Musings:04/14/09,Moving is Stressful, by John.

Moving is Stressful!

Thrice in the last two years, we have moved. We moved a lot when we were younger, but during those times, we could do most of the actual work ourselves, and we felt competent and fulfilled when we got the job done.

Now we are correctly classified as old, not that we feel old spiritually, but our bodies tell us we are old, and they don't mince words in doing it. Doctor visits are regular occurrences, and medical bills pile up and knock the bottom out of savings.

The first move two years ago was for retirement. We moved into a house our middle child, a daughter, bought for the three of us. It was away from the harsh climate of north central Nebraska and into the softer climate of Arkansas. Not too long after, our daughter moved to Maine. We chose not to go with her. We felt the climate was probably worse than Nebraska. We believe, in our old age, warm all the time is better than cold. Our other daughter lives in Albuquerque, NM, so we were faced with another choice. We had to choose between Albuquerque and eastern Arkansas where our son lives. We chose the latter. We moved in with our son out in the country, in fact, in the woods a half mile off the paved road and twelve miles from town. I don't see well enough to drive, so it made it unhandy for us to go back and forth. Our son foresaw that and bought a place for us in town, but it was rented, and we waited six months until the renters were out before we moved the third time.

Now we are in town, but most of our books and other treasures were still packed from the first move. Boxes sat all over the place, and then the repairs started. Grass was knee high in the yard. An ice storm wrecked the siding on the garage apartments. The kitchen roof leaked and part of the ceiling over the sink collapsed while we were a few feet away eating. The dishwasher had to be replaced, and so did the wiring for it. A new screen door is a must, and one bathroom floor has to be shored up. Both stools in the house, and one in the garage apartment leaked.

All of this amounts to 24 months of stress. I think we handle it very well, but we are both quite aware of it, and our day's work never seems to be finished.

When we first arrived in the area, we discovered a wonderful church where we could enjoy the preaching, teaching and fellowship while we worshiped and served the Lord, but we couldn't drive those crooked roads into and back from town at night. As long as we were in the country what we consider normal activities were quite limited partly because of the high cost of gasoline and partly because too many things happen after dark.

We are gradually getting back into the swing of things since we moved into town a couple of weeks ago, but a lot of the stress is still present! Psalm 46:10,11 says, "'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress." In spite of the load of stress that rises up around us, the Lord is with us, and He strengthens us and makes us able to bear it. Part of His mighty power and love are revealed in the fellowship and love given to us by our church people. They've helped us clean house, furnished us with things we needed but lacked, and we know their prayers are with us all the time.

It is wonderful to know that the Lord takes care of us, and that includes preparing us for what lies ahead. I Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." That verb "cares" is the third person singular, present indicative. That indicates God has always cared for each of us, does take interest in, and does continue His care for us in the present. The future is just the present extended.

Stress is always with us for one reason or another, but so is God, and His love constantly covers us. We could be in jail (like John Bunyan), or we could be sitting in the lap of luxury. In any circumstance, we should thank God for His constant companionship, care, and the marvelous future He promises us. Samuel Stinnett in the 18th century wrote these words: "When all my labors and trials are o'er, And I am safe on that beautiful shore, Just to be near the dear Lord I adore, Will thro' the ages be glory for me...When by His grace I shall look on His face, That will be glory for me." We handle stress by facing life in the present while treasuring in our hearts the promises of the future, the glory of living eternally in the presence of the Lord!