In 2004 we moved into our home on Elm St. in Menasha, and our expectation was that we’d live there until we were old and gray. On June 2nd we accepted an offer on our house, and we agreed that we’d move out by July 21st. Are we really doing this?
One week later, last Friday, we applied to lease a townhome in Florida! We paid fees and a security deposit. Should we be accepted, the first month’s rent will be due in July. Are we really doing this?
We sat in a Florida church, during our last visit, wondering if this was the place God would have us worship Him with others. We were poignantly aware that we were unknown and unknowing (How does this church do ____? What do these people believe about ____? etc.) We’ve never started attending a church where we’ve been unknown and unknowing. Are we really doing this?
On June 30th my employment with Versatile Management will to come to an end. With that end comes the last construction related entry on my resume that has read almost exclusively construction and contracting for the last 24 years. That resume describes not only what I’ve done, but who I’ve been AND who I’ve wanted to be. Yes, God has changed the desires of our hearts to want to follow where He’s leading, but… Are we really doing this?
When a tree has grown for 10, and 13, and 15, and 18 years, how deep is it’s roots? When a tree has grown for 4 decades, how deep is it’s roots? When a family has been a part of a church body for 18 years, how deep are their roots? When a family has lived in the same area, within a 3 hour radius, for 4 decades, how deep are it’s roots? We’re doing non-takebackable things to pull up our roots to follow where God is leading. Are we really doing this?
These paragraphs are snapshots of what’s going on in our heads and hearts, as we face each new obstacle and watch God graciously overcome them. Are we really doing this? The answer is yes, we are really doing this. We’re doing it because we’re certain that God wants us to! We’re doing this because God has designed us to! We’re doing this because God has prepared us to! We’re doing this because we want to! Jesus’ words in Mark 8:34-35 are echoing in my head as I write, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
