Opening the Ways
I was sitting at the kitchen table this morning, and I picked up my Aunt’s monthly newsletter from one of the old churches I used to attend. It’s an old stone methodist church (On my dads side I was methodist, on my mothers side I was baptist), and where most of my fathers family is buried.
Anyway, they had an introduction in there, as they do every month, from the pastor. It talked about those that want to be healed, and willing to accept the necessary changes for that to happen.
An excerpt:
…When Jesus asked the man whether or not he wanted to be healed, Jesus was reminding him that he had a part to play in his own road to health. The man had to want to be healed, to be willing to deal with the change that his healing would bring
It also spoke about people who see their illnesses or even their depression and “down in the dumps” lifestyle as a crutch or foundation for living. Many people are scared of what changes need to be taken place in order for their lives to improve. What’s the quote from Shawshank Redemption? “Institutionalized”.
The reason I thought this was interesting is because I look over the last few months and how resistant I was initially for all of this change. The very first day we got the eviction notice I felt like my chest was tightening and all I could do was cry. I didn’t want this to happen, I didn’t want change or to move or to be tossed into the unknown like that. I can only imagine it was far worse for my father. He certainly gave up a lot more in the move than I did. His animals, his crops, the fact that he’d been living there mostly since 1979.
But I prayed to the Gods that the ways would be opened for us, whatever they might be. We both decided we were willing to just yank up all of our roots and throw them into the wind and see where we were taken. We were able to leave behind all the dirt and grime and chaos and clutter and rot, while still keeping mementos and general everyday junk.
When I saw that all of our things were loading into the trailer, and noticing all of the things we were leaving behind, it was quite invigorating and exciting. We both felt like a lot of weight was being lifted from our shoulders, like our roots had been sheltered from the sun for so long by a canopy of darkness and now we could feel the breeze.
And now we finally see the horizon of our next destination, and despite all the kicking and screaming against this change, I’ve come to the realization that it is a good thing. It’s still scary to think of dealing with a mortgage every month, but the opportunity for this new life has been presented. The only negativity that could come from it, would be from our resistance to change. Our wallets will not be as full, but that’s a sacrifice for this change and an opportunity to grow.
So I am grateful for the ways that have been opened for us, despite all of the changes we had to accept to get there.
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