New Year and Unemployment, Keys and Finality

Happy New Year!! Well, we have started 2008 with a bang. As midnight struck we found ourselves unemployed, homeless, and making plans to skip the country. We are truly excited to be in this place in our lives....trusting the Lord to help us through every step of the way.

Have you ever noticed how who you are is wrapped up in your keychain? I know this sounds a little weird, but in the last few months I have noticed this little oddity. For example, I am a homeowner....I have a key to my house. This key means I have neighbors, a routine where I come home each night to the same people mowing, playing, driving the same cars, etc. It means I lay my head in the same place each night. (this one really hits home:)

So, for the last few weeks, we have been shedding keys. Keys to the house. Keys to the cars. (we only will have ours 3 more weeks...) Random keys to things like parents and siblings houses....giving those back because I won't need to get in at any odd times once I don't live here anymore. And finally this week we will give back two keys that have been on our key chains for more than 11 years....church keys. WOW! What finality that seems to bring. I wonder what it is like to go to church and not be able to unlock any door and find whatever you need? I wonder what it is like to not be able to have an office to throw your coat in so you don't have to carry it around all morning. You see, this is a big one for my because I have always had keys to the church.....even growing up in TX because my parents were on staff...I had keys to the church there too. Now....where I am going, there won't even be a chuch to have keys to. There is something a little scary about handing back all the keys that seem to make you who you are. No longer are we homeowners, carowners, or GULP employees.

On that note, let me say there are so many mixed emotions in this move. We are so excited, yet the reality of goodbye is slowing choking over us. So pass over the keys....another piece of who we have been is coming to a close.

Those who have done this before us keep telling us the importance of giving up our rights. How we aren't entitled to anything...which isn't that what dying to self is really all about? Anyway...it must start with my keychain.