Moving On

I had a weird dream last night. We were moving. Our furniture was outside our house. Folks were looking round the house considering whether they wanted to buy it. We knew we were leaving the home we’d lived in for nearly forty years, but didn’t know where we were going.

I felt alone, insecure, uncertain, and woke up quote anxious.

I got up, had a shower and started singing the old Stevie Wonder song:

‘Cause there’s a place in the sun
Where there’s hope for everyone
Where my poor restless heart’s gotta run…

My positive nature kicked in… If I’m feeling alone, insecure, uncertain, anxious my default position is ‘Look back with gratitude, look forward with hope’. My positive nature and my secure faith is good…

I read my Bible… Ezekiel 19. It’s a lament. The strong, proud nation of Israel is like a lion caught in a trap. Ezekiel is with powerless, grieving Jews in exile in Babylon.

They could look back with gratitude, grateful for times when their God had been good to them, their Promised Land flowing with milk and honey… They could look forward with hope – their exile would end and they would rebuild Jerusalem… But for now they’re home-less and hope-less.

Like an old dusty road
I get weary from the load
Movin’ on, movin’ on…

A number of friends are going through really tough times. They’re weary with their load on that old dusty road. Telling them to move on isn’t helpful and can be an insult. Reminding them of the place in the sun can belittle or deny their sadness and suffering.

Along with my friends I’m sometimes in that place of tension and apparent contradiction. I’m outside my empty house, alone, insecure, uncertain, anxious. I’m not sure where I’m going or how I’m going to get there… But I still have hope, I still believe in that place in the sun, that new home in an unknown location. By God’s grace I’ll keep moving on.