Tuesday, April 8, 2014

move

Hearing that a friend whom I deeply respect, share every deep thought with, and confirm hers, is going to move on up so to speak, makes me feel nauseated.  Maybe because we've talked a LOT about her conflict internally, spiritually about not needing or wanting a bigger house, to not be in suburbs, etc.  So how can I be genuine?
  A similar feeling happened when I heard another friend was doing the same thing three years ago. Could they be the same reason?  I would hope not, because my respect is higher for one. 
Heard in a podcast sermon that the world, surprisingly, isn't impressed with a huge house, going golfing all day sunday, our outwardly worldly obsessions, possessions, but what the world takes notice of, is people like the new pope, and Mother Theresa.  downward mobility, humility at its most sacrificial level. 
Us and our three kids, take up 2 bedrooms.  Two,.. we have 4 bedrooms, but 2 aren't slept in.  I can see why downward mobility isn't that 'sacraficial' when where we 'lay our heads down' for 8 hours, doesn't need to require solidary confinement when all we're doing is sleeping!  I can't judge, and say you're worse, b/c I have a four bedroom house.  But I do sometimes think MINE is too much, a little too nice, and large, when some teens come here and they have a tiny run-down home.. and I do, wonder when kids are older, if they will ever need, or want, or if I will want them to have their own space.  In a way, I think the older they are the more I'll actually enjoy our conversations more! AND the more I won't want them up, alone, with their hormonal minds, in their solidary confinement of a room, its actually seeming more and more like an unhealthy way to grow psychologically!  When we're most wanting alone time, or space, is sometimes when we feel the MOST lonely, unvalidated, and needing comfort, or even answers..
What I love about living here is living close to like-minded believers.  Who challenge me deeper, to live more simply and ALSO more sacrificially.  So when a friend I deeply respect announces plans to get a bigger house, I want to scream "NOOOOOOOOO!  I respect you and your life of obedience to Jesus so much!  Please don't make a move that our selfishness craves, our world deems necessary, that we all fall prey to!" I want her to experience what we've experienced from choosing a 'harder' path, to make a move sacrificially, the benefits we've felt feel and want others to experience, TRUE community from God, Blessing from obedience..so am I saying that her moving means less of God? That can't be right..so Lord help me!
...then I worry is it a jealous thing? It can't be, b/c I live in a ridiculous huge, nice big 4 bedroom house myself.  I honestly believe its that I crave to be around people who challenge me, and live in a way I want to model my life after, and when a decision is made to move 'up' I wonder if it matters to God? If I'm being Judgmental in my sadness.  Because I am not mad, I am not saying she's not a believer!  Because I deeply respect her...I just wonder if my feelings are ...valid?  If I feel this way for a reason..if praying about it is trivial, a non-issue, even nosey?  When I say I'm not mad, I may question that..I do roll my eyes when thinking about it.  Maybe its because it comes off as the typical American dream to move to a bigger home, that hard work finally pays for.  But I roll my eyes because its expected, and I expect people like her to beat the odds of falling to that pressure of needing a nicer home....Lord help me respond how you would, and want me to. Help me to understand your heart, and what to do about my seemingly foolish feelings about this trivial, but emotional decision. 

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