Skip to main content

Building a life.

Living is a process of building. Building life. Building relationships. Building a routine and a day-to-day. I have been reflecting recently on the process of building in this season of my life. As different bricks in life are coming into place, it’s almost like an invitation to be faithful in how I build them into my life and steward them. I can either hold them loosely or choose to fix them into this life I am building.

I recently added an extra job into the mix. A job where I work with people. People who function differently and yet still have complete value in the eyes of God. People who I find it a challenge to connect with, and yet realize are very much connected into the heart of God. Again it’s an invitation to embrace the opportunity to get revelation of what God’s heart looks like for these ones. As I work with them I want to see them not just as another job I am doing, but as a job I can do with purpose and the right perspective.

Perspective. Life is lived through perspective. Right now the pace of life has gone from slow to heading into busy, and yet I desire to see it not just through the perspective of walking through the tasks of every week, but through a perspective where my life can have a greater purpose then just making ends meet and contributing to our society functioning.

Society. It’s funny how it seems like having entered into the Norwegian society, there are a number of expectations and things that are simply part of living in a country of many shifts in weather and climate. With outdoor activities being high on the list of extracurricular activities in the life of the “average” Norwegian, raingear, skiing equipment, wellington boots, raincoat, hiking boots, winter jacket, and numerous items of clothing made of wool make up quite a list of needed items. Yet at the same time I look at my life and wonder how much of it is really necessary. I don’t want to fall into the trap where I feel like I “need” a bunch of things to be in place here. And yet, I must admit that I do see the wisdom of it. The wisdom of a raincoat and boots when it’s cold and raining, so I suppose I will have to acquire them in time.

I keep building. Building a home and a life here in Norway. Trying to be intentional in the places I am and go, and steward the things I am doing well, while looking for God’s heart in them.

And as I build and journey, and as life goes from slow to busy, I try to remain at peace. At rest in God which is a “rest” that doesn’t change with the pace of activity. A peace and a rest which is constant and eternally available.

Popular posts from this blog

My heart is full

I sat waiting for the train while drinking chocolate milk and eating what we call solbolle for lunch (which is a large cinnamon roll with custard in the middle). My heart was overflowing with gratitude and love, and such a deep sense of fellowship and “family”. I’d spent the morning drinking coffee at my old job at Crux , catching up with all the amazing people that make that fellowship and sense of togetherness what it is. Since many are fully vaccinated I got to give and receive quite a few good hugs. Hugs that communicate so much more than one can put into words. It was strange being back after 4.5 months, and yet it felt so very normal. Conversations on deeper levels, sharing victories and joys, and putting into words the good we see in each other, filled my heart until there was simply no more room. Waiting for the train it felt like my heart was overflowing. My new job is great. I love the team I work with, enjoy the challenges, and feel humbled by the privilege of being invited...
Read more

There was a before and there will be an after.

“Do you really think it will go over?” A question posed as I was chatting to someone over coffee this week (with distance of course). My immediate response was that yes, I really do think it will go over, but I don’t know when or what it will look like. I don’t know when we’ll be back to “normal.” But to be honest, I am not sure I really want things to go back to being as they were before ... The past seven weeks have been so very different. Social distancing, staying one meter away from others, having permanently dry hands from antibac and washing hands a lot, and having to limit most interaction with others to a screen, have become part of everyday life. And of course the distance and isolating part of this “normal” I have no desire of seeing become part of the after . But at the same time I see good growing in this time of crisis; good that I do want to bring into the after , and what will become my normal when this crisis comes to an end. Time. Whether we like it or not, o...
Read more

Finding pockets of life (and a bubble-tea metaphor).

“Where can I find life?” has been a question I have asked myself a lot recently (but really for years). And really the deeper question is: “What is life, and what does it look like?” I guess the simple answer is whatever makes you feel alive on the inside; that brings a smile to your face; and that gives you energy and increases your capacity. There are so many side-effects of burn-out; or maybe they are rather causes of burn-out, which when combined become a huge mountain that can topple even the strongest of people. But once you have been depleted of your capacity to stand in the face of the challenges around you, one of the things that can help increase your energy and capacity is finding pockets of life. (And of course a lot of other things like rest, exercise, patience when the process is slow, setting boundaries etc. but that’s for another blogpost). The past months I’ve been watching and searching and paying attention. Searching for choices that will bring life, and paying att...
Read more