I am the queen of list-making, and always have been. There's something empowering about crossing something off your list, and seeing that you have accomplished something at the end of the day. I make to-do lists, packing lists, shopping lists, you-name-it lists! I even write stuff on my list that I've already done, just so I have the satisfaction of crossing it off my list. But have you ever gotten to the point where it feels like you have just one thing to do after another? Life is kind of like that right now, in the very best way possible. We've been looking at our schedule for the next couple of months, and we literally have only two weekends where nothing is planned; and I'm sure we'll fill them with something before too long.
This week we started going through everything in our house. We've been able to decide for the most part what we'll need in Waukesha, and find new homes for the rest of it. Josh has even found homes for the few pieces of furniture that we're not bringing with us. Surprisingly, this doesn't terrify me like I thought it would. What a powerful testament to God's grace! He's turning my past fears into joy! Sure, my bookshelves are almost completely bare now, I have no end table/lamp in the bedroom anymore, and my couch is the next thing to go; but where that would have caused me to utterly panic before, now I find it funny, endearing, and exciting. This is really happening!
Of course, we still have a lot to do, but it feels like we're making progress.
The Lord has been especially gracious to us in regards to friendships lately. So many people have rallied around us, and have become so dear and precious to us. Pastor Carl has been preaching about the importance of table fellowship and breaking bread with other believers; we've been doing this more and more lately, and it really does make a difference when you share a table with someone. Part of me wants to guard myself, because I know that when we do leave my heart will break for these friendships and the face-to-face time we won't get to share for a time; to somehow protect myself from the hurt I know will come. But think about what I would be missing if I did that! So instead of guarding myself from the eventual pain, I'm going to store up these precious moments as a future balm for the {perfectly normal} heartache that is sure to come, and as a guideline for future friendships to be built on. Besides, there's always Facebook and Skype! The world is a whole lot smaller than we seem to think it is, and friendships don't die because of distance. Heck, if love can be born and survive four years of online dating, from opposite sides of the world, and opposite sides of the country, then so can close friendships.
Labels: bible, faith, missionary life, thoughts