lean living
I know the title of this post may attract attention from the "health-conscious" among us, but let me re-define the term Lean Living.
Since moving to Nassau, it is evident to our family that God is doing several things in us. We are hemmed in so carefully that at times, it can feel like we're wearing clothes that are always too tight. This is a metaphor. Our finances are tight, the schedule is tight, the access to the outside world is tight, and the actual square mileage of our home island is tight. If we drive more than 21 miles, we'll be in the ocean!
Even our literal skin has grown tighter as all of us have become leaner, browner, and more sinewy in the 4 months we've lived here. Snacks are generally not found in our home anymore, due to the high prices. If our kids have a snack, it's usually one of 3-4 things: Saltine Crackers, bread with butter or peanut butter, vanilla yogurt, or dry cereal. Sounds exciting, right? Gone are the days of Doritos, chips, fruit roll-ups, and the like. They're just too pricey.
And how is time spent? No more dance lessons, music lessons, or going hiking or on scenic drives. Again, not in the budget (Gas is currently at $5.79 a gallon) and nowhere to go. Instead, time is spent serving the church, collecting, naming, and creating habitats for the friendly lizards, having talent shows on our "stage," or swimming. (OK the Wii is still a favorite.) After losing 35 pounds, instead of going out to buy some new clothes, even at a thrift store, I use the sewing machine to take in the old ones and use the scraps to make matching headbands.
And yet, there is a beauty in this tight-fitting life. We're starting to feel the deep down meaning to Paul's words, "/Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith..." Heb. 12:1-2 This is lean living. Living without the hindrances and weights of life as we used to know it. A life that was over-stocked with creature comforts, at times. A life over-stocked with distractions. A life where our main focus, Christ and His Kingdom, could sometimes get pushed to the back-burner.
We are learning to live lean. And with every weight and hindrance that falls to the side, we gain speed and focus to keep running this race. Why did we come to Nassau? To glorify the Lord in all the earth, to make known his deeds among the people...to declare to the nations, "Our God Reigns," to make disciples. And God is doing this, in His way. If living lean is what He calls us to in order to keep running, then may it be so.
Since moving to Nassau, it is evident to our family that God is doing several things in us. We are hemmed in so carefully that at times, it can feel like we're wearing clothes that are always too tight. This is a metaphor. Our finances are tight, the schedule is tight, the access to the outside world is tight, and the actual square mileage of our home island is tight. If we drive more than 21 miles, we'll be in the ocean!
Even our literal skin has grown tighter as all of us have become leaner, browner, and more sinewy in the 4 months we've lived here. Snacks are generally not found in our home anymore, due to the high prices. If our kids have a snack, it's usually one of 3-4 things: Saltine Crackers, bread with butter or peanut butter, vanilla yogurt, or dry cereal. Sounds exciting, right? Gone are the days of Doritos, chips, fruit roll-ups, and the like. They're just too pricey.
And how is time spent? No more dance lessons, music lessons, or going hiking or on scenic drives. Again, not in the budget (Gas is currently at $5.79 a gallon) and nowhere to go. Instead, time is spent serving the church, collecting, naming, and creating habitats for the friendly lizards, having talent shows on our "stage," or swimming. (OK the Wii is still a favorite.) After losing 35 pounds, instead of going out to buy some new clothes, even at a thrift store, I use the sewing machine to take in the old ones and use the scraps to make matching headbands.
And yet, there is a beauty in this tight-fitting life. We're starting to feel the deep down meaning to Paul's words, "/Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith..." Heb. 12:1-2 This is lean living. Living without the hindrances and weights of life as we used to know it. A life that was over-stocked with creature comforts, at times. A life over-stocked with distractions. A life where our main focus, Christ and His Kingdom, could sometimes get pushed to the back-burner.
We are learning to live lean. And with every weight and hindrance that falls to the side, we gain speed and focus to keep running this race. Why did we come to Nassau? To glorify the Lord in all the earth, to make known his deeds among the people...to declare to the nations, "Our God Reigns," to make disciples. And God is doing this, in His way. If living lean is what He calls us to in order to keep running, then may it be so.
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