Blog post as posted on Aid Sudan’s Blog.
As Blaise and I have begun to prepare for the uprooting our entire lives in Indiana to move to Uganda, we have found some adjustments to be more difficult than others. Throwing out years of stockpiled junk…easy. Meeting with potential financial supporters to share our story and God’s work in South Sudan…easy. Putting our house on the market and preparing our hearts to turn it over to someone else…not so easy!
You see, this lovely little house that we have lived in for the last five years is not just our house, but it’s our first house. You know, the one that comes with dreams and plans attached, the one that means we’re finally settled and “on track” in our lives, the one that says we are here to stay. Only that is not what God has intended for our lives, and while we could not be more honored or excited about our job descriptions soon being filled with ways we get to serve Jesus in South Sudan, we have had to take a huge step back and make some assessments of our commitment to follow Christ and the faith that involves.
I’m sure many can attest to the difficulty that accompanies the physical and [more painful] emotional attachments that come with selling one’s first house. For us, this has been an opportunity to be obedient and to express our faith to others, as this goes far beyond the statement that we’re willing to sell our house and move to Uganda. This says that even though it’s very hard to let go of this dream now, we are doing it because we know that this home, made of wood, plaster, and nails, is not our real home. Our real home is to be forever with Jesus; our real home is Heaven, and every faithful step we take here on earth is just one step closer to an eternity with a loving and merciful Father. What’s a stick house when compared to the Kingdom of God?
There’s a popular Christian song that I’ve been listening to a lot lately to remind me of this beautiful truth. It’s called “Where I Belong” by Building 429, and the chorus says:
“All I know is I’m not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong”
And isn’t that the truth? My prayer today for you and for me is that we would joyfully give up the things of this world in order to get more of Jesus.