636 and some change

That is how many miles we traveled to get to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The first few miles were the hardest by far.

Leaving the Mission House early Thursday morning was much harder than we expected. None of us were really ready to go. Each of us was tired from a too-late evening before and morning anxiety over the unknown future. Our things wouldn't all fit in the van like we planned and they seemed to multiply as I put them in.

The hardest part is what driving away represented: a page turned and a chapter closed. As we leave there is a feeling of being left behind.

But we had to drive away. We passed places that remind us of special times and even more special friends.

Within these miles were our daughter's only house so far. Within these miles were places where we had some of the most significant heart to heart conversations of our lives. Most of all, within these miles were places where we met with our God and heard his voice.

But we had to drive away. We had to leave. We had to drive forward toward towards the grace our Father has promised us in the future.

Jesus has already traveled this road. He had to leave home. There is something about hearing the Father's heart that is compelling...and leads us to faith-fully feel out of control.

We traveled 636 miles and some change in what one author calls "Future Grace." We believe that the One who calls, also compels, and also comes through.

 Though the grief of leaving stirs up old, long forgotten doubt, the faith of going opens up new territory in knowing the Father's faithfulness.

The next miles are a road we have never traveled before, but we travel with Immanuel. So many that we treasure are still around mile one, but the One who dwells with us is big enough to be with them and with us.

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God." (Hebrews 11:8-10 ESV)