Posted by Pastor Disaster on July 22, 1999 at 12:16:35:
In Reply to: Re: Seeking comfort... posted by John on July 22, 1999 at 10:57:14:
: : : : : : : : Here's a question that requires only a quick response. But if you'd like to go on and explain WHY, that would be even better...
: : : : : : : : If you were going to relocate to another US location in one year, where would it be?
: : : : : : : It seems that many people want to go back to places they have already been. How is it that so many people end up in places they don't want to be? Just an observation.
: : : : : : : Personally I like it right here. It is wet and hot, there is no such thing as snow, Christmas's are not white, it is lush and tropical, an underground capitol (albeit waning), it is a place where life is hard and uncomfortable apart from technological convenience...what better place to live out our few years on this rock than right under the searing rays? I didn't even mention the oceans or the storms! But that is fine... the more people who leave the more room for me and those who wish to blend into the swamps and underbrush. In this unique climate life is vivid and tenacious. God's hand abounds and his creation subsumes all unattended artifices readily and rapidly. What better place to live?
: : : : : : Although my wife probably thinks you are decidedly insane, I understand what you're talking about. You know, you are very old for your age...
: : : : : : As Thomas A Kempis said long ago:
: : : : : : He that seeks comfort and ease shall ever live in discontent, for one thing or another will displease him.
: : : : : : Truth is, wherever you move, you'll have a brand new set of inconveniences. If we're moving to seek greater comfort, we're just picking the set of problems that we think will bother us the least. Once we have our desire, and enough time passes, that new set of problems often becomes just as intolerable as the last set, and once again, other locations become very appealing.
: : : : : : The bottom line? Moving primarily to seek greater comfort will always dissapoint you eventually.
: : : : : : Hopefully we have some more important reason we feel led to move, and are seeking some opportunity to be a blessing in that new environment.
: : : :
: : : : : ~~I doubt if Tampa is my ideal location for climate, culture, etc., but I have moved away twice and moved back twice. Each time I moved away, I encountered really tough circumstances. And since Tampa is a place that holds a great deal of people I love, I returned here. That reason alone is enough for me to want to remain in Tampa, and I couldn't think of another place I'd want to be.
: : : : : By the way, was this question merely to start discussion or is someone truly looking to move away?
: : : :
: : : : Tampa is where our best friends are, and for that reason alone I wouldn't want to leave...
: : : : ...unless they all turned on us - then we'd have to go elsewhere to find new friends to annoy.
: : : : <:•ø
: : :
: : : Wouldn't it be weird if we all moved to the same place? Not like all in the same house, but if we all moved to the same town and got jobs there and worked on doing whatever God called us there to do. Talk about unity and commitment to each other!
: : ~~That would definitely be weird--but isn't it interesting how we all ended up in Tampa and happened to come into each other's lives? I know we are all praying for what God is calling us to do as a church group, and as a ministry. And in the interim, we can work on unity and commitment to each other right here and right now! Any thoughts on this?
: Yeah, I would like nothing more than to become even closer with all of my church family. Lately God has been laying it on my heart alot. I am really thankful for all of you. It would be really incredible if we were literally closer than family. I know this is hard to do, but isn't that what Christianity is all about, doing the impossible? I guess it has to start with one or two people being willing to take the initiative to love, even though there may be nothing returned and it brings hurt. Jesus was the first, maybe we could start the revolution again be siding with him.
: I know this is always the point where everyone gets cautious and i am sure that i myself will back out at times, but I want to do this. Right now I feel in sound mind and say that i want to do this, sure I'm going to fail at it from time to time, often at first, but that is where I need you to be my accountability. Correct me, I'm asking for it. Anyone want to join me?
Well, OK. But be gentle with me; I have a multitudinous array of correctable anomalies. :-)