Some thoughts to share – hopefully they will not paint a negative picture in any way but honestly share some of the inner challenges in my (Karen’s) personal life and how God works in these.
I am really enjoying having our own place again – having a more consistent routine, getting better organized (I decided the other day that organization must be one of my hobbies), and simply the everyday tasks of tending to my home and family. The traveling we have done for the last year plus has been a blessing and gone very well. It’s neat to be in different churches, stay in people’s homes, get to know people better and meet new ones, and see the vast variety of our country, but there were days the travel weariness would hit.
We plan to travel more extensively again, Lord willing, after Colin is born and is a couple months old. One day as I thought about that, I thought, “But I really enjoy just being in one place and settling in for a while. Am I going to be ready to travel again?” As I pondered this more, I was reminded that this world is a temporary dwelling place and that I need to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33); that where my treasure is (in context speaking of possessions but I think can apply to anything in which we seek to find contentment), there my heart will be also (Matthew 6:21); and that I need to rest in the LORD Most High as my dwelling place (Psalm 91:9) no matter what my earthly dwelling may be. One of the ways God uses these days of travel is to remind me of these truths and to help me, sometimes painfully and always an ongoing process, toward focusing on Him and the eternal rather than the temporary.
It is good and right to be thankful for the blessings God gives, including homes and being able to stay in one place for a while. I am and will be thankful for these few months of being “at home”, but I will choose (and probably have to learn the lesson multiple times) not to let these things I enjoy be the basis of my contentment but rather trust the Lord in each “phase” He brings. And it does help that I really do enjoy the traveling even with its challenges.
I understand how you feel Karen. I enjoy being home but I love to travel. As you said, this world is not our home and we need to be reminded of this often. Thanks for the card, as well. I’m doing well from the surgery and will wear the sling 2 more weeks. It will be a long spring of therapy, but I hope to be back to normal by April or May.