Good Neighbor

I remember often a certain conversation I had in college with my best friend and roommate about what we should do with our lives. We were convinced that what we knew about Christianity and about Jesus was true: that He is God, and that because of that He is worthy of our whole lives spent serving Him. We were extreme. We were confident. We were adventurous. We were sure that armed with this realization of truth we would be sent to the ends of the earth to "testify". We were ready to live in the most horrid of conditions with the least amount of earthly possessions. There was no where we would not go!

Except suburbia. Now that was a sentence of death it seemed. I remember my friend saying: "can you imagine if the greatest thing we ever did with our lives is start a neighborhood bible study?!?" I had not considered the worth of such an endeavor until that moment, and when I did consider it, it seem fantastically unworthy.

This conversation took place when we were freshman, and by our senior years we had mellowed and fallen in love with two men who were destined for greatness in the world of business. I thought back to, often, the dreams and ambitions of our "youth", and frankly feared the outcome that my choice to marry would produce. And it did, in fact, produce my greatest fear - a cozy beautiful home in suburbia, complete with the fenced in backyard and the cul-de-sac. Oh the horror! Oh the bordom! Oh the irrationality and ungratefulness in my heart!

Four years later, I now, hopefully, understand the gospel of Jesus in a greater and deeper way - a way a that causes me to enjoy all my circumstances - delightful and trying alike. I am continuing to learn to trust the sovereignty of God over my circumstances, and to truly rejoice in his control over my life - instead of vainly trying to control it myself. I am grateful for my home, in love with my children, and I truly care about my neighbors on this little cul-de-sac that I once looked at with disdain. Which leads me to today - where I am starting a neighborhood bible study.

I hope to chronicle here my experience of making friends, raising children, caring for and enjoying the people God has put in my path, and preaching the gospel in and out of season. Maybe I will realize that my life is truly filled with adventure after all...

"IF by doing some work which the undiscerning consider 'not spiritual work' I can best help others, and I inwardly rebel, thinking it is the spiritual for which I crave, when in truth is it the interesting and exciting, then I know nothing of Calvary love." ~Amy Carmichael, If