LEAVING ON PURPOSE

You leave home with the hope to make a better home elsewhere but, sooner or later, it dawns on you that we never feel at home in this world.

I was very happy for my friend when he told me about his successful application for a permanent residency in Canada. Let me not deceive myself, things are– generally– much better in the Global North. I told my friend that I wished I was him. I wished I was the one leaving my everyday stress and struggle for the sunless and comfort-filled paradise of the world. My friend looked at me and smiled. He told me, persuasively and optimistically, that I could also put in an application and that he would assist me each step of the way. It sounded too good to be true that I could gain residency in Canada by simply applying from the comfort of my room. It was actually true and I completely bought into that idea of being a PR in Canada. How did I not think of it all this time? How did I not consider it all those time I was running from pillar to post, trying to find the grand narrative of my life? I guess this is what people mean when they say God’s time is the best because it just felt like the right thing to do now. If truly the thoughts of God for me are thoughts of peace, then this must be that expected end.

A few days later, while browsing through my Facebook page, I stumbled on a post by one of my friends who now lives in Spain. In the post, he seemed to be complaining about the spiritual atmosphere of his host country. He concluded his post by advising people who are planning on migrating to be sure that they leave with a purpose. I really cannot tell what my Facebook friend meant by “purpose” but his post reminded me of my planless plan to move to Canada. I had not really asked myself what I was going to do in Canada, I had not asked if the place would be favourable to my ministry and if God had really said anything on the matter.

As much as i am a firm believer in having the good things of life, I am a firm believer in living a purposeful life too (1Peter 2:9, Acts 13:36). I believe that, as a child of God, my steps are (and should be) ordered by God (Psalm 37:23). I also believe that geographical location works hand in hand with the un/accomplishment of destiny. Therefore, If God is the one who determines my destiny (Jeremiah 1:5, Ecclesiastes 6:10), then I must allow him to determine if I should migrate or not. We live in a time when people move at least three times before they clock 50. Hence, if it has become normal for people to relocate because of education, job, ministry or economic prospects, it must become normal that Christians have an eternal perspective when it comes to migration.

I have been studying about David and I am not too surprised that the Bible refers to him as a man after God’s heart. He always inquires of God before making any decision but, in my case, I only thought about God after I had made my decision. It should not be “God, help me to relocate to Canada”, it should be “God, do you want me to relocate to Canada”.

In Genesis 26, we are told that there was a grievous famine in the land and common sense demanded that Isaac relocated to Egypt but God instructed him to tarry in the land. In the 12^th verse of the same chapter we are told that Isaac sowed in the land and reaped hundred folds. Oftentimes, I forget that God makes a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert (Isaiah 43:19). I forget that even if I find my current location full of struggles and uncertainties, God is able to turn things around for me while I remain in the “land”. In Genesis 13, we are told that Lot pitched his dwelling in Sodom because the land was well-watered, prosperous and beautiful. We all know the end of Sodom and Gomorrah and the narrow escape of Lot. I guess my point is: do not choose to live or work in “Sodom” when you are not concretely led by God.

Do not get me wrong, migration is part of what defines our life as humans. Imagine what the world would look like if people were not always on the move. I am not a migration pessimist, neither is God. In fact, if today I am convinced by the Holy Spirit to migrate, I will gladly pack my bags. After all, Abraham prospered in the land of the Philistine (Genesis 21:34) and Joseph prospered in Egypt. Ruth also moved from Moab to Bethlehem to become one of the materfamilias of the lineage of grace. I guess my point is that whenever we choose to leave from one country or city to another, it should not be out of pressure or a fashionable frenzy; it should be a purposeful leaving. We should be sure that God is in full support of our leaving and that His presence moves and abides with us. We remember how Moses insisted on not moving if the presence of God did follow him (Genesis 33:15).

With the presence also comes purpose.

Many a time, we do not have a very clear picture of what the purpose our leaving will serve but it is very crucial that we leave with a sense of purpose. God told Jacob in Genesis 46:3 that He would not only go down with him to Egypt, He would also make him a great nation – that’s the promise of presence and purpose that I am talking about. For this reason, I have come to the conclusion that if I will ever leave for Canada, I will leave on purpose which, I hope, will count as living on purpose – a purpose driven life.

PS: I understand that the subject of migration has many murky terrains. That is why I began and ended with my own experience. Also, migration in this context does not necessarily apply to involuntary migrants such as war refugees, asylum seekers, climate refugees among others.