The time is here! We are very honored to have our first guest poster, Lauren from The Ripple Effect! We are big fans.
Her story is one of life, love, death, and the undying faithfulness of God. Read her About page to get caught up, and then after reading this, go back to her blog and read every post. There, we just planned out your whole day!
Enough us, here’s Lauren!
(photo: “Flying away from home”, Mackenzie Rollins)Hi. I’m Thing #2 (see 2 Cool Things post below). Otherwise known as Lauren. Nice to meet you.
The Cool ‘Rents have asked me to do a guest post. I’m honored. And highly nervous. So please, I ask you outright, like my post. And please visit many times so their ratings go up. That would give many people joy, including myself and the Cool ‘Rents. Thankyouverymuch. Ahem…
Well then, my newfound blog friends, I find myself as of late in the business of important decision-making. I’m a single mother, and I’ve decided to move across the country. In this decision, I will be leaving the place I grew up in (Though love it as I may, I’ve tried to escape at least 10 times now, and always end up trudging back into town, smiling sheepishly at how I told everyone I was pretty sure I was going to be a French citizen for the rest of my life, or join some resistance revolution in an obscure country, or something like that), my wonderful family, my awesome church, and my beloved house to the ravages of renters. This is, to say the least, intimidating. The thoughts racing through my mind at any given moment look something like this: Lord, am I screwing up my child’s life? Lord, am I screwing up my life? Lord, please don’t let my house burn down, be involved in any drug transactions, or be completely demolished when I see it next. Lord, do you really want us to go across country? Lord, will we be happier there?? Basically, I’m freaked out about it.
So why am I subjecting myself to this anxiety and hardship, you ask? Because, I say, as I look off into the distance with glazed eyes, I’m looking for opportunity. Because change and the hardships that come with it just may make myself and my son better people. Because I’m hoping for something better. I don’t even know what. I’m living on the brink yet again. Yet again, living on the brink.
I’m sure most, if not all, of you know what I’m talking about. The brinks of life are unavoidable. I’m thinking pubescent kids walking off to their first day of high school amidst kids 3 feet taller than they are. I’m thinking moving away from the comforts of home to go to college for the first time. I’m thinking walking out of the church as the wedding bells ring, wondering what will be in store for yourself and the person you just married. Finding out that you are indeed fertile after all, and because of it, will now be caring for another human being completely dependent on you. Job changes. Big moves. Retirement. Ultimately, the biggest brink life has to offer, death. Oh, and none of these necessarily happen in that order, which adds to the chaos.
Some people love the brink. Others loathe it. And some, like old people (And unfortunately I fall into the group with old people on this one…Dang it!), are just tired of it and want to get it over with already. There’s an air of hopefulness, some excitement, some anxiety, and, oddly, some peace that ultimately, it’s all up to God anyway, so just go with the flow. I mean, I look at where I was 2 years ago, and would never, ever have guessed that I would be where I am today. There’s been some big stuff that has gone down, yo. But I’m still here, aren’t I? So I sit here and wish I could peer 2 years into the future from now to be able to say, Oh yeah, that was a good decision. In the end though, I’m not a big decision regretter. I don’t believe that life has as much to do with what actually happens to us, but instead more to do with how we handle what happens to us. After all, we all live on the brink of tomorrow.
So, I’ll move across the country. The Cool ‘Rents will start a new national trend of going to the Target cafe for dates in formal attire. My parents will get new jobs and prepare for retirement. My good friend will get married soon. And we’ll all look back at those brinks in our lives and forget that they were ever as stressful or pivotal as they seemed. But, mostly, we’ll see how God works out all the little details that seem so confusing and overwhelming from our limited earthly viewpoint. And the threads that make up the tapestry of life begin to make a grander picture. God is sovereign and He is good.
I’d love to hear about what the brink is in your life or your perspective on life changes. Perhaps you could give me advice on what the heck I’m supposed to do. Tell me. I sound creepishly like Dr. Frasier when I say “Tell me” like that, even though his line was “I’m listening.” I’d be more creepish if I had a really low voice, which I don’t. But really do feel free to advice me up, especially because if you don’t, it’ll look like I failed as a guest poster…
Lauren, thank you so much for sharing! I am one who finds “the brink” an exciting place to be, but likely because I never seem to be on it. But having read your “about” page, I am so excited for you and the faith you’ve been given. “Brinks” are so often “tremendous opportunities for God to do his thing with us…”
I have been following your story for several months after finding it through a friend. I so admire your strength in the face of heartbreaking circumstances.
