Be Where You Are
Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve done a real post. And right now, I’m trying desperately to cool off from my first 6 mile run, so I seem to have plenty of time to sit up in my desk chair and type. I am only using my fingers and not getting any furniture sweaty. And, I did not run the whole thing. Probably just 70%. Nonetheless, I feel pretty good about it. It took 1 hour and 10 min in case you were wondering.
I feel like I constantly have things to blog about, but lack the real time to sit and do so. Even now, laundry is waiting to be folded, dishes to be put away, and giggly little girls to be played with. But, I do have a few things I want to put here so the future me can go back and read it someday.
God has been changing my heart so much over the past year and a half I don’t even know really how to put it into words. We (God and I) talk about it a lot. Change that is. In me, in life. And the thing I seem to be getting most out of our conversations is “Be Where You Are”. Terry shared that line with me, and I would love to give props to it’s orignator, but I cannot remember for the life of me who it was.
For so much of my life, I have always looked forward to the next step. Graduation from high school, college, getting married, buying our first home, getting pregnant, then getting pregnant again…like little notches in the belt of life. When one goal was attained I began wondering what was next and when it would happen. I rarely just enjoyed where I was in that moment.
This was especially true when I didn’t like something about my life. Take the counter tops in the house in Corinth. (Ok, I know this seems petty, but it’s just one example.) HATED THEM. I couldn’t wait to move into a new house with better stuff. Granite was preferable really. And then God finally moved us. To downtown Dallas. I had granite alright, but my friends lived (what I considered at the time) crazy far away. And gas was like 2.75, so I didn’t have a dime to spare. Ha ha.
I had no idea how good I had it when every one of my best friends live within a mile radius. I had a tribe (as my friend Anne would call it) who I relied on when Terry was out of town or for anything that would pop up really. We all attended the same church and our kids were the same age. It was glorious, but I was too busy looking online at houses to really appreciate it.
So, here I sit in Oklahoma. I am much farther away from my friends and family than I thought I would be. I’ve gone back to work. And, still I have to keep myself from wondering what is next. Will we move again? Farther away? Will I get to stay home again some day if we do?
And quietly, God reminds me, “Be where you are. Enjoy the blessings of right now. Do not worry about tomorrow; it may not even exist.”
So, for now, I will enjoy the summer with the girls and Terry. Late evenings playing outside and having dinner with new friends. I will enjoy long daily conversations with my Dallas tribe, and trips to see them!
And God. I will enjoy Him and what he has to teach me while we are here for however long we get to stay.
Robin, to give proper props my quote “Be where you are” comes originally from Exodus chapter 24 when God tell Moses to come up on top of the mountain and stay here. However, it was beautifully unpacked from Rob Bell in Everything is Spiritual. He expands on the verse and the literal translation was come up on top of the mountain and “be on top of the mountain”.
Amazing DVD! I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone reading. I look forward to watching it again really soon.
I was going to mention I believe that was a quote from the Bible but couldn’t remember where…so thanks Terry!
I miss you friend…but I know you and you can make the best of any situation. You are a ‘doer’ so I know you won’t be alone or bored.
From my experience, I can think of a further and worse scenario…over 600 miles away at $3.89 per gallon, no friends, 116 degrees, no pool and Formica countertops!
Love ya!!!
Hi Robin, I haven’t checked your blog in a while b/c I always forget the address so I was wondering if you mind if I just link you on my sidebar? (I don’t know how to use Bloglines and won’t be taking the time to learn anytime soon.) Anyway, I was just so thankful to read your post and know that you are learning to appreciate the move. (I am the one who also moved here from Dallas several years ago and had a terrible time adjustiing as well.) Anyway, you wrote so well of that lesson that God taught me too in a huge but different way not too long ago. Then I was reading some of your other recent posts and saw that you had quoted something from the Consumer Queen website. Do you know her? She is one of my very best friends. (I’m the one who also knows Laurann Gateley.) Anyway, I was just struck by us having so many similarities. We should hook up sometime and meet. Except that I USED to run a lot and haven’t in so long and need to get my butt out of a rut and am so intimidated that someone who works outside the home would also get up at 5 A.M. to run in the cold! Girl that is impressive and takes away my most comfortable excuses!
Anyway, good to catch up with you. I hope you are having a wonderful summer!
Robin,
It was SO great to see your post pop up in my google reader. I have missed you friend!
Your post really resonated with me. My life too has been a series of waiting for things and looking out for the next big thing. I found myself recalling all those times that I have missed out on because I was looking ahead to the future when all the Lord wanted me to do was enjoy the here and now. Thanks for being vulernable and sharing yourself with us.
I like to say that I don’t know what the future holds but I know Who holds my future. Now that the three younger children will all be in high school I have started feeling a little sad lately recalling times that I was so caught up in the next thing and now these precious kids are going to be gone soon. It pains my heart at times.
It was great to read your post. I look forward to more!
Blessings,
Vickie
I know exactly what you mean. I’ve been going through a “restless” season myself. Feels like I need some adventure or change. I’m learning to embrace where I am right now and enjoy it rather than looking for the next best thing. Glad to know I’m not the only one:)
Restless is the word for me too. For me, I think I get bored easily and I am constantly looking for the next exciting thing. Often, that means I am missing something right now that God has for me… even if that something really IS boring.
God is dealing with me about the same thing. Thanks for posting this and helping me adjust my perspective.
Great post with a great reminder, Robin. We miss where we are when we are constantly looking for the next thing.
You have summed up my entire life in this post. I spend hours trying to figure out how to quit my job to stay home, or look at houses online, or daydream incessantly about homeschooling… all things that I think would miraculously make me happy and satisfied. yet I, like you, hear God gently nudge me to embrace now. It is all we have, and where He is.
Thank you for sharing this… I will be re-reading it for sure. it is comforting to know others face the same struggles.
(Had to laugh at the counters- I am still hating the blue laminate 4 years after moving into our house. ugh!)
I needed that! I am the same way, always looking to what is next.
Robin - Thanks so much for your thoughts today. I’m not where I want to be or where I know I’m going to be in the near future, but God’s asking me to be here today…so I’m going to try and be fully present in the moment to see what it holds!
This post was SO worth the wait. Great insight Robin, and I could not agree more. Now, the problem of actually doing it. BTW- way to go on your six mile run! You rock!
with apologies to the now, not then or when!
Story of my life. I am working at getting better at enjoying the moment. I think my “live life by a to-do list” mentality has leaked over from daily tasks into my overall life. Thanks for the reminder to just BE. Enjoy. Breathe. Take note of what’s going on around me EVERY DAY. The little things. Because those are the best things.
I tend to worry about the future, always have to have a plan and if it doesn’t go my way, i feel like my world crumbles. Horrible, but the truth. This quote will become my new moto. It speaks volumes, thanks for sharing.
Who knew we had it so good…i also need to live in the now! I need to ponder on that today!