"Prospective Is Everything"

In many ways I’m like a potted plant. I like my pot and I’m comfortable with my surroundings, I grow and bloom to my full potential. But when I’m placed in a bigger pot, new surroundings and environment I start to wilt, loose some leaves and I look sickly for about 8 months. In the ninth month I began to put on tiny blooms, there are new leaves and new shoots, and I began to grow and thrive in my new surroundings.

In the spring of ’99 we had an interview with a Church in New Mexico. Daryl, the kids and I were very nervous. Meeting new people, uprooting our lives and moving was a big step. And how do you move teenagers with as little pain as possible? Morgan and Amber were 17, Rachel 15 and Rebekah 11.

I began to devise a plan. I called all the kids in and began to tell them the horrors of moving to New Mexico. I said, “The little town has no electricity, running water and only outdoor toilets. There are scorpions, rattle snake and tarantulas everywhere.” They all sat and listened in a shocked stupor. My plan was working.

Two weeks later, on a Saturday morning we loaded up the family and headed to New Mexico, a day before the preaching tryout to look the town over.

The forty-five mile road from Hobbs to Jal was 2 lane with speed limits posted at 55. We looked out the windows and watched as the mesquite, cacti, and other desert life past our view. The forty-five mile, 2 lane road stretched out before us. There was occasional chatter, but mostly anticipation to the horror that waited us.

As we pulled into the quaint little town of Jal the kids sat up and began to talk all at once. “Look the trees are all green and some have flowers.” “Look Mom, there’s brick houses.” “They have a nice school.” “Wow, a grocery story, library, video story…..” “Mom, this is wonderful.” I hadn’t realized I had been holding my breath. I let out a sigh and breathed deeply. The kids seemed both eager and excited as they continued to point out blessing upon blessing about the little town. The excitement was catching and everyone wanted to get out the van. Maybe the kids just wanted to touch the ground, to see if it were real. Maybe they were afraid they would wake up to the outdoor toilets, rattle snakes and scorpions.

Eight years has passed since we all loaded up and headed to New Mexico for the first time. Occasionally we look back and laugh about that trip so long ago. We came to realize that prospective has everything to do with how you handle life.

Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."