“There can be no purpose more enspiriting than to begin the age of restoration, reweaving the wondrous diversity of life that still surrounds us.”

— E.O. Wilson

Friday we had a really good talk with our friend and realtor, John. He is excited about selling our house in Wake Forest. It’s the summer; Wake Forest is a hot market; our home is in a beautifully wooded neighborhood a short walk from downtown; there is very little inventory available in our price range; mortgage rates are poised to go down.

At the same time there is still so much we need to do to get ready. Sure, we have been moving stuff over to Tarboro, one SUV load at a time. But it’s a lot like cleaning up after hosting thirty people at Thanksgiving; you look at the mess and for a moment the task appears impossible. It seems hopeless, and then you pick up one plate and put maybe one condiment in the fridge and… it’s on.

So this week I felt – for the first time – as if we are actually making a little bit of a dent.

Hence the photograph. This move is becoming real enough that we are beginning to look around with different eyes, the eyes of people about to say goodbye.

This tree, for example, is a Japanese Maple we planted in honor and memory of Rebekah’s sister, Rachel. We have trees representing several people throughout the property, and of course roses for my parents – plus an apple tree for my dad – over at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church.

The property really is looking good in terms of curb appeal. We will miss our heavily wooded lot, all the Japanese Maples, the dogwoods, the hydrangea, the iris and more. But there is planting ahead of us too – it is the way of life.

Fact is, if we are not planting, if we are not creating something new for the future, if we are not applying imagination and hard work to this next big adventure – then we might as well get that matching pair of rocking chairs and plant them on the front porch of some retirement community and just watch…

But we are not nearly ready for that yet. There is something that needs to be redeemed over in Tarboro, so the planting – and the praying – is absolutely going to continue.

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose… For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. – 1 Corinthians 3:7-8