Stepping off the Cliff at 51

As I being writing this post, it is just after noon on August 31st. On the other side of the world, in Bali, it is just after midnight on September 1st. Several of my night-owl friends have been the first to send birthday greetings.

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I just looked back at the post I wrote a year ago, Over-the-Hill is Exciting. It was interesting, to me anyway, to reflect back on the changes the previous decade had brought to my life. I compared the journey ahead into my next decade to an exciting rollercoaster ride.


A year later, on the day before my 51st birthday, I find myself in the position of not having a particular job or ministry to do. For my entire adult life, I have always had an idea of what is coming next. 

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Yes, there have been changes. I could compare those seasons of change to Tarzan swinging through the jungle on vines. I had to let go of one vine in order to grasp the next one. This time, though, I've let go of one vine...and I don't yet see the next one that I am supposed to grab. 
  

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Perhaps a better analogy might be that scene from one of the Indiana Jones movies where Indy encounters a stunningly deep chasm. He has to get to the other side, and there appears to be no way across. No way at all. 

He has a clue. He must step forward into the chasm, and put his whole weight into the step. When he does, a well-camouflaged bridge is there waiting for him. 

He would never have seen that bridge unless he took that first step.

Well, I've taken the step, and I don't deny it is a bit scary. Thankfully, I do have the support of family here, so it isn't as scary as it could be. The bridge hasn't appeared yet, but I am sure it will.

Whether I liken this part of my journey to riding a roller coaster, swinging through the jungle, or stepping off a cliff, I know God is in charge, and I can trust Him. 

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• He designed the rollercoaster.
• He strung the vines.
• He built the bridge.

 I may not know how everything will work out, and that's OK. My part is to keep stepping forward in faith, trusting Him to lead me in the way I should go. His ways are higher than mine.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:9

Settling In, Starting Over

Rachel and I have been back in Ohio for just over two weeks now. It is good to spend time with family and reconnect with one of our supporting churches. We'll catch up with the others as soon as we can.

Of course, starting over in Ohio means a lot of things are new. 

For Rachel

Getting started in school was one of the main things. School started on August 19th, and she has slipped into that routine very easily. She likes her teacher and is making new friends. I don't think that surprises anyone.

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Another main thing for her is spending time with her grandparents.She is really enjoying that. So am I.

For me
There were/are three major things that need to fall into place.

• Find a car
• Find a job
• Find a house

Not actually my car, but like it. I keep forgetting to get a photo. Sorry.  Image

Yesterday, my nephew took me to check out a car that he thought would work for me. As he is a mechanic, I trust his judgment. I am now the owner of a 1998 Subaru Impreza. I bought it free and clear...and the price was really good. That is the first item off the list. I am grateful for the car that was lent to me for a month by a lady in the church, but it is good to have a car of my own.

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Last week, I focused on applying for work. I don't have any firm leads in that area. I'll put in a few new applications today. I will also be exploring the possibility of doing editing work from home. That would take awhile to get started and find clients, so I'll need other work in the meantime to pay the bills. Please pray for an open door in that area as soon as possible.

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The house, of course, has to wait until I have a job, but I'm keeping my eyes open. It will be exciting to see what God has in store in that area.

The title of this post is "Settling In, Starting Over". I suppose we are still a bit more on the "starting over" side of things than we are actually thoroughly "settling in". Even so, God has blessed Rachel and me with an ability to be flexible and adaptable. I am thankful for this, as starting over, especially for me, involves a big step into the unknown. 

There is one thing I do know, though. God has been with me all the way for the past twenty years in Indonesia, and I know He is with me now. I may not yet know where I will work or where we will live, but He does. He will let me know in His good time. (But please, Lord, let that be soon.)

You Said WHAT?!?

In the small hours of the morning I was jolted out of what must have been a really weird dream. My first college roommate Nancy was standing at the sink in our dorm room washing her face. Perhaps she had dropped something in the sink, startling me awake. I sat bolt upright in bed. 

“You said WHAT?!?” I asked in a voice that betrayed shock and confusion, leaving poor Nancy mystified.

“Julie … what’s wrong?”

“You said WHAT?!?”

“Julie …”

“You said WHAT?!?”

“Julie!  Wake up! What’s wrong?”

Finally, my conscious caught up with my subconscious. “Oh … Never mind.”  I lay back down, hoping to go back to sleep.  No such luck. By that time, I was thoroughly awake. I began to chuckle.

Nancy looked at me curiously. “What?”

“You’ll never believe what I thought you said.” I had to laugh again. I thought you said, “It’s time to feed the gorillas!” We both got a chuckle out of that.

I have absolutely no idea now what could have possibly prompted a dream about feeding gorillas. After all, it happened 32 years ago. I did not get any profound spiritual lesson out of that incident at the time. However, looking back, I can see a parallel between my reaction there in my dorm room, and my reaction now when something unexpected happens in life.