Maps

Maps torn at the creases. Unfolded and refolded over the years. Attempts to plot journeys. 

Travels over land. Across the sea.

The flat paper world of continents and countries. Oceans and rivers. Cities. Mountains. Plains. Deserts.

Light-weight and world-at-a-glance. 

Foldable. Disposable. 

Unlike real-life-living in the marks on the map.

The lines have fallen

“The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places” ever changes. Rearranges into new cultures and patterns of life. 

The path to the market uncovered and discovered quickly. For survival and stability.

Whether we pitch our tent for two years or eight. Each stop becomes home in its own fascinating way. 

Roots tangle deep in place and people.  

Transition

But moving across the lines on a map means pulling at those roots. Shaking loose rich soil.

Transition.  

Disorienting.

No matter how prepared I am. Turns out, I’m not quite ready.

Opposing sides

And journeys to the next country and culture unearth opposing sides. In me.

One side clings to permanence.

The address that’s a constant. For driver’s licenses and paperwork. Ongoing relationships. Known and trusted. Familiar routes.

The other side? Restless.

Ready for another adventure. The next crossing. Anticipating a deep dive into the new. Language. Customs. People. City streets. 

Bring it on.

Investing

I remember teaching our children about investing where we are. Putting down those roots. 

And warning, “It may hurt to leave, but that means you’ve really lived there. And made good friends.” 

But all of us. Sooner or later. Question the pain. Is it worth it? 

Too many moves. Too many goodbyes. 

If I’m not watching and praying, or even if I am. Exhaustion settles in my spirit. And at the next stop, I hold back a little. 

Sigh. 

Maps

Today, I look back on these maps of our lives. 

We’re the ones a little creased and wrinkled now. 

Hard twists and turns. Depths and the heights. Anguish in the middle of moves. Unexpected surprises and comforts along the way. Empty pauses.

All parts in the real life of these maps.

Purposeful

Remembering reveals. We’d do it all again. 

Because following Jesus is no flat paper tour of the world. But one of dimension. 

Purposeful.

And abiding in Christ through prayer and the Word helps us stay rooted. 

Hopeful. 

He is our stability.

Watch Him work

Over the years, we watch Him at work in real time. Transforming men and women and children. Across countries and cultures. 

All over the map.

He calls them out of darkness, into His marvelous light. Bringing the dead to life. 

Pure joy.

By faith

I consider how it all unfolds. 
By faith. In surrender.
We walk. Step by step. 
Always into the unknown.
Always.
Trusting the One
who sees the whole map. 

He knows the way. 

What about you?

Have you looked back over your map lately? Considered how and where the Lord has led you? Do you ever struggle to really live where He’s placed you today?

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