Clear as Mud

So we looked at nine houses in Kenosha yesterday. The good news is: we found several that could work for us, and two that we really liked a lot. The bad news is: they're right next to each other in a brand new subdivision, 10-15 minutes away from our first choice neighborhood.

Let me explain our dilemma.

As I've described before, we believe that God is calling us to lead this church plant, Light of Christ--and that eventually it's to be more than a church, but also a prayer community and retreat center of sorts. A primary component of that vision is geographical proximity to the sanctuary, for members of that community to be able to meet daily to pray together.

We are tired of living 20-25 minutes from our church. (In fact, in the Chicago suburbs, it seems we are about 15 minutes from everything, as some wag has pointed out.) We have become more and more convinced that in order to live a simpler, more focused life, in which church members pray together, worship together, serve one another and the community, and help those struggling with holiness issues and those who need healing and rest, geographical convenience has got to be built in to the structure of this church community.

So location has always been the big question for us as we have prayed and dreamed about this call. Cost of land and facility is the big reason why we are unable to fulfill it in the area we now live, and it was an interesting, highly affordable option in Kenosha that first got our attention directed that way. As it became clear that that facility was not the place God had for us, we found that our hearts and minds were open to joining in what God was already doing in Kenosha in this tiny church plant that was just starting. The Lord confirmed His call on Papa Rooster to lead this new church, and here we are.

But we can't shake the sense of this community that will eventually rise up around this church, which is meeting, for now, in a conference room in this facility. Go ahead and have a look at this former Episcopal girls' boarding school, now a park-district-owned conference center. I'll wait.

As soon as the church grows a little bigger, we'll rent the lovely chapel pictured, which will hold nearly 200, I'm guessing. So we think the church will be in this location for a good while at least, unless the Lord provides or points us elsewhere. And our friends already live across the street, so--why not try to buy right in this neighborhood?

Now have a look at this map. Since the Kemper Center is right there on the lake, we can only look west of it, and in the past two months we have looked at three houses on 3rd, two on 5th, and one on 7th. They were all nearly-100-year-old houses, with small rooms, small closets, and small yards. Only one was suitable, really, for our family, and it had two offers on it already. Going further west, the houses are even smaller.

We've been waiting, but nothing new has come on the market in this neighborhood. Of course, our house here hasn't sold yet either, but we're open to buying there even before our house here sells, especially if it's a house that needs work before we can move into it.

So maybe the Lord doesn't want us to buy in that neighborhood. Maybe the church will end up buying a building or land somewhere else sooner than we think. Maybe no one else will be able to find anything in that neighborhood either and we'll all end up living in the more affordable suburbs. Maybe...

So we decided to spread the net a bit wider and look for a house that would suit our family. We found several. Two are 5-7 minutes south of the Kemper Center--good, solid, non-cookie cutter options in established neighborhoods. The two largest, light-filled, spacious and versatile options are 10-15 minutes away in a brand-new subdivision that is...15 minutes away from everything: grocery, library, dry-cleaners, Panera. BUT, it's 15 minutes closer to Papa Rooster's job and Lake County CYT (Christian Youth Theater)--5 trips a week for him, 3 trips a week for me, during a show. And there's plenty of land for sale nearby. I'm sure grocery stores and the like will be springing up in the next 5 years--and maybe new churches?

What to do, what to do?

Meanwhile, the second weekend that our home has been listed with a realtor came and went--and no one even called about it. One might immediately conclude that it's overpriced, but we and two realtors are reasonably certain that it is not by much, if at all. We'll have a better idea on that soon; we are having a realtor open house tomorrow. Our agent gives out $5 Starbucks giftcards to any realtor who will come have a look AND fill out a form giving feedback on the price, among other things. ("It's amazing what realtors will do for a Starbucks giftcard," our realtor ironically observed.)

We can only conclude that God knows what He's doing, and wait. Even if we could settle on a house to buy, we wouldn't feel good about moving forward when there has been absolutely no movement on the one we're selling. We might if it was crystal clear that it was the right house in the right neighborhood, but when it's all clear as mud--we'll wait.

Waiting is hard. It's not fun. It's not exciting. It's anxiety-producing. I'd like the option, at least, to put one or two children in school next year; we want to be up there before auditions and rehearsals begin for Lake County's fall show, Les Miserables; Papa Rooster would love to stop spending three hours a day commuting (he'll cut that in half when we move). The kids don't get waiting. "Why can't we just...?"

So I explain to them, remind myself:

I will wait for the LORD,
who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob.
I will put my trust in him. (Isaiah 8:17)

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)

I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1)

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him! (Isaiah 30:18)

Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4)

The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Psalm 145: 15-16)

At the proper time....