Have you heard the story about the guy in the flood?
There’s a flood coming and the radio announces that everyone should evacuate the area. But this one man decides not to go, saying, “God will protect me.” Soon the water is up to the front door – two men come by in a rowboat and tell the man to hop in and they’ll take him to safety. But he says, “no, God will protect me.” The water keeps rising and the man is forced to the roof of his house. A helicopter hovers overhead and they shout down to him to grab the rope and they’ll pull him to safety. But the old man says, “no, God will protect me.” The waters continue to rise and the man is carried away and drowns.
When he gets to heaven, the man says to God, “Why didn’t you protect me?” And God says, “I sent you a radio message, a rowboat, and a helicopter. What more did you want?”
So, to recap the story thus far: my landlords in Scotland plan to sell this house sometime this fall and at the same time my tenants in Canada have given notice that they are moving out at almost exactly the same time. Meanwhile two of my friends are RVing across Canada. I’ve spent days imagining the various options available to me and worse, all the work and decisions in front of me. How on earth will I sell all my stuff? I don’t see yard sales or garage sales here. Do I sell my car here or down south near my uncle’s? Do I postpone taking in new tenants in Milton? Would I buy an RV? What type – a Class C or Class B? New or used? OMG, my head is exploding. I took all that information in over the last week and agonized and imagined and questioned and doubted.
Then last night I decided to just not do anything for now and see how it all pans out. That simple. I slept much better.
And then, this morning . . . .
And then, this morning, I went online and wasn’t the very first posting I saw on the Orkney FB page a request from someone moving here from the Western Isles in late August who needs to furnish an apartment (they already have the apartment) from start to finish. They need basic furniture, kitchen supplies, everything except the appliances. Well, great. Is this the third message from God? Is this the universe telling me one year was enough and I might as well move home? Am I just not reading the signs?
More to come – I need to rest.