Well, a couple of days ago my wife and I renewed our Victorian drivers licences. This gave thought and pause for reflection on a number of fronts. Do I mention that my wife was given a 25% discount for three years of exemplery driving with no tickets and fines! I didn’t mention the fact that I most of the driving! But, regardless I am proud of her and the discount!
Anyway, firstly it gave me pause to think about the past three years. Yeah, not long you might say but that was the last time I renewed my licence, or should I say that was when I changed back from a Queensland licence to a Victorian one — and the three years? Well it was cheaper than the ten years and at that time we were skint from the move back here! But that is besides the point (hey, I do have a tendency to become distracted!) — what gave me pause to think was about the period of three years.
What had I done in those three years? Where were we as a family? Had we achieved anything? Were we happy? Were the kids settled now after all the moves? And, had I done all those things about planting a church that I had planned and thought about before moving back to Melbourne?
I must be honest and say that I knew the kids had somewhat settled and we had promised them that we would try not to move due to anything beyond our control while they were at primary school, and that yes, things had settled down somewhat and we were planting roots into the local community. But, I had to ask myself, had I REALLY followed through on all those ideas and plans I had or dreamed about prior to returning to Melbourne? Truthfully, it depressed me, as I had to admit that I had not followed through on any of the dreams or visions. However, then I realised that, that may be the case, but look at what had been achieved amongst the people we now call friends and neighbours — just by being us, and loving them in any way possible.
While what has happened over the past three years may not look like anything I had planned and dreamt abiout with my wife, it probably was more of what God wanted it to look like! I had to take stock and think that over the past three years, the things that I have done, been a part of, worked for etc have all had some impact on me and I have had some impact on those around me — an impact that resembles Jesus I pray!
Anyway, after those thoughts, we were on our way to renew the licences and we started talking about what life would be like in ten years, when we have to renew the licences again — 2018! My eldest daughter would be finished high-school, my son would be almost finished high-school, and my baby daughter would be starting high-school! As if that was not scary enough, I would be pushing closer to 50 and we would have been married for 20 years!
I wondered, to myself, where we would be at with church, while my wife dreamt about owning our own house in the neighbourhood and actually taking overseas holidays for a holiday! So, now, while everyone else has retreated to bed, I wonder, where will the Lord lead me over the next ten years? How can I serve him in the comunity and place I now live? Hear my prayer, oh Lord!
So, I would love to hear some comments and ideas and dreams from anyone who reads this!
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