Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Stars and Snowflakes

I've reached the point in our packing where I'm wandering from room to room with glazed eyes.

I start packing a few boxes in the basement, then I go upstairs for something and notice that the hall closet has stuff that definitely has to be sorted and combined into a smaller space. Then I go in our bedroom and put a few items of clothing into a plastic tote.

I decided it's time for a break. A little time to focus. It's time for (miracle of miracles!) Focus Friday.

We load the moving van on Tuesday.

Sometimes I feel like we're ahead of schedule and we'll be completely ready.

Other times I look around and wonder if we'll ever be ready. 

I guess we'll keep plugging away and be as ready as we can be on Tuesday. One way or another, we will move to South Dakota. 

I took a little time today to go out for coffee with a friend.

To some, that might seem crazy when we have so much to do, but it was important to me, so I made time for it.

When I got back to Allison, I did a couple of errands and then I worked on packing again. As I worked, I thought about how nice it would be to go out for coffee with more friends before we leave this area. 

Time is ticking away, so that just won't work, but it got me thinking about how important it is to do things when we're thinking of them so we don't have regrets later. 

I shared this quote by Marie Beynon Ray a little over a year ago, but it bears repeating tonight (coincidentally given to me by Joan, the friend I went out for coffee with today).

Begin doing what you want to do now.

We are not living in eternity.

We have only this moment,

sparkling like a star in our hand--

and melting like a snowflake.

There are things I wanted to do while we lived in this part of Iowa, but I never made time for them, and now those opportunities are gone (I know they're still possible, but it gets more difficult when we'll be living six hours from here).

There are people I wish I'd gotten to know better, but I didn't make the effort to call or get together with them, and now distance will make those relationships harder.

There are books I wanted to write while we lived here.

There are songs I wanted to sing while we lived here.

There are letters I wanted to write while we lived here.

There are gifts I wanted to deliver while we lived here.

There are hugs I wanted to give while we lived here.

I've pretty much run out of time.

Those "sparkling star" moments in my hand have melted like snowflakes, and I'm left with little puddles of regret.

I'm left with two choices: Sit and stare dismally at the melted moments I missed, or dry my hands and prepare for the new "sparkling stars" that arrive daily.

I can write the books I want to write.

I can sing the songs I want to sing.

I can write the letters I want to write.

I can deliver the gifts I want to deliver.

I can hug the people I want to hug.

But first, I must finish packing and enjoy our final few days with our church and community here in Allison. There are lots of sparkling star moments ahead...for all of us!

"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit." (Psalm 147:4-5 NIV)

Have you ever thought about how we aren't living in eternity? How can focusing on God help you to do the things you want to do and not have as many regrets?

Super Saturday: Let's Focus on Moving

We will be moving from Allison, IA to Platte, SD on May 29. People, that's about 17 days from today!

It seemed like we had plenty of time when Gary announced that he had accepted the call a couple of months ago. 

I was going to sort through clothes, papers, and belongings and get rid of anything we didn't need before hauling it six hours west. We've gotten rid of some things, but we're quickly losing time for thoughtfully going through things. It's time to pack...and sort later.

It really started to sink in when we took down most of our pictures and loaded them in the Mariner. The walls look so bare now!

We loaded our small trailer with exercise equipment, bikes, boat stuff, and other things to fill it up. Then I drove with the trailer and Gary drove his '78 Camaro to Platte so we could get one load out there. 

It felt strange to leave it all there, but it felt right, too. We reconnected with several people from First Reformed Church and felt that sense of excitement about what God has in store for us (and them) in the future. 

We went to Orange City today to move Blake from his dorm room to a third floor apartment across campus.

Sometime next week we'll be moving Allison's things down to Lincoln, Nebraska. She'll be staying with Erin until she finds a job, then we'll move her to her own apartment later in the summer.

That's a lot of moving!

We know we'll get through it. We just need to take it one step at a time.

Make decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of. Pack a box. Keep on top of other daily tasks while preparing for the move. Get ready for Dylan's graduation open house and try to enjoy all of these final days with our church family and community before leaving.

Above all else, we need to stay close to God through all of this. Our relationship with Him is not something to put on hold until we get settled in our new community. 

We need to open our Bibles often, talk to God as we go through each day, and obey the Spirit's leading in everything we do.

That's something for all of us to keep in mind, whether we're making a physical move or just starting a new endeavor in our lives. 

One step at a time. Stay close to God. Trust Him. Read His word. Talk to Him. Obey Him.

If we all do that, we'll get to where He wants us to go.

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)

Are you facing a move in your future? How can focusing on God help you to get there with less stress and more confidence in the "new thing" He has planned for you?