I read to
the boys this morning from Genesis: ‘Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Get out of
your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I
will show you.’’ (Genesis 12:1). Much later in the Bible, in the letter to the
Hebrews, this is commented upon. ‘By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to
go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out,
not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in
a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him
of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose
builder and maker is God.’ (Hebrews 11:8-9). Other references remind us to live
our lives here cautiously, as strangers and pilgrims whose true home is in
heaven.
We spoke of
these verses today as we were moving on again, having spent the past four
months living in a different city. It seems that over the past few years we
have been called to move on several occasions. Sometimes there has been a very
clear purpose, such as short-term overseas mission work. This time, it was more
for the practical reason of living closer to our workplaces (both my husband
and I had been placed several hours away from our home, but quite close to one
another). Whilst we had felt confident that God was guiding us to settle in the
neighbourhood for these months, it was also a difficult few months. Which led
me to reflect on the experience... Does difficulty mean that it was not right?
I recently read a study that suggested that we are part of a generation which
expects instant results, instant gratification, instant reassurance. Apparently
the craving for ‘likes’ on Facebook is similar to that induced in lab rats
exposed to pleasant or noxious stimuli. And to an extent, in our spiritual
lives too, do we come to desire, to expect, to be disappointed in the absence
of immediate results? Sometimes, perhaps more often than we realise, we don’t
fully understand why God led us down a certain path. There can be times when we
feel strongly called to a particular course of action, but are not rewarded by
affirmation that this was indeed the right thing to do. This is where faith
comes in. God does not change, although everything around us may do. He is not
like a man, who changes and can be inconsistent. My boys love to sing, ‘Yesterday,
today, forever Jesus is the same. All may change but Jesus never, glory to His
name!’ and that is truth. I don’t fully know why we made this move, and
certainly it didn’t seem as rewarding or fulfilling as other short term moves
have done. But that does not mean it was not right, and does not mean that God
did not use the time well.
One huge
advantage in home education is that we can easily move from one place to the
next. Each is simply a new set of adventures, of opportunities, of resources, a
new world to explore. And so, for these past four months, we have explored some
beautiful country parks which were a short walk from our house, have completed a full term of
Spanish lessons in the next village, we have enjoyed fellowship in a different
church, we have had a garden to run free in. I love to watch how they embrace
each new home as a fresh page, an adventure waiting to happen, a delight.
Sometimes I wonder when I lost that childlike enthusiasm! Yet another great
thing about home educating is that we get to share their delight in living, and
see the world through unjaded eyes.
Often I
pray that they do not lose that energy. Another reason we are grateful they are
not in the mainstream education sector is that we have seen how quickly
children become bored, or come to see school or learning as dull and
uninteresting. It is frightening to see how rapidly bright eyed lively children
become tired of the pace and structure of the classroom. Yes, I might
over-generalise at this point, and I know there is huge diversity within both
children as individuals and educational establishments. And some children are
spurred on towards excellence, discovery, to delight in gaining understanding of
the world in which they are placed. Just I believe that can be best achieved
through allowing them the freedom to develop and explore at their own pace and
in line with their own interests.
But back to
today’s lesson, where I started this reflection. I pray that whatever happens, that
they will grow with a worldview which understands that this world, with all its
beauty and splendour, is not their final destiny, is not their true home. I pray
that as they start to see pain, suffering and ugliness as well as the glories
of creation, that they will understand this is simply a consequence of a fallen
universe, but that one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and everything will be made
new.
As the writer
to the Hebrews continued, having discussed Abraham and many other men and women
of faith, ‘and all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did
not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us that they
should not be made perfect apart from us. Therefore we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and
the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set out for us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ (Hebrews 11: 39-12:2).
I am extremely inspired with your writing abilities as neatly
ReplyDeleteas with the structure to your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a nice weblog like this one today.
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Very encouraging, Kondwani, and definitely many places where I can identify precisely with what you've written! Thank you for sharing. It is comforting & encouraging. You are right to infer that this move has been borne from a time of suffering and pain. I am moving into the unknown, and feeling nervous, but in good company. God's people (even if they get to live in the same house all their lives) are often moving forward into the unknown with faith in the unseen as the guide.
ReplyDeleteDear Jess, it encourages me when I know of others who have similar challenges and who seek to honour God through these. I look forward to hearing the next stages of your adventure, and pray that your final weeks where you are bring loose ends together and if need be, healing in relationships.
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