The Spiritual Art of Packing...

I knew it was getting bad when I found that I was arguing with myself over whether I should bring the computer backpack that I have. It makes me feel like I look young, like a student. When I brought this up to my mom last week, she smiled gleefully and responded, "well, you're going to be taking classes, so that makes you a student." Thanks mom...but not helpful in my internal debate.

Today as I sat on our comfy chaise lounge trying to spend my prayer day really praying, my mind began to wander..up the stairs, down the hallway, past the bathroom and stared into the dark abyss that was once a well organized closet.

In my minds eye I began to envision the thing I am dreading most about going to Vancouver, packing. Now, most of my actual packing is done. My furniture is gone from my room, friends came over a little over a week ago and packed up pretty much everything less my clothes, shoes and a few "essentials" that I swear I can't live without. I need to bring my food processor with me...really I do. So in reality there isn't much left to do, but there are still decisions to me made.

So as I sat on the comfy chaise lounge my mind,distracted from my prayers, was feeling everything but comfortable. Finally I just cried out, "Jesus this feels really stupid but will you help me with my packing. I need to decide what to bring with me and what to leave behind." I felt a little foolish in my sudden outburst. But to my relief, in the way only Jesus can, came His still, gentle yet strong voice saying, "I would be delighted to help you. Thanks for asking me."

Wow, Jesus wants to help me pack. Really!? Really - He wants to be invited into everything. From packing, cooking, reading, laughing, crying, studying, He wants to be invited along for everything. Practicing His presence is possible even in the midst of packing. Perhaps the deeper spiritual metaphor for me here was that Jesus wants to help me pack what I really need to take with me and he wants to unpack the things that I need to leave behind.

So often we try to move on to new things, new places, new people, but we drag around the same old baggage. Sure there are lots of new things on top or in the main compartment, but dig deeper into that side pocket and you'll find the old underwear you forgot you even owned. But Jesus wants to unpack that for you. He wants to show us what we really need to bring and what we can really live without.

Falling Into Place

In one week I've gotten...
*4 offers for housing in Vancouver
*An offer on my house in Tampa
*Set up a bank account with Bank of America (sorry Wachovia/Wellsfargo...I'll miss you) because they have a sister bank in Canada where I can make transactions for FREE!
*Got ACCEPTED to Regent and got into all the classes I registered for
*AND found out that I qualify for the Parachurch Youth Organization Tuition Benefit (which means I get 1/2 OFF my tuition!!

Ain't God Good!?!

As these next 33 days fly by I have a ton of packing to do (not to mention finishing up here at work). I'm moving out of the house that I am currently living in putting all my stuff into a storage unit. So now I need to decide what all to take with me...decisions, decisions...

In my last post I wrote about waiting. In giving everything over to God and seeing these prayers being answered over and about what I even asked for I hear God reminding me that the gifts he gives are sweeter and more surprising when I'm not sure what to expect :)

Wait a minute...or so

Wait: to stay in place in expectation of

Waiting: to look forward expectantly


These definitions totally fit my life right now. I'm waiting.
Waiting to find out if I really have gotten into Regent College (called today, they'll let me know by next week).
Waiting for my Sabbatical to be officially approved (although I thought it had been - will find out tomorrow what the hold up is).
Waiting till March 23 for Southwest Airlines schedule to open up so I can book my return flight because if I don't I won't be allowed into Canada...(I can see the headlines now, "InterVarsity Staff Detained At Canadian Border"...now that would be something to blog about!)
Waiting to hear back about potential housing with a girl I've never met being set by a woman I've never met by a connection with a friend that I haven't seen in years.
Now if you know anything about me, you know that I'm not a huge fan of waiting. I like to have a plan and I like to more forward as quickly as possible. Maybe it's a fear of missing out if I don't more quickly enough. Maybe it's that I am impatient. Maybe I like adventure and new things and so I want to go...now. Whatever it is I've got the feeling God is trying to teach me something. He always has me waiting.
For the past year and a half my life verse has been "Wait on the Lord, be strong, take heart and Wait on the Lord." psalm 27
Ok God, I'm gonna wait on you. My flight to Vancouver has been purchased in faith that all this is going to work out. I know that it will. It's crazy but I knew I was supposed to go ahead and purchase it.
My friend Maritza reminded me today that God's already working it out. I know that he is!
So hear I sit, waiting expectantly of what's to come, trusting that it's all gonna work out. I wait on you God; in you- in my weakness, I am strong. My heart needs your help to be patient. I wait on you.