Living for now

We are in the early stages of packing up for our move to Harrison in little less than four weeks. It is overwhelming, to figure out where things should go, what should be packed first and by whom, and worst of all what stays behind and how to get rid of it. They say that moving is one of the top ten stressors for individuals and relationships. It is very hard to pack up any household even in the best of times. This is a very positive and exciting move for us, and will all that, it still remains overwhelming. I find myself being more irritable about small things.

I also remember a story from my older sisters life. The house she was renting was slated to be demolished to make room for a highway. She was devastated as she had lived there for many years, both as a married person, then long after her divorce. She was really hard pressed and felt incredibly sad. Then she realized that she could take what she wanted, have a farewell party, and let what remained be bulldozed into the ground. She felt maybe the things of her past, the remnants of her failed marriage, all of it would be buried forever. She would never have to look things over and pack any of it again.


"Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall." Luke 11:17

I am reminded today that even though the task of packing and moving is overwhelming, the point of this is to strengthen our lives together and strengthen the community that has called us. We can take this task on as if it is a division, or we can take it on as a way to learn the path of a new life. A new community. We can use this time to build our relationships or tear them apart. I ask God to give me the strength in this stressful time to do the work of building up and deepening relationship instead of dividing and conquering. The stress of this time is a gift to be vulnerable and completely reliant on God and one another. I pray that we can be a house undivided. That we can stand back, still and confident in the love of God working in our lives.