From Punishment to Privelege

I have an invisible checklist floating in front of my face all the time.

Don’t be fooled, it isn’t a well planned, full sentence thought out checklist. It doesn’t have neat boxes to cross out or even complete meanings behind the items scribbled across my minds eye. Really, it is just the culmination of everything I feel needs to get done before we move. Believe me, I feel it all.

Lately though, I have been trying to change my perspective. I read a tweet the other day which struck a chord with me, “Change your have to’s into get to’s.”

You see, I don’t want to give anyone the idea moving to Germany is a punishment. Some of the things I am and will go through are difficult, but they are all part of the privelege of participating in God’s greater story. I am reveling in the pure adventure of it. The sensation of having a repeatedly given up dream almost within in my grasp is a glorius feeling.

The checklist isn’t.

The checklist is what makes me sigh and look slightly terrified whenever someone asks, “So you’re moving to Germany?”

The checklist is work.

The checklist is an overwhleming lurking pile of undefined “have to’s”.

So I am changing my thinking.

I don’t have to sell all my possesions, I get to sell minimize my life and responsibilities.

I don’t have to divide my belongings among my friends, I get to let them enjoy it while I am away.

I don’t have to get up and go to work everyday, I get to have a job to help provide for our move.

I don’t have to leave my security, family and friends, I get to go on a great adventure.

What do you GET to do?