Update - Wrapping up the jobs

Sam and I have given our current employers notice that we're leaving, so now it's like really official. We'll both be done working by July 11 so that we have time to see people and places before we venture out.

Then the plan is to leave for Ohio when our apartment lease is up at the end of July. That used to seem like such a long time away, but now it feels like the end is bearing down on us fast. I guess starting life over from scratch is like pulling off a band-aid...the faster the better. : )

Reverie - More "Why Ohio"

This ties into Reason #5 from the last post. After all of the good, concrete reasons for moving to Ohio, there's still this indescribable feeling that we should just do it.

I'm really not a movie junkie...despite the disproportionately large number of references to movies so far. That being said, one of the most profound insights came to me recently from the movie Evan Almighty. God (Morgan Freeman) explains how prayer works by saying:

"If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prays for courage, does God give him courage or does he give him the opportunity to be courageous? If someone prayed for his family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm, fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"

Great questions to ponder. And considering that Sam and I have been praying a lot about growing character and being used where God is already at work, it's quite possible that God is prompting us in this direction as a result. We'll see, I guess. ; )

Update - Why Ohio?

Here are some of the reasons we are going to give Ohio a shot:

1. I have a lot of family that lives there. We probably never would have considered living in Ohio otherwise. But Sam has a ton of amazing family in Colorado, so family isn't the only reason we're making the move.

2. There are great library opportunities in Ohio - school wise and employment wise. The Cuyahoga County Library District, the district I would love to work for, is rated the best in the nation for the size population is serves. Plus they pay great!

3. There are potentially cool architectural opportunities in Ohio. Cleveland is in the process of majorly redeveloping and Sam could learn a lot about rejuvenating a city. There are also some great architectural schools, too.

4. We have lived in Colorado for most of our lives, so this will be a good chance to break out of our comfort zone and try something new. Anything challenging is character developing, so we might just become better people after all of this!

5. Finally, there's just this gut thing. Despite all reasoning for or against, we just feel led.

Labels

I have come to realize that some of you will be far less interested in the personal reflection component of this blog than in actual updates. So in an effort to preserve you from unwanted introspection, I am going to label each post with the word "Update" or "Reverie". I hope this helps ; )

Small Themes

From time to time I notice a common thread weaving through all aspects of my life. I call this a "theme". A single concept begins to appear in my work, my relationships, the books I read...everywhere!

"Themes" make me think of the movie Stranger Than Fiction with Will Farrell. Will's life is the creation of a prolific author. As the author writes the story of his life (and imminent death), Will begins to hear her narration, as upsetting as it turns out to be.

I think a "theme" is our author giving us valuable insight. A lot of times I pray for revelation about things in my life - What should I do at this crossroad? What areas of my life need improvement? What the heck is the point of this crap situation? Then, sticking with the textile metaphor from above, I wait for the answers to be knit into the fabric of my life.

Unfortunately, we can be pretty dense - it may take many attempts to help us get the message. In the movie Bruce Almighty (I know...movies...what deep founts of insight), Jim Carey's character is driving down a road while he begs God for answers, for signs. He passes an ominous looking "Caution Ahead" sign. A truck full of signs saying "Wrong Way" and "Caution" and "Stop" pulls right out in front of him. Finally, Jim wrecks his car rather than heeding the numerous warnings. The point is that God is talking to us, but we usually aren't listening.

So now when I notice the same message slip into my life over and over in different ways, I try to decipher the "theme" which I assume is an answer to a question I have or have not yet asked.

Getting Started

I don't think today was an accident. Not one moment of it. Not even the part where I "accidentally" saved over that super important file and lost it forever into cyber oblivion.

I think each moment has meaning and significance. The hard part is trying to figure out what that meaning might be. So this blog will be a place to process all of the little daily details, that when all rolled together, we come to know as life. And because Sam and I are about to leave all of the friends and family and comfort we have come to know thus far, this will also be a place to update people on life after Colorado - as if such a thing exists ; )