It has been about 3 months since I finished my last job in Colorado Springs and I’m about to begin another in Virginia. Three months of traveling. Three months of catching up with friends, making new friends and answering some of the same questions over and over and over again. I’m not really bothered by the questions —except that is takes away from other conversations that we could be having about life and world events— I recognize that it’s all part of the package that comes with living such a “fascinating” lifestyle. I would be asking those same questions...sometimes I do ask the same questions of other people in similar situations. So I decided that since these questions are so common, it must be interesting enough information to post for all to read. I have narrowed it down to five of the most common questions:
#1. “How long are you going to be doing this traveling thing?” Let me offer you this perspective: How long are you planning to be a teacher, nurse, lawyer, preacher, stay at home mom [you fill in the blank]? Do you plan that out with an end date? It’s a slightly odd question in any “normal” context, right? I don’t have it all planned out, I have visions of what direction I would like to go, but I am just prayerfully taking it one step at a time. I’m traveling. This is what I do right now. (It is a legitimate question, though). Through this I have found that because my location and job changes every three months I am faced multiple times throughout the year with the sobering question of “where am I going with my life?” Each opportunity to travel or take a new job is a chance to stop and re-evaluate and seek the Lord’s guidance in my life. It isn’t the easiest way to do things, but it is a frequent reminder to be mindful of what and Who I am living for. Short answer: I don’t know, but He does.
#2. “Isn’t it hard having to change your routine all of the time?” Yes. Just about the time that I am finally feeling more comfortable and confident in a routine of sorts, I realize I need to start saying goodbye and packing up. Working out, daily time with the Lord, journaling, consistent weekly time with friends — these are all things that suffer when there is no routine. However, another perspective has also been brought to my attention through this experience. With a constant disturbance of daily routine there is freedom to live each day without your own agenda, but seeking to be open to God’s leading. I’m not very good about this, but I’ve just seen the potential that could be with this routineless lifestyle. The biggest key for me to keep some sanity, despite the inconsistency, is to work hard to build relationships and to get into a routine of sorts as soon as possible. The sooner I get into a routine, the sooner I feel more at home and more productive and purposeful with my time, while at the same time I try to leave myself open to God's redirection each day.
#3 “Where do you live?” I believe that I have been blessed with the perfect upbringing to prepare me for this transient lifestyle. I’m certain this is not what my parents had in mind when we moved from home to home on furlough and when we hosted people in our home, but this is an example of putting into practice the lessons I learned from those experiences. There’s a place for all the mushy stuff about “home is where your heart is”, but practically speaking, I have come to believe that your earthly “home is where your stuff is.” Yes, I realize how shallow that sounds, but ultimately heaven is home (see first blog post for more thoughts on "home"). So I have found the closest thing to my earthly “home” to be the dear home of the Selby family who have graciously welcomed me into their family and their home for several years in my times of “homelessness”. For over a year now, boxes with my earthly belongings sit in a closet in their beautiful home. A stop at their house is on the way to everywhere for me. I stay at their home (in “my” room), I am a part of the family, I unpack, I repack, and I leave again. Repeat. When I am on a job assignment, I have the option of finding my own housing or allowing the contract company to cover housing with a cut of my paycheck. My first assignment I lived in a hotel (see blog post) — not a bad experience, but I have found a better way. For the last two assignments I have contacted one of the local churches asking if anyone has a room to rent out. I would rather be in a home than a hotel and as I learned growing up, the church is my family. In the previous job and for this current one, I have not known the individual or family I would be living with prior to my arrival, but both have been wonderful experiences (so far). Thanks, mom and dad, for teaching me how to comfortably and respectfully make myself at home in any home.
#4 “You should write a book!” Okay, this isn’t a question, but a comment that I have gotten enough to put it on here and respond to publicly. If you stop and think about it, you'll realize that I don’t have enough drama in my life to make for an interesting book. It would just be a series of adventures and events...that sounds kind of boring to me...unless it is published in blog format...voila! This will do for now.
#5 “Where are you going next?” I arrived in Virginia to a warm welcome from the family I will be staying with for the next three months. Not more than 10 minutes into our conversation, I was asked this question. Later that evening another person asked me the same question shortly after introductions. I have found the frequency and consistency of this question amusing. The answer: I don’t know. I have a few ideas, but generally speaking, going into each assignment, I haven’t had a plan for the next step. I’m just glad to be in one place for minute.
