Well, just about the time that we finished with the wedding, I thought that our next few weeks or month would be peaceful and serene. It turns out that was not what the Lord had in store for us. He had a home prepared for us and revealed that to us the very next week. Over the last months, we have been making offers, getting prepared, closing and moving into our new home. We are more than excited about finally finishing this transition from Nevada all the way to Mason, Ohio. It has been with the help of many that we have been able to box up all of our belongings, get them on a truck, get them to storage, and then from storage to an apartment and then from both of those to a house. We want to earnestly and thoroughly thank every person that helped during that journey. It literally could not have been possible without the love, support and hands-on help that we received from people that love us. We are so overjoyed and so thankful for what the Lord has provided.
It’s ironic that I have literally spent the last 22 years of my career working on water scarcity issues and now look at a pond each day from my back window. Enjoying watching the water evaporate as I have a morning coffee is strangely satisfying in my new season of life!
I firmly believe we as humans were not created to endure the chaotic pace of life that is now so common. Busy lives, busy ministry initiatives, busy careers, busy family life – in all of that you can see that the keyword there is busy. In many cases, I think that we have not been able to fully smell the sweet essence of life that the Lord provides us every day. In the new season for us, we are learning to give everything fully to him. We are learning how to better consecrate our circumstances, our belongings, our relationships and our life to him. This has brought about a sweet peace, a new level of peace for both my wife and I. Sometimes I think it takes a moment where you literally don’t have a huge amount of expectations on you to be able to see what is possible. God has blessed us amazingly by allowing us to see and experience this.
The peace we have is sometimes challenged by the temptation to base your contentment on comfort. As my ALS journey continues we have some days where comfort is illusive. And on those days it is easy to forget what contentment and peace are truly founded upon. Remember we have an enemy and that enemy would love to have us rely on comfort. Fight it with us!
God has also caused us to re-examine what the desires of our hearts actually are. I do believe His promise in scripture, that He wants to give us the desires of our heart, is truth. I think the complicating factor in that is many times we don’t even know what the desires of our heart are. When you are faced with a health journey like I am on and with up rooting 28 years worth of community and history in that location and relocate to be obedient, it causes you to re-examine what truly are the desires of your heart. This is a phenomenal exercise and if you haven’t marinated with the Lord on this, I highly encourage that you take the time to do it. He wants to give you His best and there’s growth in the process of you actually working alongside him to know what that is.
As to what is next for us, we are off to make more memories. I can fish right in my own backyard so we’re going to, as my friend would say, wet a hook as often as possible. And my favorite season of the year autumn is upon us. Be encouraged and know that even when there’s confusion, doubt and challenge – obedience to God is always the right answer. He has great things for you on the other side of that journey, and even the journey itself will bring you closer to Him and make your life richer.
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