Lessons From Florida

Our time in Florida is coming to an end. It’s been a blessing to be here – a dream come true. To walk along the waters of the beach each day and gaze at the majesty God created is something I’ll remember forever. It’s almost difficult to describe with words, but the immense gratitude for living here is at the core of both our hearts.

Only a few months ago we were living a comfortable life in northern Kentucky, experiencing the familiarity and security of being in our home city. Yet inside of me, I knew that I was not fully satisfied. I knew that adventure was yearning in my heart, calling for something more. Something deep. In his divine power, God has given it to us. Yes, we have worked hard and put ourselves in positions to do this, but it is by the grace of God that we do it. We truly believe that God opened doors for us to walk through – that he was allowing us to live our adventure. For that I am deeply grateful. So, we say goodbye to Fort Walton Beach and cherish these last moments here. We’ve had countless memories to share, but as usual, I’m not one to tell stories simply to tell stories. Instead, I love to find the life lessons in anything we do, adventure or not, so these week I thought I’d share some of the biggest lessons from three months of living in Florida.

1. Time with God is the most important time you spend.

A few weeks into our time in Florida, I looked at my wife and said, “I think I need to buy a desk.” She was a little confused at first, but as I told her why, she hopped on board. I wanted a desk because when I became a Christian at 19, I began reading my Bible on a desk in the early hours of the morning. While it might seem strange, I find it difficult to read my Bible without having a flat surface to read it on so I can sit upright, focus, and study it with as much intent as possible. In our Florida apartment, there was no desk, only couches and a kitchen table. Week after week, I just couldn’t adjust to reading in those places because it felt too casual. It’s not that having a desk is a cure-all and a direct path to heaven, it’s just what helps me connect with God. If you normally read on a comfortable chair, no judgment, it just doesn’t work for me.

All this has reminded me how critical our time with God is everyday. It is by far the most important time each of us has – more than work, family, friends, hobbies, or anything else we do in a 24-hour period. By connecting with God, we connect to our central purpose of loving him and fuel the perspective we need for everything we do in life. We recognize that God is #1 and everything else belongs in a different category. During my time in Florida, I’ve been reminded how urgent surrender is - that we are called to give everything up for him every day. Spending time with God is not just about reading the Bible, though that is one of the primary means of learning about him. It is ultimately about submission. If you are having difficulty in an area of your life, consider how much and how intentional your time with God is everyday. You don’t even need a desk, all you need is time.

2. Uncomfortable change produces personal growth.

By becoming uncomfortable we create a new level ourselves. In a sense, small amounts of suffering give us a better version of ourselves. Everyone always asks me why I want to travel, and it is never about the places, at least not as the central reason. It is about how travel changes you. Travel forces you into being uncomfortable, and being uncomfortable is how we grow. So yes, I love the things we do and the new environments we see, but it is ultimately about what those things and environments do for you, not what you do. It might be confusing, but if you've lived in multiple places before, I'm sure your heart can recognize that experience, even if you don’t have the words to describe the growth.

It's almost similar to my first lesson, in a way, because being disciplined to spend time with God is not about the discipline itself - it is about growing closer to God. In the same way, traveling is about improving the relationship with yourself, widening your perspective, and forcing yourself into new environments to experience change. Never be afraid to embrace purposeful pain if it is leading you in a direction that will produce personal growth.

3. Simplicity of life allows you to enjoy simple things.

One thing we found quickly in moving far away in one car is that you are limited in your possessions. While my wife and I have never had that many things, it can still be challenging to figure out what’s necessary and what needs to stay home. But as we did and grew into our new way of life, I found a joy that existed from the simplicity of life – whether that be dramatically reducing our kitchen, only having a few options for clothes, or what to do in your time off from work. Fewer options results in simplicity of choices, and that makes our heart calm down enough to enjoy them. I’ve found so much peace in doing things I normally don’t have time to do, such as reading novels, watching the ocean waves, and even cleaning. Every one of us experiences joy when we focus intently on a few things instead of scattering our focus on a multitude of things. This is not to say what your priorities are, just that you have a simple list of priorities. If you are feeling overwhelmed with what to focus on right now, you might not need to reduce your possessions, but it might help to write down the 3-5 priorities that are most important to you right now. Having clarity in our priorities helps us live more simple and joyful lives.

I could keep going, but I always try to keep these posts a short read. That is all for living in Florida. Next up, we’re heading out west…to Oregon. While we will miss the beautiful beaches of the panhandle, we are looking forward to a new adventure.

. . .

For the many of you who have reached out to me and followed along each week, I deeply appreciate you. Thank you for continuing to support my writing, and if it has helped you in any way, please share it with a friend. You can subscribe by entering your email address in the form at the bottom of this post or on the home page.