A ball of wool

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So I made the big jump. I resigned from my job as a teacher, I packed up my belongings, and I flew to another country. I wish I could say that I was able to make a clean break, but relationships and my impracticality still tie me to my former home like a thread to a ball of wool. They are a part of me.

My trajectory has landed me safely in another country - New Zealand, the fifth largest wholly island nation on earth.  And I am glad to be here. The colliding Pacific and Indo-Australian tectonic plates are responsible for the erupted earthquakes that have formed and continue to form this idyllic landscape. In New Zealand a volcano is a tourist attraction. Rangitoto Volcano close to Auckland is marketed as the newest of Auckland's volcanoes (600 years old) and welcomes families to explore its island's lava crops. Choice! (slang for cool, great)

New Zealand has been called "God's own country" since the 1800s.  Who am I to argue with that?  The Waikato region with its undulating hills was chosen as the movie set for the Lord of the Rings, which put New Zealand on the map. Untouched land, sky-blue glaciers, old English cities, majestic mountains, healing geysers, luscious national parks, pristine beaches and deep cultures. Simply idyllic. But as a non-resident I am allowed to visit no longer than three months. Unless I apply for permanent residency. 

I am trying to knit together a beautiful life, but the cat's come out to play and is chewing on my art-in-motion.  I am trying to find the perfect job in the safest yet most exciting place in the world to live so that I can tick off my imaginary list of a perfect life, but the devil keeps chipping in with thoughts of discouragement, which unravel my hope until I look at my life like it is just a ball of wool and not a beautiful, warm sweater in progress.

 So I reckon the ball of wool is not ready yet. The trajectory needs to land elsewhere, in some other place on European shores, and perhaps there I will find the depth of life I seek. Perhaps there I will feel as I want to feel, and think new thoughts, uncaptured and free.  And discover God's calling for me.    

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