We’ve been in Rockport for three months, and not once during that time have we had neither need nor desire to go to the nearest big city, Corpus Christi. In fact, we’ve taken the ferry over to Port Aransas less than a handful of times. I’m grateful we’ve found everything we needed right here, and when we couldn’t, we ordered it online and had it delivered.
Big cities are a mess now and, except for having to drive anywhere around them, we avoid them as much as possible; in fact, it’s been five years since we drove the RV to St. Louis, my hometown. My brother, who still lives there, says, “Don’t come here—we’ll come to you. We’re always looking for somewhere else to go.” It’s gotten to be a crazy, mixed up, upside down world out there where anything goes. It’s painful to watch.
I can’t help but notice how withdrawn I’ve become over the past three years, and I reflect on that a lot because it’s contrary to my nature. It almost feels wrong. But considering all the attempts that that been made to “divide and conquer” our families, our communities, and our country, it’s easy to understand wanting to keep a low profile. I’m grateful to count serenity and peacefulness among the things that my mobile lifestyle offers.
Among the things I withdrew from these past few years were social media, watching television and going to movies. I recently got back on Facebook, but since my hiatus I find I don’t check it as often as I used to. I’m grateful for that. Instead, and also contrary to my nature, much of my early morning time is spent reading the Bible—that’s how messed up I think the world is. But it brought me closer to a God of my understanding. One that works for me when I let Him.
My relationship with God is 12 years in the making and is evolving and deepening continually. I am by no means a holy roller. I don’t even go to church. But a miracle happened when the obsession of alcohol was taken from me, seemingly overnight. Even though I was baptized and raised in the church, I didn’t really know God or His power until my need became desperate. Now I know what’s been missing in my life, and I almost can’t get enough.
Gratitude keeps my focus on what’s good in my life, not the minutia. And since I’m powerless over everything outside of me, I work on various aspects of my own self that I can control: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. I’m grateful for sanity in an insane world.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.. ~ 2 Timothy 2:21
