the land in between ...

Did you know that there's a Between, GA?  Well, there is.  Gavin basically lives there.  It is named Between because it is "between" Athens and Atlanta.  And really, it's a blip on the side of highway 78 just before you get to Monroe.  With a whopping population of 148, it's only claim to fame is Joshilyn Jackson's book of the same name.

I feel like I've been living in Between ... and I have been ... both literally and figuratively.  Today I re-started a book I put on my kindle (I have some reading ADD) about living life in transition cause let's face it, I'm not sure how many more Augusta meltdowns Callie can take!  :-)  And it was cool to hear Joanna's perspective as she related what I was sharing with the most infamous of the lands in between ... the wilderness!

And I do so identify with the Israelites on so many levels ... maybe I better get out that Priscilla Shirer study from last year and look at this again (cause apparently those lessons didn't stick!)! 

The Israelites LEFT captivity.  They were slaves.  And God did these amazing, no-way-to-miss-that-He's-involved things to get them out of there.  They were miserable.  It was NOT the life God intended for them.  And he said, ENOUGH.  And brought them out, to bring them to a place He had prepared for them in the sweet Promised Land.

You'd think they'd be thrilled ... thankful ... expectant.  Maybe the first day when they were still basking in the whole Red Sea thing.  But what did they do?  Before the Red Sea was even a blip behind them, they wished they were back in Egypt.  Why?  Because it was known.  And when something is known, we are often lulled into being comfortable ... even when something is not good.

Now, I didn't leave captivity.  But I did leave an environment that was just not healthy for me.  And even though, one of the things I've most looked forward to about this new adventure in Augusta is the ability to regain some balance and to have a healthier, more sustainable life, I find myself, just like my buddies the Israelites, wishing for the comfort (albeit captivity) of the known.  Focusing on the little things and the tough parts instead of fixing my eyes on where God is taking me.

God has good plans for our lives.  He promises it.  Not easy, but good.  How I wish those two were synonymous, but too many sweet, wonderful friends are running after God with all their hearts while all Hell breaks loose in their lives for me to believe this.  I know, I know, good does not often equal easy ... neither does "right" for that matter, if we are keeping score.  But still it is good.  The Promised Land awaited them.  But they didn't want to trust, didn't want to follow, didn't want to obey.  They dug their feet in, complaining all the while ... and building a golden calf to make themselves feel better, while God was meeting ALL their NEEDS.

I do NOT want to make this time in Between last 40 years because I am doing the same.  And I don't want to miss my view of the Promised Land because of my lack of obedience.  I don't know how long this season here in Between will last ... or this season in Augusta, for that matter.  But I know the same God who provided manna twice a day is the same who has given me a sweet family with a garage apartment (did I mention they have a pool and it's still hot here??!).  He has given me a new freedom in life and ministry.  He has given me the opportunity to still be in Athens once a week.  He has given me wonderful friends here AND there (yep, don't know which is which either!) and today, I got to spend my afternoon walking 7 miles along the canal with a sweet nursing student who shared her God story and her thoughts on ministry here in Augusta.  Been a long time since I've had the time to hear.

Gonna pick back up with my gifts list ...
566. a swimming pool in my new backyard
567. a gracious family that's welcomed me into their apartment and their lives
568. laughing over a homecooked dinner with 12 people I had just met
569. our 7 mile walk and talk
570. Being able to run/walk the Greenway and Canal ... maybe my favorite part of Augusta
571. Gavin's Dad's cadioversion being a success
572. cell phones that keep us in touch when we can't be together
573. a temporary HOME
574. cooking for David and Callie (and Wells)
575. love that in a week, ASU BCM has 53 friends on facebook!
576. I have friends in Augusta I haven't even gotten to see yet
577. feeling more healthy
578. having students yell my name down the hall at the club fair yesterday
579. being able to go to Callie's when my day seemed to fall apart
580. Joanna speaking truth into my life
581. at least being able to leave a facebook message when there's not time to talk
582. chatting with my Mom.  She's my most favorite!
583. finding out my parents are coming to GA in October!
584. being able to encourage Gavin's mom today
585. having two families
586. finding a parking place at ASU after 40 minutes!
587. the cooler mornings and evenings
588. country living
589. being a "good" tired
590. little Caden breathing on his own
591. seeing people all over the world pray for this sweet family and Caden's heart
592. fresh peaches
593. cookout at SONAT Monday!  Love my nurses!
594. the smells of dinner in the crockpot
595. getting to go to church with Gavin last Sunday
596. crafting with Kristen
597. sharing life
598. chocolate cake
599. seeing how excited people are that BCM is back
600. finding contentment and joy even in the midst of tough stuff
601. my super sweet realtor ... even if I can't sell my house right now