Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Lie of the Vacation
The problem with vacations is that they end. I am convinced that the reason so many people want to move to CA or Florida is because they vacation there. When you're on vacation, the world is idyllic. For the last two weeks, I have enjoyed time with family, old friends whom I have not seen in years, and been engaged in wonderful conversation and fellowship. Who in their right mind would not want that to endure?
For the last two weeks, the stress has been reduced, and while life always has at least some worry, most of that has been gone as well. But what happens (I think) is that people think that the weather of a place brings joy, and so they move to a "better" place, thinking that it will fulfill their needs, but life with all its stress follows them.
We have lived in Minneapolis almost 3 years now. The novelty of the place has worn off, and the more established we get there, the more stress comes with life. We are members of a church that is trying to nominate officers, our kindergarten aged daughter is receiving home education and violin lessons, we have a 16 month old who is asserting himself more each day, and my work continues to have unanswered questions, as new stores loom on the horizon. And this time in SoCal the weather comparisons were particularly on display. Since there was an 80 hour period in Minneapolis when it did not get above 0 degrees, we not only had to hear about how awful that weather must be, but we were also able to be on display for inquiring minds who wondered how a human being could live in such a place. The contrast and self congratulatory nature of some in SoCal made the contrast even more pronounced. At times, we felt like we were under scientific observation.
So this vacation taunts me. The weather was warm, but never materialized into a severe heat wave. And it was remarkably clear for SOCAL, with the mountains on display pretty much every day. We spent time with friends we have not seen in years, I finished 2 books, ate at some great restaurants, saw two movies, and napped quite a bit. The challenge that I feel that God is giving me (one that I could never face while on vacation) is to rely on him with all the uncertainties that continue to show themselves in our future. Minneapolis is a wonderful home base for us, as we cannot live on eternal vacation. But I cannot help but have my position supported: that work and the stress of life is not natural, and that at times like these when we can focus on friends and family are the times when God reminds us what we indeed created for.
So as we say hello again to the snow of Minnesota again, we say hello this time not as foreigners, but as an old friends coming home. We love our home, and we love all that it has provided. Minnesota is a place of endless beauty, much of it only made possible by the harsh winters. We are thankful for the time we could have here. We are thankful for an idyllic time of rest. We now prepare for the trip back north, and we look ahead leaning on God to help us through the uncertainty of the next year. Thanks to all in SoCal for a great time.
For the last two weeks, the stress has been reduced, and while life always has at least some worry, most of that has been gone as well. But what happens (I think) is that people think that the weather of a place brings joy, and so they move to a "better" place, thinking that it will fulfill their needs, but life with all its stress follows them.
We have lived in Minneapolis almost 3 years now. The novelty of the place has worn off, and the more established we get there, the more stress comes with life. We are members of a church that is trying to nominate officers, our kindergarten aged daughter is receiving home education and violin lessons, we have a 16 month old who is asserting himself more each day, and my work continues to have unanswered questions, as new stores loom on the horizon. And this time in SoCal the weather comparisons were particularly on display. Since there was an 80 hour period in Minneapolis when it did not get above 0 degrees, we not only had to hear about how awful that weather must be, but we were also able to be on display for inquiring minds who wondered how a human being could live in such a place. The contrast and self congratulatory nature of some in SoCal made the contrast even more pronounced. At times, we felt like we were under scientific observation.
So this vacation taunts me. The weather was warm, but never materialized into a severe heat wave. And it was remarkably clear for SOCAL, with the mountains on display pretty much every day. We spent time with friends we have not seen in years, I finished 2 books, ate at some great restaurants, saw two movies, and napped quite a bit. The challenge that I feel that God is giving me (one that I could never face while on vacation) is to rely on him with all the uncertainties that continue to show themselves in our future. Minneapolis is a wonderful home base for us, as we cannot live on eternal vacation. But I cannot help but have my position supported: that work and the stress of life is not natural, and that at times like these when we can focus on friends and family are the times when God reminds us what we indeed created for.
So as we say hello again to the snow of Minnesota again, we say hello this time not as foreigners, but as an old friends coming home. We love our home, and we love all that it has provided. Minnesota is a place of endless beauty, much of it only made possible by the harsh winters. We are thankful for the time we could have here. We are thankful for an idyllic time of rest. We now prepare for the trip back north, and we look ahead leaning on God to help us through the uncertainty of the next year. Thanks to all in SoCal for a great time.
# posted by Unknown @ 7:26 PM 
