Nomadic Nesting

It’s natural. a desire to “nest” or set up your home. reality: we’ve never lived in one place more than two years since we’ve been married. We’re nomads. It’s part of the calling. go where we are sent. so, whether that’s across town or across the globe, we move a lot. (Two countries, four states, eight homes in seven years). For a woman with a desire to nest this can be exhausting! Coming home with a new baby to a new apartment really challenged these two colliding conundrums. as I fought with the Lord and within myself over this for a few days, Father finally helped me rest in “tents”:

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,  if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.“

2 Corinthians 5:1-3 is a beautiful reminder that this current “home” I am in is not my permanent one. It’s just a tent! Tents are meant to move on a moments notice. and, though I do want to feel “settled in”, my comfort should not come from a constructed, concrete block (aka our apartment), but from the ROCK.

So how do I reconcile these two colliding conundrums? In a practical sense, I’m taking the idea of a tent a bit further, I can make cloth items (decorate with pillow cases and curtains) that are easy to take to the next place that will provide some consistency for my family and sanity for myself. (And, sewing provides me an outlet to create which I love). Most importantly though, first, I have to check my heart. Is my heart ready to move wherever He sends me when He sends me? Where is my treasure stored? What am i groaning for?!

“The gospel stands above and beyond all the most practical, family-friendly, or cost-effective philosophies of mothering. The good news of Jesus Christ is superior to our to-do list and metaphorical mother-of-the-year trophies.  This is because the greatest problem a mother has is not a lack of creativity, accomplishment, or skill, but her inability to love God and love others the way Jesus loves her.” Gloria Furman.

– Andi G.

Andi is a wife and mother of three living overseas in Southeast Asia.  She met her husband, Adam, while serving overseas after college.  Then, after being married for one week, moved to Louisville and started attending Ninth and O, becoming members in May 2008.  Adam and Andi served in the Singles’ Ministry before returning back to Southeast Asia in 2012 and still proudly call NAOBC their home church.