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Have you noticed how many songs carry the theme of ‘moving on’?
Gaining inspiration from their circumstances, writers create lyrics about ‘moving on’ – a readily identifiable common reality we’ll all face throughout life. Whether referring to overcoming difficult situations, moving beyond loss, hurt or disappointment, ageing, moving on from a relationship, or moving on to new fields of endeavour- ‘moving on’ confronts everyone.
Murray Smith
Regardless of what we’re moving on from, change is a huge unavoidable part of life. Done well it offers opportunity for growth and learning – even when it’s as mundane as shifting house. Actually- right there, is a trivialisation… relocating is rarely simple!
I’ve had a few house moves over the years and we’ve just undergone another one as a family in recent weeks. It’s fair to say ‘moving on’ this time has created a sense of upheaval, as well as lots of in-depth reflection too – perhaps more than ever before.
Preparing to move a household whether nearby or further afield, inevitably requires thought, planning and adjustment. Moving on is exciting for some but daunting for others.
Our ‘moving on’ was confronting. We made plans to sell our home of 10 years and entered a drawn out, unsettling process of determining what exactly we were moving to, where exactly it would be, plus when and how we were going to achieve it.
Having sold our home it remained unclear just what the next step should look like.
At this point, it’s relevant to say that having a personal faith in God and an unshakeable belief that He is with us and answers prayer, made the difference. It’s not that we check our brains in at the door, but at times we just don’t ‘see’ with enough clarity and wisdom to make right choices.
In Chapter 3 of Proverbs (from the Bible), it puts the situation really well. There, God extends this invitation to us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” In the very next line, it admonishes us ‘not to be wise in our own eyes’.
Those words have meant a lot to us as we’ve navigated our recent ‘moving on…’ I said it had been confronting. Here’s why. Packing up to shift, the awareness of how much stuff we’d accumulated and piled up was overwhelming… stuff we didn’t need, might not ever use, but had kept. Acquiring more ‘things’ just happens and we’ve determined to apply the brakes, using the antidote of simpler living and giving, to meet practical needs of others.
I know it’s relative, but most New Zealanders have a lot. It’s a dated statistic but Oxfam once stated that owning a car (even an older one in dubious condition) places you, by way of how the world’s resources are allocated, in the top five percent of wealth owners!
Jesus frequently warned against ‘stuff’ choking our real life, blinding us to eternal realities. “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
May God help you in your ‘moving on’ challenge…
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