Three years ago middle America looked appealing. Matthew and I had a notion that we would fit in a little better in the Midwest. We thought the cost of living would be lower. We thought the sheep would be able to run on pasture that God watered instead of the irrigation pump. We thought it would be a safer place to raise our children. We thought it would be nice to be in an area where people had the same political beliefs that we did. We thought a lot of things about the Midwest. Mostly those things have proved erroneous.
While house prices are less here, the sheep have more than made up the difference. Parasites and the grass in our pasture are literally killing our sheep. I'm still afraid my children will get kidnapped or run over by a crazy bus driver. I didn't move to Small Town, Nowhere to have my kids go to a school where there has to be a police officer on duty. Really? That's a good thing? I'm trying to find the redemption.
What I have found is people I care about. I've never been a people person. I don't connect easily and I despise social events. I would much rather have my nose in a good book with my music cranked up than go to a party, or, pretty much anything where people are. But apparently that is not satisfactory to God. He loves everyone. Not just the people I like to hang around with. Not just the sophisticated, not just the rednecks. Not just conservatives and not just liberals (gasp!). I can't fathom why He would love this creation so much but I suppose that means I should too.
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1
Ech. I've got a lot of work to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment