Movin' Along

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee, yea, I will
uphold thee with the right hand of
my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

Moses was told by God to lead His people from Egypt back home to the Promised Land. One would have thought it was the best of situations for the Israelites. They had a wonderful leader God had chosen. That leader had the wisdom and provision of a great God. The move wouldn't be easy but it would take them from slavery back to their homeland. We know that despite all of God's guidance and provision, the people still felt they had reasons to complain....not enough variety in food, not enough water, leadership wasn't the best, etc. If they learned nothing else about God, they learned in quick fashion that God didn't and still doesn't like complaining and murmuring. They ended up far longer in the wilderness than God ever intended because of the peoples griping, rebellion and lack of faith.

I remember standing beside a U-Haul truck when Brian and I made our first move. I stood crying about leaving that lovely apartment that had been our first home from day one. My Mother was there and assured me I would love the next place as well because Brian would be there. We needed to move...needed more room as a young relative had come to live with us. In that next apartment, we would also bring our two baby girls home to it. I just remember the emotions of moving and leaving all that was sentimental and familiar to me.

We made several moves after that. Some moves required going a distance while some were no more than a couple of miles from the previous place. I learned with the short move that although moving within the same town, going from one neighborhood to another can be like moving from one state to another because every neighborhood is different.

I don't like moving. I could probably pack up the house in a good long day if we had to move again. When I dig in with packing boxes, I fly, but I do pack in an organized way. I know what boxes will go in what rooms, some boxes that will go to an attic or garage and other stuff to Goodwill. It's tiring and troublesome to move, but in our day of mobility, jobs change as they often did for Brian. I cried with every move mostly because of losing church ties including those ladies I had taught from God's Word. I grew up in the same southern Illinois town. I still tend to have a touch of envy toward those who have “stayed home.” They have very deep roots in our town and everyone knows everyone else.

Friends can make moving very difficult. They will express disappointment that we can't stay put. They will cry. We promise to stay in touch and with some we will, but with most, we just can't. The wonderful thing about Heaven is that there will be no goodbyes or so-longs, not even for a time. We'll be with the Lord and our Christian family forever...no moves...Heaven will be our forever home.

This is the season when people move. School is about to be out in most places, houses come up for sale and it tends to be the time for moves. No matter the move, there will be stress and high emotions. Children often don't understand what's going on. It's hard for an emotional mom to be super positive with children about a move when her heart is breaking. I do know though that things will work out.

I heard a pastor speak on one occasion regarding a couple in his church that was in the process of moving to a distant state. Many in the church were really upset to see those long-standing members leaving to go elsewhere. The pastor got up in the pulpit and said to his congregation to stop the emotional behavior that was beginning to turn negative. He reminded the people of how the moving couple was serving in the church, classes taught, and programs they had helped to start. The pastor suggested the people regard this couple as missionaries they were bidding farewell to who would do many of the same things in a new church as they had done in their present one. I had never thought of that either as I watched Christian friends move or with our own family moving.

May I give us some reminders to encourage both those leaving and staying:

*When Christian friends move, we must trust they are doing God's will. We dare not argue with that
*Make the move of friends as easy for them as possible. Volunteer to help in any way
*Give them a gift certificate for some place to eat along the road if they are driving.
*We live in a wonderful day of communication...phones, computers, etc....that makes staying in contact very easy. Fifty years ago, a move would have meant loss of convenient contact.
*Allow friends to depart/move with your blessing and good wishes.

The blessing in it all is that no matter where folks move, God is already there preparing the way. There will be a church to find, grocery store, doctor, dentist, hospital (in case of emergency), schools and much wisdom and discernment will be needed in making so many decisions. Friends who are moving need our continued prayers as they make adjustments to their new setting.

Father, many of us who have moved, know the joys and sorrows of such. We look forward to that great moving day when we go to Heaven or Jesus comes for us. There will be no boxes or moving vans to pack, meeting new people, etc. Meanwhile, when our moves do come on this earth, be with us in every aspect of them. Make us a blessing wherever that place is and use us for Your glory. In Jesus' precious name....Amen