I like a new start as much as the next person. Probably more, actually (whoever the "next person" is). I guess it's just this phase of life...the post-college, pre-family chapters where little things like your job, city (or country) of residence, relationship status, and life goals can and do change fairly often.
About a year ago, I was traveling across Slovakia with my friends, moving back to Kosice, and complaining articulately (or so I thought) about how nothing in my life felt like it had any permanence. I couldn't be more useless at yardwork, but I ventured a gardening metaphor, anyway. I claimed that it could not possibly be healthy to plant and re-plant and re-pot the same little flower again and again. Some of the roots get ripped off every time. (I think.)
Like so many others, I've moved every three to six months for the past three years (since college): Harrisonburg, Richmond, (random month of travel in Europe--no complaints there!), Montana, Richmond, Kosice, Bratislava, Kosice, Richmond, Kosice. I didn't know what to expect when I moved back here, but I remember thinking that it was impossible to maintain any normal, deeper relationships when I kept getting uprooted like this.
And yet here I sit, getting ready to move again. And, to be honest, I couldn't be more thrilled about it! This winter, I remember my best friend (whose past 3 years have been a lot crazier than mine) telling me that she'd decided not to move again unless she knew some people in her new location. I thought that sounded wonderful, as I am sick of always feeling like the new person everywhere I go. But, that was probably too much to ask of God. Why even bother? I think we were in London when we had this conversation. And as I remembered all the amazing things God has done in my life over the last three years, I silently uttered two prayers that seemed selfish and, let's be honest, didn't have a lot of faith attached to them. The only thing I was sure of was that these were two very deeply heartfelt requests, and I couldn't even completely explain why I wanted these things so badly.
I prayed that I wouldn't ever have to move to a new place alone again. And I prayed that, someday, even if it was 50 years from now, even if it was only for 3 months, I could please, please live in England again.
About four days later, I met the answer to both of these requests.
(If you don't know who I'm talking about, see the last six posts.)
Um, wow.
I hope that every time I doubt God's ability to hear me, God will remind me of this incredible answer to prayer. Because, despite my whining about change last year, this actually IS what I want: yet another big change. Perhaps the biggest one yet. ;)
I shall keep you updated...
About a year ago, I was traveling across Slovakia with my friends, moving back to Kosice, and complaining articulately (or so I thought) about how nothing in my life felt like it had any permanence. I couldn't be more useless at yardwork, but I ventured a gardening metaphor, anyway. I claimed that it could not possibly be healthy to plant and re-plant and re-pot the same little flower again and again. Some of the roots get ripped off every time. (I think.)
Like so many others, I've moved every three to six months for the past three years (since college): Harrisonburg, Richmond, (random month of travel in Europe--no complaints there!), Montana, Richmond, Kosice, Bratislava, Kosice, Richmond, Kosice. I didn't know what to expect when I moved back here, but I remember thinking that it was impossible to maintain any normal, deeper relationships when I kept getting uprooted like this.
And yet here I sit, getting ready to move again. And, to be honest, I couldn't be more thrilled about it! This winter, I remember my best friend (whose past 3 years have been a lot crazier than mine) telling me that she'd decided not to move again unless she knew some people in her new location. I thought that sounded wonderful, as I am sick of always feeling like the new person everywhere I go. But, that was probably too much to ask of God. Why even bother? I think we were in London when we had this conversation. And as I remembered all the amazing things God has done in my life over the last three years, I silently uttered two prayers that seemed selfish and, let's be honest, didn't have a lot of faith attached to them. The only thing I was sure of was that these were two very deeply heartfelt requests, and I couldn't even completely explain why I wanted these things so badly.
I prayed that I wouldn't ever have to move to a new place alone again. And I prayed that, someday, even if it was 50 years from now, even if it was only for 3 months, I could please, please live in England again.
About four days later, I met the answer to both of these requests.
(If you don't know who I'm talking about, see the last six posts.)
Um, wow.
I hope that every time I doubt God's ability to hear me, God will remind me of this incredible answer to prayer. Because, despite my whining about change last year, this actually IS what I want: yet another big change. Perhaps the biggest one yet. ;)
I shall keep you updated...
