when death is a memory and tears are no more.

      To hear the angels praise, can you even imagine

            I’ll run as fast as I can into Your arms, ’cause I was created to be where You are.

      There’s an ache in my heart: I’m homesick for Heaven.

      Click here to hear Phil do it justice.

            I thought I was homesick for Switzerland. It’s pretty cool here (both definitions apply), and there is kind-of-a-king, but what I’m really feeling is what Phil has put to music.

            I’m homesick for Heaven. Perhaps you’re experiencing the same longing…

 — Bob Shank