This is not my Home

This is not my Home


Cabin fever set in weeks ago. My job is 100% remote so my office is right here. I don't get out enough and winter makes it worse.

When we first moved to Central Ohio, it was for a job. The kids were in high school. There was a lot to do, schedule, structure. But then the kids graduated. I also left that job for one where I worked from home some days. And then I left that job for one where I'm at the home office every day.

We made good friends in Ohio, but our current lifestyle leads us to lose touch. I realized a few days ago that I have unconsciously neglected my friends. I keep blaming my busyness on the job, and I AM busy due to work. But I really miss our friends.

It's not just friends that I miss but family too. My sister and her husband live about 5 hours away. Most of the times we have visited, we stayed at a hotel. It just gives us more space. But it's costly. My parents moved to that town. We saw them a few times. Then Mom died. Then Dad remarried. He can't travel as much as he used to, and his new wife can't travel much at all. My parents and my in-laws visited here several times over our tenure here, but that doesn't happen anymore.

This World is not my Home

So I'm feeling like a man without a country. The place is nice. The people are nice. But we've lost touch ... just sitting right here. What happened?

A couple days ago, I remembered my own high school time. I can remember Tim Savage playing guitar and leading us in worship. He had a signature way of singing, "This World is not my Home". I can hear him ...

... And I can't feel at home in this world anymooowwwaaahhhrrr. (anymore)

I love the Buckeyes. I also love Texas and still consider myself a Texan. I'm proud to be an American. Neither Ohio nor Texas nor even the U S of A are ultimately "home". 

Bloom where you're Planted

Suddenly my joy is back! Jeremiah 29:7 comes to mind. Ecclesiastes too. I find myself thanking God for every ray of sunshine.

The work is exciting. God will provide the time to see friends and family. He will provide the airline tickets to get there. The work is hard, but God will provide wisdom and strength to get it done.

Last week (now nine days ago) we visited the Short North campus of Rock City church. It was great! The main pastor was linked across multiple campuses (the Short North pastor was out). His sermon reminded me to value friends. THIS week (now two days ago) we visited McLean Presbyterian. That pastor too preached about friendship, specifically David and Jonathan.


I saw one of the students walking home. Turned out to be Matt across the street. He was cutting across our yard, as they do. I'm happy they cut through. Oddly makes me feel like we're somehow helping out.


-- R; <><

Small Things

Small Things


The meeting went well.
Actually, there were several meetings and they all went just fine, but one in particular had me worried, and it went great! Praise God!


Most of my meetings are with customers. This worrisome meeting followed a meeting last week that hadn't gone so well. Tech talk had regressed into compaining. No one was happy. The root cause was probably just lack of communication, two sides of the conversation having different understanding of the scope and purpose.


For the follow-up yesterday, I was going to be on-point. Somehow I sensed it was an opportunity. Marilyn and I prayed for the Lord to open doors, give me words and wisdom, and soften hearts. The lead executive from the customer side drove the meeting and did really well. Lots of gotta-do-next but noone was unhappy. Praise God!


I carry the emotion of my own load and that of others. I am so incredibly blessed. There's really nothing to complain about, nothing to worry over, and certainly nothing to fear. (If God is for us, who can be against us?) Yet every day I find the feelings. There's much to do and much still waiting on one thing or another. While I'm largely content, I sometimes get stuck behind circumstances. And there are others who are really discouraged; I feel their pain.


We're supposed to live by faith and not by feelings. Just now, while praying, God reminded me of His victories, what he has done in my life. So I choose to hold onto the small things which remind me of God's hand in all of this. I will focus on fact.


God is good.


-- R; <><