At the beginning of the year, Em and I started looking at the possibility of moving to Springfield. The main attraction was a flat back yard and a larger house for a similar amount of money for what we could sell our house for. It was a family move, a lifestyle change and it had a lot of advantages.
I must point out there was a timeline to this that was all about *the baby*. I worked out exactly how long we had to get a contract if the contract was x many weeks and if I didn't want us moving within x many weeks of the baby so that Em was not stressed or tired by it. I was being practical.
Being faithful Christians we prayed to God about it. Those prayers went something along the lines of "God, do you want us to move to Springfield? If so, show us the house and get us a buyer for our house." I think it would be fair to say that I have often said that God has a plan for everyone and we were trying to work that plan out in a practical way. It was a bit of a career limiting option for me, because I would be further away from other Anglican Colleges that I might one day want to get employed by, but I am convinced that God wants me at Springfield for a fair amount of time (don't know how much) and so this was not a problem - in fact it was a plus! I have to admit that I pretty much expected it to work out.
We eventually found a house and had an offer accepted on the very last day that I had on my timeline to get an offer accepted. It was then down to selling our house. We spent a lot of time and money getting it ready for sale and then even more time getting it ready for Saturday open homes. Then we prayed some more. And some more.
The open homes really had nothing positive for us. Just sticky beakers who were doing research. (Not a problem - been there done that!)
So now, we have passed my date for getting our home sold and we are not moving.
I am both happy and sad about this. There is a part of me which is asking the question "Well why did you put me through this God?" I am happy not to have the stress of moving, but I did really like the house we had an offer on. I got the feeling though that it really wasn't about me and my family, but it was actually about a range of other people who needed us in this position. I pray that somehow that somewhere, someone is now closer to God as a result of all of this. If not, well it's not really a problem - I'm just going to keep on doing what I'm doing.
I love my life, my wife, my family, my job, my friends. There is nothing that will stop that. I will continue to work in Springfield as long as God wants me there and as long as I am needed there (They go together by the way). I had a conversation tonight that highlighted to me what a great place it was to work. Not that I needed reminding, but that it was a reminder (like a calendar reminder when you are at the event).
To be faithful to God is not always clear, but its always best.
Cheers
Macca
