smack dab in the middle of somewhere!
Sold my cold knot
A heavy stone
Sold my red horse for a venture home
To vanish on the bow
Settling slow
Fit it all, fit it in the doldrums
Or so the story goes
Color the era
Film it is historical
(Ahh, ahh, ahh)
- Justin Vernon, Bon Iver ♫
♪ “…so the story goes”– the famous folklore, the legend of Bon Iver with Justin Vernon’s most notorious collection of artistry: “for Emma, forever ago”… I guess though, from our perspective, an absolute oxymoron of a story arc since we’ve been blessed to do this move together as a married couple and not each of us, alone in a cabin in the woods writing songs about heartbreak. Although, still strikingly similar to Vernon’s airy solitude for us both, as we can’t help but feel the same now that we’ve spent just a little over a month ‘nowhere’, smack dab in the middle of somewhere. We’ve come to see the wonder of what we’re in the midst of, what’s surrounding us, the footsteps we’re taking and the history we get to make while our Heavenly Father shapes it all.
We never thought we could end up where we are. But, we did. Nevertheless, The Lord has been faithful all throughout– to provide where we never saw fit His provisions, in humbling us through our circumstances all-the-while painting a marvelous picture with breathtaking stories along the way. Our current placement, and circumstances are far different than we expected them to be but not the worst. There are much ‘worse’ places we could end up. I often tell Tam, “my love…” " (as we drive by some random beautiful thing or catch a glimpse of a majestic view) “…someday we’ll tell our kids these stories. This is the stuff that makes a family”. And, indeed it is– looking ahead from where we are now, the family stories we get to share, the memories we got to make… history! All still while God was working. That’s the thing right there, really.
In the meantime, we’ve had the blessing to see the majestic Eastern Cape for what it truly is. From stunning mountain tops, timber farms and pine trees littered all-throughout rural Maclear– to valley’s and crevices, cattle and horses, absolutely incredible scenes. We’ve been blessed to find Church community down the Southern Coast in East London. An answer to prayer! We’ve been blessed in running into old friends, and also making new ones along the way. We’re OK really.
A growing in perspective has helped us quickly see that there is life here, and people are living it. However very different to ours, or what we know– but it is being lived. We are coming to appreciate what it takes for certain things, for the luxury of a Woolworths 2kms away, LOL (*looks in Tam’s direction!). We’ve had the chance to slow down, take stock, plan our next moves and such. Really, just appreciate what/who makes “home” and why we can be grateful. We can be very grateful. Perspective is good. The Lord is working. He has been faithful to not leave us alone or wandering even in what we’ve felt has been a desert.
Although, it’s felt as if we’ve ‘Sold our red horse’ (“fancy fast car” / or a Ferrari, if you may) for a venture home (a cabin in the woods / house in the sticks) ‘To vanish on the bow / Settling slow’– maybe, just like Bon Iver, some time in the cabin in the woods might bring about stories to tell! As the Lord allows we’ll continue.
With love,
Ricardo
