‘Settling In’
It has been three weeks since we moved
to a different state, a different town, a different house and a
different church family. It has been…. different. We have had many
inquiries as to whether we are ‘settled in’ or not.
to a different state, a different town, a different house and a
different church family. It has been…. different. We have had many
inquiries as to whether we are ‘settled in’ or not.
I look at the pile of boxes in the
double garage and shake my head, no. I view my meager supply of books
on the bookshelf, and the boxes of books yet to be unpacked. I enjoy
the twenty-two family pictures in the living/dining room and remember
the stack of pictures in the garage and in my bedroom, yet to be hung. As I drive
around with an Arkansas car tag, I know that I must ‘settle in’ with the
legal aspects of the move.
double garage and shake my head, no. I view my meager supply of books
on the bookshelf, and the boxes of books yet to be unpacked. I enjoy
the twenty-two family pictures in the living/dining room and remember
the stack of pictures in the garage and in my bedroom, yet to be hung. As I drive
around with an Arkansas car tag, I know that I must ‘settle in’ with the
legal aspects of the move.
It is a process, not an overnight
happening. An unmarked trail with many side-trails that beckon.
This morning, I realized that the settling in may be near – for I
went to the cabinet for the jar of instant coffee (sorry, coffee aficionados) and it was there. ‘Settling in’ means no surprises of
location – it means that the ability to find items becomes a matter
of habit, not a frantic ‘is-it-there-or-not’ search.
happening. An unmarked trail with many side-trails that beckon.
This morning, I realized that the settling in may be near – for I
went to the cabinet for the jar of instant coffee (sorry, coffee aficionados) and it was there. ‘Settling in’ means no surprises of
location – it means that the ability to find items becomes a matter
of habit, not a frantic ‘is-it-there-or-not’ search.
“Settled in’ means being able to
accomplish the necessary, leaving time for ‘want to do’s’. Writing,
thinking, reading, painting, communicating with grandchildren –
that to me is ‘settled in’. Now everywhere I look, I see things that
must be done and that niggling feeling that I must do them.
accomplish the necessary, leaving time for ‘want to do’s’. Writing,
thinking, reading, painting, communicating with grandchildren –
that to me is ‘settled in’. Now everywhere I look, I see things that
must be done and that niggling feeling that I must do them.
As I considered this state of being
settled in, I decided I needed to create an evaluation tool that will
assure that I can say without qualification that I am settled in:
settled in, I decided I needed to create an evaluation tool that will
assure that I can say without qualification that I am settled in:
I am settled in when:
• I can find my way to Walmart and
other places of businesses.
other places of businesses.
Looking for familiar streets, I have
ventured further and further from
ventured further and further from
home – to Library, the Windsor Roads Christian
Church. Target, Lowe’s,
Church. Target, Lowe’s,
Culver’s (ice cream). Made several turn
arounds, but making it.
arounds, but making it.
• I have a church home in which I
am ‘at home’.
am ‘at home’.
Preaching, friendly people, great
music, yes, I have ‘settled in’.
music, yes, I have ‘settled in’.
• The things I treasure the most
have a place in different rooms.
have a place in different rooms.
The piano, the computer, clothes,
microwave, the beds, pictures and
microwave, the beds, pictures and
Mom’s file of writing.
• I feel able to rest at
appropriate times without the urge to ‘do something else’.
appropriate times without the urge to ‘do something else’.
It is easier to write a blog and
think about ‘Rome was not built in a day’.
think about ‘Rome was not built in a day’.
• I am able to make vanilla wafer
pudding or bake cookies in the kitchen
pudding or bake cookies in the kitchen
with a minimum of effort.
The cookies were a challenge –
hunting for the cookie sheets, the
hunting for the cookie sheets, the
brown sugar container, slipped and brown sugar scattered like rain over
the kitchen floor. Then there is learning how to bake in
the new oven.
the new oven.
How many buttons can there be?
• To use the various new
appliances, take a shower without ill effects.
appliances, take a shower without ill effects.
Learning secrets of the microwave,
the kitchen stove, the washer/dryer,
the kitchen stove, the washer/dryer,
and just where is the comfort zone of
the water in the shower.
the water in the shower.
• To know which closet houses what.
Ed thinks I put pantry, coat, linen
on the closet doors for him. Helps me,
on the closet doors for him. Helps me,
too.
• To find the light switches and
the thermostat.
the thermostat.
Which switches go to which lights or
is it the ceiling fan??? And how
is it the ceiling fan??? And how
accurate is the thermostat? Does 74 really mean
74…not when it is 77
74…not when it is 77
outside! Oh!
• The pile of boxes in the garage
don’t haunt me.
don’t haunt me.
At Christmas time, I can open
several more boxes. Those cryptic
several more boxes. Those cryptic
messages on the boxes mean little to me now.
It will be a secret
It will be a secret
surprise! And those are the best.
• The way to the mail box seems
easier. I put a flower on the flag so I can
easier. I put a flower on the flag so I can
tell from the house when the mail comes.
• I am ready to ‘enlarge my
territory’.
territory’.
Going this week on Thursday, to my
first Bible Study here….and
first Bible Study here….and
learning to drive to a new place. Looking forward to
the fellowship over
the fellowship over
the Word of God…
As I look at this list, I am blest,
for I am now ‘settled in’. And I remember my visit to the Tabor
College (Hillsboro KS) museum, listening to the speaker explain that
the heavy wooden box was the size of belongings to be moved when our
ancestors came from the Ukraine in the latter 1800’s. These loved
ones’ focus was different than ours in getting settled. For they
expended their energy in a long travel time, they did not have much
in worldly goods, but basic survival on a farm goods. They didn’t
need a closet. They did not need storage space in the kitchen for
various dishes and appliances. Settling in for them was building a
shelter, plowing and planting a crop. Settling in was an elongated
time span to care for large families. What gave them the strength
they needed to persevere and continue on?
for I am now ‘settled in’. And I remember my visit to the Tabor
College (Hillsboro KS) museum, listening to the speaker explain that
the heavy wooden box was the size of belongings to be moved when our
ancestors came from the Ukraine in the latter 1800’s. These loved
ones’ focus was different than ours in getting settled. For they
expended their energy in a long travel time, they did not have much
in worldly goods, but basic survival on a farm goods. They didn’t
need a closet. They did not need storage space in the kitchen for
various dishes and appliances. Settling in for them was building a
shelter, plowing and planting a crop. Settling in was an elongated
time span to care for large families. What gave them the strength
they needed to persevere and continue on?
Their faith in God, their willingness
to bear all in order to have the opportunity to worship God in a new
land. Settling in meant learning a new language and new ways from
neighbors. But the constant for them was their faith.
to bear all in order to have the opportunity to worship God in a new
land. Settling in meant learning a new language and new ways from
neighbors. But the constant for them was their faith.
“if
you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move
from the hope held out in the gospel.”
-Colossians 1:23a.
you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move
from the hope held out in the gospel.”
-Colossians 1:23a.
Yes,
my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
Psalm 62:5
my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
Psalm 62:5
Take
my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29
my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29
May
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Comments? eacombs@att.net