Reflections.......

After the ordeal of having our home on the market for 10 months, going through over 150 showings, and experiencing all of the emotional ups and downs of looking for a new home, worrying about finances and wondering if we would ever get through it, I can now reflect on the experience and report my thoughts.

First, I must say that my faith played a most prominent role in this journey.  When we first listed our home for sale, I knew that there would be trying times.  I reminded myself that I should always focus on God throughout the process.  After all, in the story of David and Goliath, the bible clearly describes how David never even gave the slightest thought to Goliath and what a seeming mismatch that contest appeared to be.  No, David's only thoughts were of God.  David knew that God would lead him to victory if he let Him.  That was my sole focus during our moving process.

I am not a very patient person.  I quickly figured out that God wanted to teach me to be more patient by forcing me to quietly endure the trying storms of maddening stress and doubt.  Throughout, my focus was on Him and the sure knowledge that He would lead us through in His good time.  And He surely did.

When we were looking for a new home in Knoxville and we could not find anything suitable in our price range, at the last minute He brought us to a property that was exactly what we needed.

So, I guess the first lesson for me in this moving ordeal is to always put God first in all I do.  That way, He can lead me forward in the manner He deems best for my growth.  It is pointless to try to do things by myself, trying to force my will on the outcome.  I am only in His way when I do that.  Trusting in Him completely frees me up from worry.

The next lesson I learned from our move is that major change, while often painful, is the most mind-expanding and growth-generating thing imaginable.  Change forces us to confront new challenges and overcome them.  It frees us from our comfortable ruts.  Those comfy ruts of life can kill you, you know.  Think about it.

Here in a new environment, we must learn new ways of doing things.  We are forced to meet new people, make new friends, discover new sights and sounds, learn new routes, etc.  There will be a new doctor, dentist, neighbors, church, etc.  This change makes us grow; makes our minds work at learning.

Of course, all of this is honest and true philosophy.  Having said that, I don't ever wanna move again!!!