Lessons I'm learning in this move and search for a home. Part 2 Living with your own contracts

Mark 11:23-24 ESV

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Often, during readings, I will ask people, "OK, but what are you saying?"

Then it's smacked me right in the face with my own events (of late).

Digressing for a moment, I remember talking to a church member, about this very topic. She was going through things with her kids. I often would hear her remark "Give me a break!" One day while shopping at the mall with her kids, she stated (emphatically) "Give me a break!" as she was stomping her foot. At that precise moment, she broke her foot.

What we confess (for good or for ill) will certainly (in some form or fashion) come to fruition.

For a year, I confessed that I wanted to clean out our two-car garage. Well, circumstances have occurred so that the garage had to be sorted and cleared.

I have been praying for someone to whom I could gift my mother's sewing machine After putting it on the curb, our neighbor from across the street asked if she could have it. She was (formerly) a seamstress.

What brings this into focus now, though, is my friend Nella. We've known each other since the early '80's. I read for her at Starlight (when it was off of Strawbridge). Coincidentally, she is now in her 80's. She's had a condominium in Indian Harbour Beach, since we met.

She is a dear woman, who "kept to herself" most of the time. I think it was 5 years before I actually visited her at home.

Walt and I have looked after her for these years (during Hurricanes and the like).

But for 2 years, I have been praying for a way to be helpful to her in a substantial way. I've become aware of the error in my thinking here (more about that later).

 In so-doing, praying, confessing, I was creating a "contract". Agreeing that I am available to be used as an instrument for this specific purpose, by God.

 I've lived up to more difficult contracts, however I was younger, and thinner and (I think) more naive to how much work I was agreeing to undertake.

 The error in my thinking, in this, was in not considering that someone else could help Nella. Although, I don't know if that is truly possible, because she trusts so few people. But the contract I made, I'm living now. cleaning the walls of her condo; cleaning the carpets, undressing her walls, seeing to repairs for her, replacing appliances for her. I don't regret helping her. But frankly, the up and down the stairs is waring on me.

Even the most casual of "contracts" can (and I've found WILL) be honored by God and spirit. Several months ago, on facebook, there was a picture of a cabin. A question was proffered: "You will have everything you need. No cable, no internet. Could you live here for a month". I remember responding "I could live without cable, but don't think I could live without internet."

As it happens, here at Nella's condo, We can have internet (provided via the phone lines) but we can't have a dish, so our At&T  programming is null and void.

 In the light of this, there are new contracts to which I am giving voice.

 We will find a beautiful home in the Melbourne area. There will be newer appliances (glass-top stove). The kitchen will be large enough for Walt and I to be in at the same time, creating meals and delights.

The house will be a "4/2" of sorts, preferably with a MIL suite (of sorts) that can be my art studio, reading and classroom.

We will have a yard in which to display our holiday joy.

It will be within a specific budget range for us. We will be approved by the mortgage lenders. It will be ready for us to move into at the end of closing.

The electrical panel accommodates 200 ampage. New roof, sound plumbing, sound foundation.

Yes there's even more.

Be aware, though, of the "random thoughts" as well. In our search for a new home, a manufactured home caught my attention. Not that that is a bad thing. What I really liked was the mortgage payment. Extremely low, even with the absorbent insurance.  Also, the community had a pool, and I really liked that idea.

The condo where we're staying, the rent we will pay, exact same as the mortgage payment on the manufactured home, and the condo community has a pool.

Access the contracts one is making most carefully.

We need to start staying what we mean; Meaning what we say.

Until next time, Eat something nutritious and live a life worth loving.

Lessons I'm learning in this move and search for a home. Part 1

I'm sure friends and family are sick of hearing about this move on which Walt and I have embarked.

The truth be known, I'm kind of weary of speaking about it.

However, I am learning lessons and I'm hoping to share some of them here.

The most powerful one is centered around something that I heard in a

documentary of Mother Teresa.

I am unable to quote directly as I have not found the quote in my searches.

In the documentary she said that in devotion to God, you have to be willing to be

where God puts you. If that is in a mansion, then alright. If that is in the streets of Calcutta,

then "alright".

In moving from the house in Melbourne, to the condominium on the beach we have cut our furnishings, appliances and living elements down to (an estement) 1 tenth (if that) of what we had in our previous house. Of course, a wealth of those things are in pods, so technically we still own them. There were SO many things we gave away. Neighbors gleaned and people just driving by picked up things off the curb. Things there weren't enough room for in the pod, at the condo, or in our life, any more.

It makes me sad to say good-bye to these things. Many of them enriched our lives. I console myself by saying "they will enrich someone else's life now" I pray that's true.

In the film Sister Act, Maggie Smith (as Mother Superior) tells Whoopie Goldberg's character,  "God has brought you here. Take the hint."

Of the reasons that "God has brought us here" I can think of several.

First, I've been praying for a way to help my long-time friend Nella (who owns the condo).

I love her dearly. She's been struggling more years than I can number, financially and personally. Nella doesn't allow many people (well, now those people are down to 2--Walt and me) in her condo. So the condo has needed some repair and cleaning. Not to mention that we will be a financial blessing to her.

Apparently, the only way that can come to pass is that Walt and I move in to the condo.

(see part 2-Living with your own contracts)

In the time we have been here (about 2 weeks-on and off because last night was the first night we've spent here) we've eradicated rodents (that should be Walt, Anita and Truly Nolan, mostly in that order)

Repaired two toilets (again, that should be Chuck Jacobs and Walt).

Repaired the water-heater (Chuck Jacobs).

Repaired sliding glass door handle & lock. (Walt)

Repaired the back screen door (Walt & Eric)

Replaced the stove (thank you, Chuck Jacobs, Pam Jacobs and Eric)

Washed walls (me and Walt)

Shopped for and found replacement refrigerator and range hood (delivered tomorrow)

Steam cleaned carpet in all the condo. (me)

and moved ALL the furniture in the house (looking for evidence of rodents)

All, while packing and moving the things in our own (previous home), packing the pods,

and trying to keep ourselves fed and sane.

(not too sure about the efficiency of the "sane" part)  

I'm trying to not complain. (maybe I'm complaining a little bit).

But a favorite character in another film said (talking to God-in the film Ladyhawk) "I would like to think all of this has some higher meaning. It certainly would reflect well on you.".

Until next time,

Eat something nutritious

and live a life worth loving.

-Kim