I have a love-hate relationship with suitcases. In our transient life-style luggage literally moves my life back and forth across the ocean. Over the 22+ years of being missionaries we have grown to be pretty expert packers, if I may say. I am thankful for those nifty devices; oversized duffel bags with wheels and 20 L plastic bins which are our favorites. But when it comes to efficiently packing your life in a few bags I admit I go a bit crazy. Do I try to pack that last little bit of favorite shampoo or toss it? I hate to waste it as it was expensive. It will take some extra weight but then I will have it handy when I land. Otherwise, I will have to make an overwhelming trip to Wal-Mart and stand staring blankly at the aisle of shampoos. I won't be able to remember the kind I used to buy when we lived in America. Thus, the Japanese "Lux" shampoo will be counted among the precious cargo. And my hair will be happy not to have to adjust to American life for at least another month.  

In the spirit of keeping it real, here is our bedroom this morning...2 days before Moving Day. No curtains, as those are washed and packed. And an old bedspread and sheets that we will tossed after the move. Ideally we stay at one of the mission guest homes not too far from us, but since they were all booked months ago, we will do the really crazy thing and stay 2 nights in our house after the move. But we will have 3 restful days at OMF's guest home after our last Sunday at church. There we hope to recuperate a little before we board the plane the day after the boys get back from counselling at camp. As we look around at the mess, panic starts to set in. We wonder whether we will finish in time and get it all done. 

Yet this is the day that God has called me to. This is a part of His sanctification process for me. It is difficult and overwhelming and takes me way-way-way out of my comfort zone. It brings me to the end of my resources, where I have to depend again on God....to get me through the packing, the decisions, the move, the goodbyes, the mess. Who knew God could would use suitcases and shampoo to chip away a little more at my self-reliance, making me a little more dependent and focused on Jesus, who capably goes before me in all our transitions and travels.