The one Constant

*disclaimer, when I wrote this post back in November, we had just returned home from a 10 day trip, while staying in an amazing log cabin out in the woods, isolated from all the modern day conveniences...so I was having a bit of a rough day readjusting to "normal-for-us" life.

Okay, so I just introduced this post with a disclaimer...that disclaimer is shared so that if you don't REALLY want to hear my heart today, perhaps you should move on to the next blog you read...or pick one over there on the right on my blogroll and read one of those instead!  We returned home last night around 9:30 from 10 wonderfully spent days in the Upstate of South Carolina.  As I mentioned, we were staying in an 1800s era cabin...however, it does have running water, lights and a flush toilet...and even a shower!  It was gorgeous and simple and I loved every minute of being there.  It was heated by a fire place with a blower and so most mornings were cool until one of us got the fire going. This post isn't about our time there, though.  It's about today.  The heaping piles of laundry (because when you're from Florida, you wear loads of layers to keep from freezing to death), the realization that all that home schooling that was going to be done didn't happen, the fact that I have psych tests to be finished by the end of the week for Mission to the World (timing is not the best with that!), groceries need to be got, and oh yeah, the lingering taste in my mouth of the stability of that country life compared to the ever transient upheavals of what is our life.  That last one there...that is the one that I have been struggling with today.  We met with so many new friends on this trip.  It truly was an immense encouragement to us to fellowship with both old and new friends.  It was beautiful to see our children not want to leave newly met friends and to remind them of how wonderful it is that no matter where we go, if there are Christians there, we are family because of Christ.  And, today, as I struggle with contentment in the transitory nature of our life, I have prayed often for the Lord to remind me of His goodness, how He has cared for and provided our every need and that though those stable country lives are beautiful and bountiful and full of good things, that is not our calling.  It's not bad, it's just not our calling.  I so wanted to pick up the phone this afternoon and call my dear friend, Rhianna, who knows this struggle all too well.  To hear her words of wisdom and to know that she understands.  I just wanted someone who understands.  Instead, I cried out to my Lord in my weakness.  He heard, He is faithful, He listens. He tenderly reminds me of the calling He has given me.  He tenderly assures me of His love for me and that things and houses and superb education don't mean a hill of beans to Him, that I am His and He is mine.  The Bible tells us that Jesus knows our weakness, he knows that we are but dust and it also assures us that He knows how we feel and that He was tempted by everything we are tempted by, except He did not sin.  So, I am comforted in that as well.  Jesus knew his time on earth was somewhat limited.  He also traveled a lot and slept in many different homes and didn't have a place to call home.  He was transient.  He understands, too.  Thankfully, He understands too.  The one great thing about this crazy life we lead is that it ever keeps our eyes on Christ, that we are merely sojourners here, passing through until we get to our eternal home. I think of those of us who are often moving from place to place because of the calling Christ has given us we are forced to hold loosely to the stability of growing roots in a house or city affords and abide in the One in Whom our roots are truly to be rooted.