Moving?

by Jeff Patton

There comes a time when you have packed their belongings, said good bye to many friends (and a few who aren’t very friendly) and now travel some distance to say hello to new friends (and some who won’t be very friendly).

You who are moving should do these things:

First, as you leave, gather the people and pray.  Pray long and hard.  Pray for God’s way in your midst.

Second as you come to a new place, pray.  Pray long and hard.  Pray for God’s way in your midst.

Third, take care of your self and your family.  Make sure you find someone who can help with the grief.  C.S. Lewis said, “No one ever told me that grief felt so much like death.”  Each good bye is a grief.  Some painful, some bitter, some a breath of fresh air.

Fourth, use this new start as a time for new beginnings, new life, new direction, and new purpose.  Don’t make the mistake of wasting these first few months “getting to know and love others”.  You will have a few years for that.  Use this time to let your passion for living for Jesus Christ out of your heart, mind, even pours.  Let them see Jesus!  Let them see Jesus living in and through you.  Let them find that past the pain of grief, God stands, pointing to the fields white for harvest.