Above Average
June 23, 2013
If the average American moves 11.7 times in their lifetime, as we said last week, then Cammy has now gone above-average. Moving to Tennesse last Thursday has put Cammy in the above the national average category!
If you been reading Jeff Manion’s book, “The Land Between”, then you have been following the difficult transitional journey of the Israelites through the Sinai desert. It is the premise of the book that these unwanted, uncomfortable transitions, which often come into our lives in many forms, are there to remind us that God is always present throughout each and every moment of our lives.
If you’ve been following our blog, you will remember that both Cammy and I have stated that a major transition, “the land between”, in both of our lives has been her move to Tennessee. Last week I shared with you how similar I was to the Israelites in working through my reaction to Cammy’s move by complaining and having a meltdown. I also shared how I did what any thinking person would do when their friend moves away -I googled what to do when your friend moves away and Wikipedia How To was very helpful indeed!
I invited you back this week to learn how Cammy’s move went, and to see how well I have navigated this journey. Cammy arrvied safely in Tennesse and only time will tell how well I will do. However, I have at least started moving through the final stages of handling difficult transitions: recognizing God’s provision and His desire for trust in Him to grow in our hearts.
Looking at certain people in Scripture, such as Joseph and Abraham, we see that all through the difficult parts of their journey, God provided and as a result, trust in Him grew in the hearts of Joseph and Abraham. Manion writes, “The very experience we wish to avoid can grow the very crop we most desperately need. The land we desire least may produce the fruit we most desire-if we let it, if we can turn toward God with open hearts as Moses did rather than turn away from God in bitterness as the Israelites did.”
By contrast, looking at Wikipedia How To, we learn that one of the steps in how to say goodbye to a friend who is moving, is to express to them what they mean to you. Putting that step together with the final steps of “The Land Between”, I realized that one of the most sincere expressions I can offer to Cammy is to tell her how grateful I am to God for providing her priceless friendship. And even though her move was an experience that I wished to avoid, I do realize it is an opportunity that can produce the fruit I most desire in my life which includes trusting God and trusting in His will. He knows what He’s doing!
Saying goodbye to Cammy last week was most difficult and painful. She is sorely missed already and I look forward to the day I will see her again. But until then, I am taking Manion’s advice:
“Turn toward God and speak candidly about your pain and disappointment. He really wants to hear from you and absorb whatever it is you have to say. But turn to Him in trust and hope, believing that He is there, that He is wise and that He is at work.”
Farewell Cammy, until we meet again…
P.S. By the way,Cammy, it is not just your moving habits that are above average. You are an exceedingly, abundantly, and above all blessing!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6