Do you enjoy welcoming new neighbours?
I made my favourite cheese buns, and brought them over to Sue and Brian’s recently renovated 1898 home.
They had moved to our village from Ontario just before the pandemic began.
Rural Newfoundlanders are somewhat Xenophobic (fearful of strangers).
They want to make sure that newcomers are not ‘running away from something’. Somewhat affectionately, they call a newcomer a CFA (Come From Away)
Have you found that people sometimes think that they can run away from things, people, or situations ?
If a job dissatisfies , the philosophy goes – find a new one! This applies to a spouse as well, or friends that have becoming challenging.
However, this is a fallacy, because, essentially, what we are trying to escape is ourselves, and this is impossible.
I love the title of the book ‘Wherever you Go, There You Are’, by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
Wherever we move to, our thought patterns, attitudes, beliefs and ways of interpreting the world remain constant, unless we consciously work to challenge, and change our behaviours and beliefs.
Although our new homes and environments can provide new levels of novelty and distraction, eventually our level of life happiness, or dissatisfaction re-emerges.
Things of the world can entertain or distract us, but they can never provide the deep inner peace that we are all seeking.
St. Augustine reminds us that our hearts are restless, until they find their rest in God.
Ultimately only a relationship with God, through Jesus, will satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts.
As our relationship with the Lord deepens, we find that we are comfortable, and content wherever we are, for the Lord directs our steps.
He seeks to give us the inner peace that we all desire.
Photo by Sally
Theology of a Newfoundland Housewife 
We love welcoming new neighbors!
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Christ calls us to be hospitable. Thanks, Barb. 🤗🌷🌼
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I agree with you Sally that running away from a situation is not a permanent solution. Although in some circumstances distancing oneself maybe the best option but what you said about how we react, our thoughts patterns return, and only God can give us the contentment and peace we need.
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Thanks, Manu. As you say ‘only God can give us the contentment and peace we need’. 🌷🤗
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Just about done with “Confessions” by Augustine. Tough reading, but one thing notable in the biographical parts are his and his friends’ deep effect on each other.
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Yes, I agree. They certainly influenced each other.
Also influencing Augustine was his mother Monica, who prayed for his conversion for many years. He was quite a rebellious youth.
Just reminds us to keep persisting in prayer for those who don’t yet know the Lord.
Thanks, c.a. 🤗🌷🌼
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I was very moved by his and Ambrose’s comments on his mother’s prayers. I think it was Ambrose (maybe a church leader in Carthage) who noted to him that God will not ignore such earnest supplication as she offered for her son; He would count the tears.
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Yes, so true. God notices our earnest supplication, and our tears for those who walk in rebellion to God.
Both Augustine and Monica became saints. Thanks, c.a. 🤗🌼🌷
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I do believe when people leave marriages, relationships or jobs, most of the time, they are going to encounter the same issues later on. I’ve seen this repeated with family members.
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Yes, I agree. So often we look for changes outside of ourselves, when what is needed most is a change within ourselves.
Thanks for your comment. 🌷🤗
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I know exactly what you mean, Sally. The whole “wherever you go, there you are” is something that’s easy to forget. What needs to change, me or my surroundings? What are we running away from and what are trying to run towards? All good questions for reflection. Your posts are always so thoughtful. Appreciate your wisdom.
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Thanks, Derek, for your kind words. By God’s grace, let us keep running towards the Lord. 🌷🤗🌼
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So true. Good post. Have a blessed weekend.
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It is impossible to escape ourselves. This could be a fairly deep thought, but you have explained it in simple terms, Sally. I wonder if this idea is related to the concept of a Hedonistic Treadmill? No matter where we go, what we buy or who we are with, our base level of happiness tends to remain the same over time. Thank God there is a prescription to heal such “navel gazing.” As you said, only through abiding in Christ (growing a personal relationship with God) do we find true happiness.
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I think I have found a kindred spirit in you and look forward to following your blog.
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Thanks so much. 🌷🌼🤗
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True! And with this we believe our paths and decisions are not wrong – because we are in the centre of His will. 💯
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Yes, Amen. May God give us the grace to stay in the centre of his will. 🌼🤗
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Amen. 🙏
Wishing you a blessed week, ma’am. 🤗
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And blessings to you and your husband as well. 🤗🌼
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Hi Sally, great post! When I want to run away, I stay in our cozy house. It is my shelter. Nice that you welcome the neighbors! Happy Sunday! 😊
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Me too, Marla. I stay in my house too. Blessings to you this Sunday and always. 🤗🌷🌼
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I love that He is showing so many of us the same things, albeit, He is showing me that there are others whose faith orders them such that they get the point across so much more eloquently than me. A new job or spouse wont help me with that! lol. Alas, something to strive for, Sally, beautiful article.
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Thanks so much for your kind words. 🤗🌼
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Hrandma Sally, I hope to meet a neighbor like you someday.
Change begins within us, but it is easier to see the change others need to make. God help us!
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So true, change begins within us, and, as you say, often it’s easier to see the chsnges that others need to make. 🤗
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Indeed it is very true that things of the world can entertain or distract us, but they can never provide the deep inner peace that we are all seeking.Amen!
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