Recently I was shopping in my favorite store, looking for a cozy top for Minnesota where it’s currently 18 degrees. The young sales girl who was helping me had heard that I’m in ministry, and shared that she and her pastor husband moved to the Twin Cities about 6 months ago from L.A.
She said that although they trust God’s plan, they are anxious to move back to L.A. next year (or as soon as possible). They don’t like it here! Can you even???
I just listened and empathized with how hard change and moving to a new community is, but after I left, I got to wondering if maybe I should have said more.
I remember when we moved cross country, away from home – me 8 months pregnant with our second child. We moved from the kindly homegrown midwest we had always known, to fast-paced, status-driven, political, transient Washington D.C. It was hard and lonely but honestly the most spiritually formative time of our life.
In the thick of things, I cried a LOT and every day I got on my knees and prayed that God would help me to be fully there (until He saw fit to graciously spring us from that purgatory :))
I think of Moses when he ran away after killing the Egyptian. He tried to take charge of a situation, but messed up, ran to the desert and tended sheep. Got married. Spent time in silence and solitude. Did he long to get out of there? Did he feel like he was waiting but didn’t know for what? Did he ever feel like “This is NOT where I belong!”?
The 40 years he was in the desert waiting, maybe he was learning humility, perseverance, faithfulness. How much was Moses totally present, with God, daily in order to learn these things?
It’s tempting to lean forward, to focus on
- when the kids start school
- when I get the job
- when I get married
- when we’ll “get there”, wherever “there” is that we long for.
But I don’t want to be so focused on the future, that I miss what God has to show me today.
We love a coffee shop in Naples, Florida, called Kunjani. They have a t-shirt that has been a great reminder to me. It says, “Be where your feet are.”
Did Moses have to work hard to be where his feet were in the desert? I do! Even when I’m not in a desert!
Maybe start with a prayer, “Lord, what do You have to teach me about Yourself and myself today? Here and now. Help me to be present and pay attention.”
Would you share where your feet are today in the comments please?
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Oh my! What a great devotion! And Naples, Florida…was just there in October and I’m forwarding your devotion to my sisters that are in Naples a lot. My sister Joanne is a Canadian/PA snowbird and has a condo in Bonita Springs.
Feet….it was in our message at Grace Church on Thanksgiving Eve spoken by a college student about a moving poem… to be aware of where your feet are planted for God’s glory in your present moment. And now your devotion reflecting on it again. The Holy Spirit is confirming what we are to do and how to be obedient and patient and to be open to learning whatever we can wherever we are. God bless!
So fun to read this, Suzanne! And as I did, it reminded me of another “feet” verse! 🙂 Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”