The fabulous Whitlocks are moving! We are downsizing. The large home that once housed Uncle Paul, my parents, Ruthie, and Wendy and I is no longer needed.
Of course, my mind is flooded with memories. Going through all of my stuff causes me to ask myself the question that I asked in a sermon a couple of weeks ago: Do we own our possessions, or do they own us? That will be a question I ask myself a lot this month.
I have found, you never fully realize how much stuff you have until you try to move. When you move, you gotta put your hands on your stuff. And digging through closets, you rediscover stuff you forgot you had. We lived in our Mesa house for 13 years. When we moved to the West Valley, we discovered boxes from the previous move that were never opened — possessions so important to us that we moved them across country…yet they laid there in the boxes unopened and, truthfully, forgotten.
Our new house is in Sun City West and the commute is still a short distance to The Palms. The yard is large with lots of room to add cacti and a utility room large enough for me to set up shop with all my gardening supplies.
Do we own our possessions, or do they own us? That will test me over and over and over again this month.
Just know that I am glad to be your pastor and I am glad you are part of The Church of the Palms.
Shalom, Paul