My advice, for what it’s worth, is to go for it. About 15 years ago, I packed up my life in Colorado (the only home I had ever known) and moved to Nashville. I didn’t have a job, didn’t know a soul, and had only passed through Tennessee once before. All I knew was that I wanted to try something different… to shake things up. I vowed to stick it out for 6 months before I threw in the towel.
Well, 15 years have passed and Nashville is now my home. My life is here. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, a beautiful son, an amazing church, and dozens of friends that are truly part of our family.
Follow your heart. You will be amazed at what God will do when you are willing to step out and follow Him.
What’s particularly funny about this, Laurie, is that your entire life has been lived on the brink. You are always chasing something that causes change. I cannot think of any decision you’ve made, though, that wasn’t for your growth, and that growth usually got to spill over to the friends that you brought along with you for the ride. You trust God to guide you where He wants you to be. That’s not living on the brink – that’s living on faith.
I happen to dislike living on the brink . . . SO WHY THE HECK DID I MARRY A TAYLOR!!! Maybe because somewhere deep down I really DO crave living on the brink, or maybe God wants me to depend on Him and not changeless circumstances (which is a dumb thought in the first place) and therefore placed me on a constant brink when I married Tim. Hmm. I love you and can’t wait to see you in 2 weeks!!!
best of luck! and a very lovely drawing as well!
moving can often be a very unique growing experience.
hey bub.
i find that we’re on these brinks a lot together. pre-marriage. marriage. bus driving/survival mode. relationship endings. crowning moments (or heads). new life. the end of a beautiful one. bosnia. tension. tears in hvar. seattle.
i’m thankful for all we’ve gone through before, after and during the brinks.
more to come. i’m glad i don’t have to do it alone.
i love you bub.
i am about to move across the country as well. i continually ask myself if it is the right thing to do and how and what and where and everything. I remember a few years ago when I was debating whether to move to a distant place, God answered me in my thoughts…i don’t work by sending my angels and then you going, but rather you going in faith that my angels are there waiting. it dawned on me that his priority was faith in him, details and bigtails.
Wow! Read the guest post then the about page! And wow! Read your article here first and moved with laughter and wonder. Read your about page and was moved to tears!
The Lord goes before you Lauren. He’ll lead you wherever it is you need to be. Even if it feels like a blind limbo process, He’s moving with you!
CD and CM, what are the most points you can get for having Lauren post? Okay…give yourself that then =)
I’ve lived on most corners of the US, and the only thing I know about moving is that if God is driving your moving truck, everything is going to be okay.
That just sounded really cheesy.
People are pretty much the same, although churches can be easier to find in some places, but your closet will probably go through the biggest change. Living in Texas now and not having a true winter has seriously lowered my number of fleeces & sweaters.
God bless you & little Jackabee. God has you tight. It’s gonna be alright.
There’s the cheese again!!
Lauren, you rock!
Cool Dad and I both like the idea of brinks…as long as they are low-risk brinks and we can fairly accurately guess the outcomes. ha
I realized while reading your post that I particularly relish any opportunity to think about past brinks.
Tam–glad you could “meet” Lauren! I’ll consult with Cool Dad on the cool points. We’re getting pretty cool these days…
Lauren, I have read your blog off and on during the last few months and have been encouraged to hear about your journey.
I am also a single mom who picked up and moved with my son far away from parent’s, family and church to strike out on my own because I felt that is what God wanted me to do. What a ride it was and I will never regret the challenge, struggle, growth, memories and bonding with my son. We are now back “home” and we miss our 2 year adventure. Although sometimes it was daunting and I was scared I am absolutely grateful for the experience and was able to see God taking care of each and every need as they arose.
Prayers for you and your son that it will be one of the best experiences of your life!
Hi Lauren,
I am just now “meeting you” through CM & CD and I can’t presume to understand your feelings or your journey, but I do know that God is faithful.
I think sometimes He would rather us feel our need for Him – just like Paul’s thorn. It also seems that no great person from the Bible had an easy life. In my life, easy is me seeing God’s call to faith and saying no, I’ll stay right here where I’m comfy.
You may have heard this 20 times already, but I don’t believe it’s trite to point you to Hebrews 11. Read about those who lived by faith. See how often they lived at the brink. They did it because they believed God. If you are at the brink because He called you there, keep your eyes on Him and don’t mind your circumstances! Remember, Jericho was safe, Ai was not! God’s will and speed to you!
I think movement whether to the brink or away from the brink is one of the only things we will continue to do.
I hope to find out how this brink treats you was you have stepped over into another one.