Painting Pictures of Egypt

October 14, 2012

Here we are.  Two months away from leaving the Air Force for good.  Starting a new business.  Moving to a new state, one with a much higher cost of living.  One with a LOT of traffic.  New schools for the kids.  Having to find a new church.  A new hairdresser.  A new dentist.  A new... everything.  As a military family, we have done this dozens of times before.  But this... this is a different move.  This changes everything.

And while we are convinced and assured that this is where God has been leading us for some time... I need to stop there.  We are convinced.  And assured.  That THIS is where God has been (and is still) leading us.

He is calling us out of the military - where things are familiar, and secure. Where we have financial security, both present and future.  Where housing is provided, where health care is provided, where we have an instant community of people to welcome us in and make transitions easier.  Where we automatically have things in common with everyone around.  It's easy.  It's familiar.  Why on earth would we want to leave?

Because this is not where God wants us to be anymore.  Our decision to join the military 13 years ago was just as God-led as our decision to get out is.  Our time in the military has grown us and stretched us as individuals and as a family... but we are ready to have Duane home... to have "Dad is away" be the exception, not the norm.  To be settled in one place while our kids are in their teen years.  To be closer to aging parents.  And to start this business where we can be peacemakers, providing social services to low-income families.  To be bright lights in the darkness, to live as Christ's example.  

 So I need to be on guard.  Right now.  To be sure that I'm not glorifying in my mind the good that the military life provides, without remembering that God is calling us beyond that and will provide for us just as surely as He has in the military.  Without remembering the struggles of the military life.

There is a song by Sara Groves called "Painting Pictures of Egypt"  (It is linked below for you to listen and see the lyrics) The Israelites, called out of bondage and slavery in Egypt, complained and wanted to go back after time in the desert proved to be challenging and not what they had envisioned.  How are we different?  It would be so easy to sit back into the endless pity party - "Oh if only we hadn't left the military - remember the health care?  the free housing?  the community?"  we paint in our minds this glorious paradise... without remembering not only the struggles and reasons for leaving, but most importantly  the fact that GOD called us out of there and provided a way out!

And the thing is, I feel like as we are looking ahead at the next couple of months and the transitions ahead, I feel like I'm already "Painting Pictures of Egypt".  And I need to stop that.  Yes, I can mourn what we are leaving.  I will definitely miss many aspects of being in the military.  And that's ok.  It's all a part of the process.  But I need to keep my eyes fixed on Christ, leaning on Him for guidance, knowing that He is not going to leave us.  He will provide.  He will not lead us into this new life and abandon us.  He has more planned for us than we can even imagine.  Looking back and holding on to what we "had" will only prevent us from seeing what He has in store for us.