Move or Stay? … Hello weekend readers. My musing on moving or staying is totally predicated on Al’s and my “nomadic” lifestyle. I am writing this before we take off from northern New Mexico on Monday and wind ourselves down the mountain to Phoenix for 6 months…and then back up the mountains again next April!

So, do you move or do you stay? In the Message Bible we find directions from Proverbs 3:6:

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do,
everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

Other versions tell us God will make your paths straight or God will show you the path to go on. In other words, God is the direction you need to stay or go!

Here is a good example for us: The late Senator Paul Tsongas, then 43, shocked the political world when he announced in 1984 that he would not seek reelection because he was suffering from cancer and he wanted to spend more time with his family. His cancer was treatable—he could have pursued his career. But he said, “One night my children went to sleep with my arms around them and I realized that for seven years this might rarely happen again. I used to walk my kids to school and think about reelection. Now I walk my kids to school and think about them. My life is richer.” He adds, “Someone wrote me, ‘No one on his deathbed ever says he wished he had spent more time on his business.’”

In Genesis 46 we also see another person on the move or wondering if he should move. That was Jacob. He moves his whole extended family down to Egypt. It was not an easy thing for a 130-year-old man to do but famine was in his land and he also wanted to see his son, Joseph, whom he thought was dead. Jacob wrestled again, do I go or do I stay? Listening to God, he went, food was abundant and reconciliation happened for his family.

Trying to figure out the path we need to take in life isn’t easy. In our country, we have too many folks looking for the ‘grass is greener on the other side’ so they take that chance and way too often their move was not the right thing. So, what should we do? First, put a brake on our emotions and diligently seek the Lord. Emotions are wonderful until they are not and who hasn’t encountered a backlash from emotions?!

Also, when considering a move, we again need to seek the Lord’s perspective above all else. No matter what the move or stay is about, seeking counsel with the Lord will set your focus on the right path and give you the confidence to make the right decision. By putting thought into God’s purposes, we have the assurance in doing the right thing.

Al and I love exploring, going places, and yes, moving. When we decided to be campground hosts, we knew we would be both moving and staying. In life, we all can get easily excited about a move, especially when we feel life has been a bit boring and a move could be a new adventure. Remember U-Haul’s motto: Adventure in Moving? Well, the ‘adventure’ in hauling a U-Haul is how often it breaks down! Or, maybe you’re tired of your problems in a job or locale and you’re ready to trade them in for a new situation. Maybe the move means more money, a greater challenge at work, a bigger home, a more desirable place to live, etc. But beware: if God isn’t in it, don’t do it! Put the brakes on your excitement long enough to yield yourself fully to God, seek his wisdom and get on your prayer mat and pray!

In closing, the only way to be comfortable with your question of “do I go or do I stay” is your confirmation from God, and definitely God will let you know and God will get you there! Al and I are living proof of that! Our destiny in life doesn’t waver in the wind because God holds our destiny no matter where we go. God has placed dreams in our hearts and will open doors or close doors to keep us on the right path. Our responsibility is to move when God tells us to move and stay when God tells us to stay. It’s just that simple, so let’s embrace it and get rid of the complications. There’s too many adventures in living that God wants us to experience! Can I get an AMEN? Amen!