In my 20s and 30s, I moved a lot. In fact, a friend jokingly told me that I had reached my quota of moves and he would no longer help with future moves. At one time, I moved from a house without another one lined up. The home where I had been living sold after 2.5 years on the market.  And while it had been on the market for over two years, I only had four weeks to find another place. As people found out about the impending closure of the property, the question that was asked more than any other was ‘Where are you moving?’  It was with slight awkwardness that I would reply, ‘Um, I don’t really know.’

I’ve learned that sometimes spiritual discernment can appear from the outside to look like irresponsibility.  At that time, I called about apartments, e-mailed homeowners about renting houses, talked to potential roommates, searched Craigslist, and spoke with a mortgage broker but at the end of the day, I had a bunch of closed-doors or absolutely no peace about the options that I had considered.  So what did I do?

I moved most of my stuff into storage and ‘couch surfed’ for 17 months.  One week here, 3 weeks there, and 3 months in another spot praying all along that God would prepare the next place for me whether it was more permanent or simply another temporary home. 

But all these plans reminded me of a greater truth.  Wherever I live and wherever I end up, it is simply another temporary home.  It may have the appearance of security with a lease or deed.  I may hang paintings on the wall and place clothes in my dresser, but it really is just another temporary home. 

In 2006, I bought a one-way ticket to Africa and boarded the plane with just a backpack full of clothes.  There was something liberating about leaving my apartment and 99% of my possessions behind.  I realized at that time that you don’t really need a lot to live.  It’s a dreadful existence when the possession of possessions starts possessing you.

Jesus really understood this lifestyle.  He said, “foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”  When he sent his disciples out, he said “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.  And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.”  He knew his time was fleeting.  He knew possessions would weigh his disciples down.  And by living this way, he popped the bubble of the cultural mindset we call the American Dream.    

Oh that God would remind us of the temporary and fleeting nature of our earthly homes with the call to turn toward Him as our dwelling place like the psalmist who proclaimed, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.”  That He would teach us that material possessions cannot bring ultimate contentment.  And that He would challenge us to trust Him for His faithful provision.