Moving

After chatting with some people at church today, it dawned on me just how different individual worlds are, even within the same room. They mentioned having lived in one spot for all their lives... wow. Often I wonder what that's like. They claim it gets tiresome - seeing familiar faces at every turn and knowing what everyone's like. They'd prefer to get a taste of moving to all of the 'exotic' places we've lived. As they speak, I'm taking it all in rather wistfully. Strange how we'd like to switch places for a day. From my perspective, there are advantages to both sides. On the one hand, moving frequently allows you to live in some incredible, eye-opening places. You have a chance to see life how the locals do - an opportunity that tourists don't have. On the other hand, you are more likely to lose friends and friendships after so many moves. The majority of the time, others don't leave their house often... maybe never. They had their friends before you came, and when you leave those people will remain for them. You seal off that acquaintance's face almost as though it were a time capsule. You expect it to remain that way always. But when you finally have a chance to catch up again, you realize how quickly time ran ahead of you. That's the hardest part - the part 'stay putters' don't realize. Moving does strengthen you, however. You become resilient, independent... you rely on family a lot more, too. You notice friends you never knew you had: your siblings. They understand you, they know you through and through, and the best part you learn- they're struggling with the same problems you are.
It's like a meal: sometimes we don't want the 4-course dinner. All of the new tastes, swallowing, and digesting make us sick. Stick to the simple dinner with only one main nutrient. In the long run, which nourishes you more? Which makes you stronger? Only time will tell.