Well well well, my darling ducklings, how are you? Is this a lazy way to start a blog post? Whenever I commence these bad boys, I always hear my high school english teacher in the back of my mind, “An essay should begin with a hook, something to grab the readers’ attention. And it should end with a kiss, something soft and gentle that wraps up your point, not something sloppy and abrupt.”
Well, Mrs. Haren, I’m feeling a wee bit too lazy to come up with a riveting attention grabber. So, let’s hope that if you did done clicked on this, then you are already invested.
It’s been over a month since Mary and I alighted back onto American soil, but our travels have not yet ceased. A lot of this month has been further confirmation that God has a plan and that I should really stop panicking when I’m not sure what it is. He is incredibly faithful and incredibly patient. And I am thankful for the opportunity to stop and reflect on that. We forget, don’t we? How quickly we forget.
I know I should probably do a recap on the rest of our European Adventures, but there’s really so much. I wouldn’t know where to begin. Don’t despair, I WILL do it. Right after I write that update on my solo backpacking trip of last year. Lol.
What IS within my mental capacity to share at this time, is that Mary and I have made the magical transition to Van Living. What do I mean by this? I mean, we bought a van from some kindred spirit Australians and now we live in it. But let me stop you right there, cuz if I even sense you are about to say, “I live in a van...down by the RIVER!!” I swear...I’ll stab you. I’m just kidding, I won’t stab you. But if I had, say, a nickel for every time a person used their voice to verbalize that so my ears could hear it, then, in this month alone, I would be a millionaire. A Millionaire! But, have no fear, if you DO choose to say it, I won’t let on. I’ll laugh as if it’s the first time, and as if it’s hilarious.
So, why a van you ask? For many reasons. To be more mobile. To be more flexible. To be able to leave the country and not feel bad about throwing money away on rent. To be able to visit family and friends for longer periods of time.
Why not an RV or a camper...or something BIGGER? For one, neither of us wanted to attempt driving or parking such monstrosities. We know our limits. For another, the more components to your rig...the more things that can break and need fixin’. Once again, we know our limits.
Our van (Rudy) has all the essentials. He’s equipped with solar panels to keep all things powered that need powered. Such as our Dometic CFX camping fridge. The American Dream of camping fridges! There are jacks for all our electronics, installed lighting, a central fan to keep that air circulating, and a camping stove to make those traditional van-home cooked meals.
You may still be asking, “but, why?” And to that, I would answer: Ephesians 5:15-17.
“Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
The days are evil, yo, and the more I detach myself from the clutches of this temporal world, the more I feel that to be true. Maybe one day the Lord will saddle either Mary or I with a husband and we’ll be inclined to “settle down.” But for now, we’re removing the non-essentials so as to better essentially serve the Lord.
The less bills we have, the less we have to work to pay those bills, the more time we have for other things. Like BEING with people, or actually waiting on the Lord to actually hear what his will is, instead of just HOPING we’ll figure it out.
And I’ll tell you right now, there’s nothing I miss of my old stuff. I only feel good and free and relief.
Salvation isn’t in minimalism, however, salvation is in the Lord. I don’t want you to read this and feel bad because you have a bunch of stuff. God may be calling you to use that stuff for his glory.
It took awhile to get to this point of minimal material possessions, but I have to say, I love it. I love that it takes little to no time to choose what I’m going to wear for the day. I love that God has changed my perception of “enough.” Technically, I own less, and yet I feel like I have so much more.
So we've packed all that more into Rudy and we're taking the nomadic life by the horns.
But how do we make the money, you ask? Well, Mary got her LLC as an Embryology Consultant and I'm doing the dog walking and house-sitting. If you require any of these services, don't hesitate to call.
And with that. I leave you.
Mwauw! (that's a kiss sound)
-h
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