Getting too comfortable

These days, any advertising executive or marketing genius knows that the easiest way to get to my heart is to use the word "comfortable" or any version of it, really. Ever since I moved to Florida, I have been subconsciously searching for comfort around every corner. Although I knew it in the back of my mind, I've been searching in all of the wrong places.

I have been enormously blessed my entire life by a family and friends that love me and care for me in ways that I am undeserving of. Living in Indiana my entire life, until the age of 29, provided me with an sense of comfort that I was largely unaware of and quite frankly took for granted. I was never aware of how blessed I was to be surrounded by others that had similar values, morals, backgrounds and goals for the future. Although we all differed in various ways (faith, family, race, orientation), there was a common ground that I was blind to and miss dearly.

To be frank, I have felt displaced on a consistent basis since moving to Florida in 2010. I have had more difficulty adjusting to living here than I ever imagined. I have met some incredibly kind individuals and I cannot express how thankful I am to them for welcoming me. However, the commonality of faith, values, etc. has not been present with most people and that makes things tricky. Tricky because someone can be a very kind, loving person but if you share little in common with them, you are still left feeling lonely and misunderstood the majority of the time. The office I have worked in for the almost one year now is the only place in Florida I feel "understood." Even though we are all SO different, we have common values and that has been indescribably valuable to me.

When I initially moved to Florida, I misstepped and told myself that I needed to change to suite my surroundings. In the last two weeks, I have started, with God's love and support, to undo all of the damage that changing myself to fit my surroundings has done. Last evening, God blessed me with the last of many church visits and I can confidently say that God led me to my new "church home." I almost started crying when I entered the sanctuary and after I heard the biblically sound teachings, I knew that pew, at that time, on that day was where God had called me.

I am not sure where God would like to take me. I have not a clue if I will remain in Florida to serve Him or move home to Indiana to serve Him or if He will send me to Timbuktu in His name. At this point, I am simply thankful that He is forgiving. That He is loving. That He is gracious. That He sees me as His child even when I'm a goof and try on the camelion coat in an attempt to make things fit here in the sunshine state.

I know that if God chooses to have me remain in Florida it will be an interesting call and would appreciate your prayers and support!

"Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and to approve what God's Will is, His good, pleasing and perfect Will."