...and God seldom answers the "Why?"

Pretty much everyone knows about Job - the fellow in the Old Testament, who was good and upright and blameless before God, and loved the Lord completely. Job was one wealthy dude, with enough sheep and goats and cattle and camels and to feed and clothe a small nation. The guy also had seven sons and three daughters. Job was blessed, and he praised the Lord for his blessings. Satan challenged God, saying that the only reason that Job loved and worshipped God is because Job was ridiculously wealthy. God told Satan that he could take it all from Job - which Satan promptly did. Job grieved but still praised God. When Satan again said that Job only praised God because he (Job) still had his health, God told Satan to do what he will, but he couldn't kill Job. I won't go into details about poor Job's icky stuff from Satan - read your bible if you want to know the gories - but suffice to say, this guy was messed up and pretty despondent, but he still praised God. Then, Job's three best buddies show up to "comfort" their friend, and promptly set about telling this totally upright guy that obviously, he must have done SOMETHING to deserve all this. Or maybe it was his kids who did a dastardly deed, and now punishment was being heaped on Job. Job continued to ask God why this was happening, considering that he was righteous. The Lord answers him by asking Job where he was in the creation of the earth and setting things in their order. In other words, God told Job that He (God) was in control, had a plan, and Job needed to trust him.

I'm not directly comparing us to Job- either in blamelessness or in misery - but, boy-oh-boy, I think I might have a bit more insight to how he may have felt. This current trial that we are dead smack in the middle of has lead us to the heartbreaking decision to return to the mainland - for a while.

The plan is for us to leave here next week and live in our motorhome in Hemet, CA, which is very near Kyle, Kristin, and the grandbabies and just an hour north of John and my mom. Fortunately, and thanks to the cyberspace age, Don will be able to still do his business both here in Hawaii and in California. I will get the last chapter-and-a-half done on my novel, then begin the process of getting an agent and publisher. OUR plan is to be back here before fall; but GOD'S plans may be different, as we all know so well.

We knew that things were getting a little harrowing and we were down to the last of the reserves while living in this little condo, but Don also still has another deal that could close anytime...maybe. It's a short sale with so much convoluted drama attached, the writers of Dynasty would find it implausible. He also has a few buyers who are poised to pull the trigger, but just need other financial things to happen in their life before they do. We knew it was scary, but we trusted in the Lord's provision.

Then came the knock on the door.

This place that we are living in is owned by a guy who hasn't made a payment for years - including the Homeowners Association, or AOAO, fees. In California, as in most states, if an owner defaults on fees, the tenant isn't responsible. Not so in Hawaii. The AOAO can demand fees from the tenant in the form of rent, and that's what the hand delivered letter told us - and quite succinctly. Given that the going rate hear is $150.00 per night, and we had checked in all the sofa cushions and shorts pockets for the spare change and bundles of hundred dollar bills possibly left by previous guests, paying up didn't seem likely. So, the decision was made.

The last few days have been pretty rough - I won't lie. We are having to explain to our dear friends here something that we don't understand ourselves. We have never been so immeshed, blessed, encouraged in such a way before. This is not to say that we weren't feeling blessed and loved and all that stuff in San Diego, but this place is different. In it's tininess, it actually does a huge ministry. We work along side people who are transplants like us or have lived on the island their whole lives. We meet people from all over the world, but we have common ground immediately in our love for Jesus Christ.

There may be some who think that we are just bailing out and leaving with our tails between our legs, or that we have some kind of choice. There are some who might think, like Job's pals, that we have done something to offend God, or we didn't pray hard enough. They are wrong. Leaving here is by far the hardest thing we have ever done. This is our home. This is where we will return, if God will allow. We have prayed until our knees have permanent rug burns. And while I know that we have offended God in our day-to-day mess-ups, I see my husband, being an upright, ethical realtor who keeps God at the heart of his behavior and dealings in a cutthroat business. I see him working all kinds of crazy hours, doing reams of paperwork and research for his clients. We're not sure what God is doing, but then again, He doesn't need to tell us. God seldom answers the "why" of our trials. We just follow and trust in His grace to get us through.

So, now the next few days will be full of packing and nuisance and tears and goodbyes and prayers. Don's car already has her cruise booked for the mainland, and our flight is on Wednesday. I'll try to convince myself that I am just enjoying the last few days of my Maui vacation...but that ain't gonna fly. This has become my home.

So, back to our friend, Job. After he lost his kids and his livestock, he tore his clothes in grief but said "I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. May His name be praised." (1:21 GNT). Then, he gets all kinds of gnarly things done to his person, and his wife can't believe he is worshipping the same God who allowed this, he tells her, "You are talking nonsense! When God sends us something, we welcome it. How can we complain when He sends us trouble?" (2:10 GNT) So true. I still have my amazing family and a husband who loves me so much. I did nothing to earn them, and certainly didn't complain when I received these gifts. So, how can I complain when life gets hard?

I hope you will continue reading my blog. After all, Denise and Don's Big Adventure continues on!