Questions

While being fortified with the knowledge that we now had a plan to move forward with, there were still many questions.  At first, it seemed somewhat exciting looking into new jobs and new communities to live, but I quickly became overwhelmed.  While I felt a strong pull towards the north east/New England area, I had no direction to any certain state and certainly not any certain city.  It took a great deal of studying it out in my mind and then going to the lord in prayer.  I looked at over 20 jobs, locations, schools, crime.  I am grateful to the internet for the ability to make this all so much easier; and yet, I still was at a loss in narrowing down the search.

Over the upcoming days/weeks a few jobs didn't get back to me and there were several areas I knew weren't right.

As is frequently the case in my life, I wanted to control the helm - yes I was willing for God to tell me where to go but then I wanted to take the wheel back and just follow in GPS style.  The Lord had more to teach me about letting him take the wheel.  I started to get frustrated and impatient - I seemed to be as a child whining at their parents for something they wanted, but couldn't yet have.  I felt like I was pestering the Lord with my petitions - over and over I would pray - where should we go, where should we go.

Again on the drive to work (I like thinking in the car and the views to and from work are so beautiful I feel my spirit opening up at this time of day.)  So as I drove to work, I was frustrated; again looking out over the mountain and horizon everything was clear - no inversion or smog to block the view.  I realized my view had been clouded, that I was viewing this decision as if I didn't know what to do and I was going about it from the wrong perspective.

I knew we needed to be in the New England area and I started reviewing in my mind the places I knew we should not go.  I quickly realized that by looking at what we shouldn't do and not what we should that the Lord was indeed answering my petitions.  Of the 13 original colonies there were about 6 that were for sure not it and about 3 that didn't seem bad but didn't seem good.  That left us with only 3 or 4 states to focus are search.

I learned about timing, patience, love and most of all perspective.  While I still didn't have an exact place to go, I knew we were learning from the Lord and I needed to put things back in his control.

Tomorrow: Answers