Bloom Where You’re Planted

Or what I am learning about the word “never”

Rewind a little to July 15th, 2010.  I packed up my belongings and said goodbye to Southern Indiana vowing NEVER to return. Sure, it had been an ok five or so years, but I was done. I was not coming back.

Moved overseas, had a an awesome year, blah, blah, blah…

It’s now July 12th, 2011 and what am I doing? Packing up again to move back to Southern Indiana. Literally almost a year from the day that I said I was leaving for good.  Every single door opened and so clearly fell into place that I had to eat my “I am never moving back” statement. Apparently, God was not finished with me in Southern Indiana.

Today is May 11th. Which means I am pretty close to a full year of living back here. And the other day, I caught myself saying, “I am never staying here.”  As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I wanted to take them back.  History has shown I should be careful with my never statements. However, the bigger issue lies in the battle going on inside over trusting that God’s plan for my life is worth following.

I spent much of my college years questioning why God opened the doors for me to move to Southern Indiana.  After four years of struggling to fit in, to find a community, and to actually enjoy living here, I was done. I was moving overseas and never coming back. Unfortunately, my stint overseas did not last quite as long as I had planned and in this economy, an on-the-spot job offer is not something you turn down.  Couple that with an acceptance letter to graduate school and I had exactly what I wanted in the exact place I never wanted to be.

But I moved. I followed what I believed to be the next step. And you know what, an odd thing has happened. Slowly and surely, God has been showing me that this is exactly where He wants me, at least for the time being. It has shown up in things like:

-New friends that I can’t imagine life without

-Best friends that I imagine will still be there in 50 years

-An unexpected lunch that turned into a HUGE source of encouragement

-A church that is my community, home, and lifeline

-A job that I love

-The opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree

-And a love for life that can only come from my relationship with God

More importantly, I am learning that God’s ways are always higher than my ways. I am learning that the best way to see God work is to dig in where He has planted you.  Am I still secretly hoping I am not here forever? Sometimes, but each day I am taking my future and placing it in God’s hands. As I do that, I am digging in, throwing in, and living it up right here right now. Location irrelevant, I am going to continue to serve, love, and live life to the max. Because no matter where you are, it will be miserable if you are constantly thinking being someplace else would be better. Or you are doubting that God is really as faithful as He says He is.

So today, join me. Dig in and bloom wherever you are. Enjoy life to the fullest and trust, as I am, that when the time is right God will move. Until then, apparently He has more in store for me right here where I am.