Walls

I haven't posted in a while, but things are hoppin' here as we ready ourselves for a major life transition... we are moving. The funny thing is, we just did this a year ago and we thought we had hunkered down for a time. But, things compel us, and as Sir Frances Bacon said, "A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds." So, we sold the house, found another one and are preparing to make a leap from one well known, familiar state, to one, though often visited, not so well known or familiar. I think of this as exciting. To picture myself in 2 weeks, throwing myself (well, ok, shyly edging myself) into new territory, new faces, new voices, new venues of knowledge, understanding, humors, and backgrounds, and, as I am told, new vocabulary and pronounciation ('creek' will now be 'crik') fills me with anxiousness, good and bad. It is like waiting in line for the really big roller coaster for the first time, watching it and knowing it is going to be really good and really scary. Well, maybe that is a bit dramatic for a move from mellow Washington to laid-back Wyoming. But moving a family of 6, again, tends to lean toward the dramatic side. As I put Maren, 4, to bed the other night after a big packing day, she said goodnight, then her pointed finger flew up to the wall by her bed and she cried out, "Uh-!", then to another wall, "UH-!", then the other, "UH-! Where's my-?!" "Pictures?", I finished for her. She nodded, her big eyes fearful. I explained that we packed them so we could take them to our new house with us. Immediately her mouth opened into a huge, surprized smile and she let out a "Hooray!" Then she asked if we could take her walls with us. She suggested that we just get a big knife and cut them out. After smooching her for her cuteness I assured her that our new place will have walls. She was satisfied and went to sleep. Of course, I couldn't sleep for a long time after that, making mental "to do" lists and "what if" scenarios, picturing what still needed to be packed, and what my new yard will look like after I've had my way with it. So, I lose some sleep, I get some good inspiration, a little mental preparation, and renewed determination, then, I get some sleep. I like this quote:

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. ~King Whitney Jr.

I think you can be confident in your hope, while preparing in case things do get worse... I think that is a definition of Faith and Good Works. Believing in things not seen, but hoped for, and working to ensure the best possible outcome against all odds. Life is hard and changing. To fill our lives, our souls, with beautiful things, things that make us better... things we take with us, that is important. The walls, we have to leave. They are, after all, just walls.