This week has been a week where I have sat back and looked at life a bit differently. I think I have mentioned in past posts that I have lived in my current city going on 12 years. I certainly do not want to offend anyone and that would not be my intention but this would not have been someplace I would have chosen to live.Our life is different, though, we do not have that option of picking and choosing where we live as our life is a calling and where we live is chosen by God. I have lived in some very beautiful cities through my lifetime. Cities that were extra clean, never would you see a mattress dumped on the side of the road or an old tv. You would not see the landscape littered with trash and old shopping bags. Graffiti, was something you saw in movies but certainly not in my towns, until I came here and I experience all the above. I know my poor husband has to get tired of me complaining about our city. Don’t people care? Don’t people have any sense of pride? What is wrong with people. I mean it is the desert so the landscape is already less than desirable, shouldn’t we as least make every effort to keep it nice? I said to him the other day that I feel like God has made me live in a pigpen. Strong, I suppose so and possibly a bit dramatic.
On Valentine’s Day, yes Valentine’s Day because nothing says romantic like attending a 5-hour city council meeting, I sat and actually stood for half of it in a very crowded room. I am a people watcher, I wonder where people have been and where they are headed. Has life been good to them or are they hurting? Do they have kids or don’t they? What brought them to this beautiful area? (thought with a sense of sarcasm) Were they raised here or did they transplant? Are they content or waiting for a ticket out? I know I have a lot that goes through my brain, it exhausts me sometimes. Anyway, back on track to this crowded room. I started looking at people in the room some caught an eye with me and others did not, but what I realized was I know these people. I know quite a few people in the room. These are people in my community. I see my daughter who is a junior in high schools first-grade teacher sitting across the room. I see 2 moms that one of my other daughters used to do gymnastics together with their kids from 5th grade up. Those kids are in college or even graduated by now. I see other people that run community homes in our town that we have worked alongside for the past few years. I see pastors and their wives that the longer we are here the more intertwined our lives become. I see a council member that I have met and chatted with recently. It then occurred to me, these are my people. I had a sense of belonging. It crossed my mind how even the night before when my husband and I were chatting and he said I just see us staying in this area and me thinking…REALLY! What about moving to the beautiful snow of Idaho, the lush green of the northwest or the beautiful plains covered in wildflowers in the midwest?
Yesterday, I spent time with someone I personally would consider a dear friend. She is spunky and full of life, she loves Jesus but is real to the very core. She and her family would literally give you the shirt off their back. I can’t even recall how long I have known her but I know it has to have been at least 9 years. Her family has had an amazing impact on my kids. They are hard workers, they love their family and they are givers. They are my people. I went to bed thanking God for putting such treasures into my life. I think about my friends at my church, it crosses my mind the ones that have truly made me feel they are there for me. They have got my back. If I need something they come through. We have laughed together and even cried together. They are my people. I consider the people God has led me to outside of our church through other ministries that I help with here in this desert and a sense of purpose and belonging rise up in me. I have rejoiced in victories with them and have been heartbroken with them. I long for them to succeed…they are my people.
I realized at a 5-hour council meeting where the outcome for my city did not go in the direction I had prayed or hoped that I am right where I am supposed to be, this is where I belong! I realized I have never in my entire life felt the sense of belonging like I have this week. It was a strange and wonderful conclusion all at the same time. The desert it is, I will stay here and love on my people, my community. I will try and not let the things out of my control bother me and help change what I can. I thought what if God would choose to move us? He has already done it many times. We would go and be obedient but I think my heart would be ripped out a little more than it ever has been before. At the time being this is where I belong. This is where my people are. This desert is actually beautiful when I give it more thought, God has given me lots of beautiful people. My husband shared this verse on his bible app the other day. It says, If you are really wise, you’ll think this over – it’s time you appreciated God’s deep love. Psalm 107:42-43 msg. I love that and it is definitely time I realize that God’s deep love put me here.
Until Next Time…
robynstroup 
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