The Exit Strategy Interview – Part 1

I’m not sure if I properly addressed all in one go the developments from being a resident of Stoke-on-Trent working for the North Staffs YMCA and being a member of the Stoke-on-Trent Church of God (Seventh Day) to the current position.  I know I’ve blogged on it intermittently, but I thought it might work if I did it like an interview make the references to the other blog entries as and when necessary.  This works well as a central location especially for getting more information than you’d probably get from me in a conversation (although this is a multi-part series, the whole series will be available on pdf and in the DMCD series section of the site).

So I’ll endeavour to be as frank and open as I possibly can.

Where Are You Now?

We live in a rather cosy three-bedroomed terraced house in a village called Little Hulton.  By cosy, I’m not referring to the estate agent euphemism for cramped, it genuinely is a good sized comfy house for what will be four females and me poor self.  The village is neat for the purposes and is really fitting with our whole ethos of working towards simple living.  It’s ideally located as well being near the junction of the motorway and 15 minutes max drive away from the Reebok Stadium (where Bolton Wanderers ‘play’).  The commercial area around there is ace and they have the necessary cinema and bowling alley as well as fast-food places to cater for us if we want to get all social and stuff.  Technically we fall in the Manchester area, although getting there could take half an hour’s drive from where we are and an hour’s bus ride, so if that’s Manchester for people, whatever.  We’re closer to Bolton, which doesn’t take as long on the bus at all and is probably 20 minutes by car, if that.

Why Did You Move To Little Hulton?

There was no great sign in the sky from our Father instructing us clearly Thou Shalt Surely Move To Little Hulton, neither was there a dream where God pointed to the sign heading for Little Hulton and said ‘can you take a hint, son?’.  On making the decision to move on from the city, Authrine, who is the Logistics Secretary of the household immediately went about consulting trusted advisers for places to live.  We even bumped into my dear university friend Lloyd who lived in the bolton area and he was helpful.

Authrine arranged for some house viewings and the property in Little Hulton was the first one we saw.  At first glance and by first impressions there was nothing obvious commending the place to us.  As we explored the house further and talked with the landlord we were impressed by the level to which the dude was being transparent about arrangements and the level of flexibility we had with the property.  As spiritually sensitive people though it was not just a case of financial considerations or other issues, but that desire to know that what we were doing was cool with our Father.  Usually I’m happy to take my time over such decisions, but there was something about the proceedings that connected with me at a deep level that is usually reserved for something that is led by the Holy Spirit.  (remind me to tell you the story of how Authrine became my wife to prove the point.)  This sense of being in the right place for the right time was echoed by Authrine who also felt that the place was right.

Of course it’s all well and good feeling positively about it on the first visit, but then there’s the usual palaver with paperwork and finances and the Unexpected.  Those are great opportunities for God to prove Himself and He surely did in ways that continue to baffle me – so as ever I don’t bother to work it out, but praise Him for what He does best.  There were some pitfalls set up to frustrate the transition, but grace paved the way through the minefields so that in preparation for the official move in January 2010 we were safely enjoying the end of year rest time in the new location.

Bearing in mind that Authrine was pregnant and beginning to suffer from her condition, the timing of the move was also godly.  She as ever invested her all into the move and thankfully God gave her the wherewithal to endure the process.  Maintaining the grace theme, the girls were terrific with the move.  Hardly a complaint from either of them and they were marvellous.

That move could not have taken place without some really special people both from church and our wider circles of influence who contributed vehicular, financial, logistical, emotional, spiritual and all other kinds of support.  I really give God thanks for the great people He surrounded us with who helped us to move on in obedience to what He said.

So Why Did You Leave?

That and other pertinent questions will be answered in the next entry on the subject.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

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