The Great Escape

When life seems unmanageable—personally or globally—it’s mighty tempting to flee, physically, mentally, or otherwise. In recovery, the relocation kind is called a geographic cure, yet we also say, wherever you go, there you are (both in the book, btw). How true it is! We think the new country, career, partner, party, or president will fix what ails us, and yet we still have to deal with us. More and more, we see our problems transcend borders and that what afflicts those people over there, afflicts us. Our elaborate defenses and detours seem to circle back on us somehow. Moreover, every escape comes with a price tag, sometimes heftier than we want to pay. We may pay anyway.

This is not to condemn a change of scenery or sidekick, which can be a good thing, but to reality-test its potential benefits. I have experimented extensively with assorted escapes and have learned a few things. Escape is still a big temptation when the wheels seem to be coming off. 

But God.

There’s a better way.

General planetary kookiness has raised alarms for many people. Where will all this end? Will it end? I am forever reminded, mostly from personal experience, that however unmanageable it all appears, God is a God of order, brilliantly fine-tuned and dazzling in its scientific elegance.

He’s most effective when I’m done running the show. I’m not so hot at that anyway. Yet it’s a great comfort to me and reminds me that escaping reality is an illusion. Thankfully, underneath illusion, there’s solid ground to be found.

Greener Grass & Power Outages

My parents moved here from Italy in 1965 and became American citizens in 1976 to honor the Bicentennial. They were the only members of either family that crossed the pond for good, but it wasn’t all good. The American dream backfired. Even so, I am gratefully an Italian-American blessed with the privilege of Jure Sanguinis, the ability to get EU citizenship based on descent for myself, my kids, and an eventual lucky fella. But it’s a popular process with a long wait list, assorted fees, outrageous documentation requirements, special Italian bureaucracy 😂, and the need to be physically present at a consulate to do the deal.  

If you have the money, you can shortcut the process with a specialized attorney, but it’s still time-consuming, not to mention costly.

I was on the waitlist years ago, then lost my spot when I moved away from that consulate's region. My name finally came up again in Miami last summer after two years wait-listed, but I was overwhelmed with deadlines, and little time or money, though I had all the papers. I had to pass. It bummed me out, but as with everything, I (reluctantly) turned it over to God, trusting His timing and methods over mine.

My brother has a second home in Italy, and my nephew lives in the Netherlands, lifestyles that they worked hard to create and fully enjoy.  I love America and my adoptive Florida, but the idea of jetting off to Italia part-time sure is appealing. Like others, I’ve had fleeting fantasies of fleeing over there if anarchy ensues (she said, only half-joking). It’s nice to have an out, no doubt, but again, wherever you go, there you are.

Recent earthquake swarms, war and rumors of war, and lights out on the Iberian Peninsula remind me that you can’t outrun reality, no matter how fast the plane.

The U.S. election prompted some folks to flee America and still now. CNN.com has been running stories on expats. Some love their new land and plant roots. Many more come home. The grass isn’t always greener. The world is a wonderful place, but there’s no place like home for many of us, and every escape has a flip side.

It works both ways, of course. Let’s face it, despite everything, people are still literally dying to come here. It works out great for some, but not so hot for others.

There are many reasons for all this, whether you’re immigrating or emigrating. I’ve done some glamorous traveling and less glamorous geographics, only to find there are trade-offs, sometimes more lopsided than I anticipated. I’ve also tried other kinds of escapes, including money, men, and mental monasteries of all kinds, only to find myself in tighter chains.

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus, Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)

Please note “recovery” and “freedom”!!!

I know now to count the costs and manage my expectations of what awaits on the other side of a move, whatever the move or motive.

How About Mars?

Thanks to Jeff Bezos and others like him, there's the increasingly viable eventual promise of escaping earth altogether, assuming you have the cash and cache to do it.

Maybe not.

Lately I’ve been enjoying the very interesting Stefan Burns, a geo- or astro-physicist (or something) who monitors and interprets all manner of solar and planetary data to explain and predict the assorted insanity that’s been underway. He’s got some fascinating insights and is melodramatic (I kinda like that), which underscores the whole “no escape” notion.

The way Stef sees it, just about anything could happen on planet earth or our solar system. What seemed like laughably alarmist last years, now seems downright probable. Entire countries shaking and sinking beneath the sea’s surface (say that 5x fast). Power grids zapped by solar flares as hot and horrified travelers wait for rescue. Pole reversals, baseball hail, weekly tornadoes, and more galore. You cannot make this up.

Good golly.

So even relocating to Panama—now the top destination for living abroad—may not solve our problem. Nor will money (though it helps), or gumption (that helps, too), or great insurance (nice, no doubt), or power and influence (so very handy).  

Some problems out-scale scale.

I'm relieved that after weeks of Stefan's planetary unrest reports, he says that all the outrageous indicators have stabilized.

For now.

God is much more consistent.

  

The Greater Escape

During this tumultuous time in world history, I can rest easy knowing that no matter what happens, there's an Everlasting Escape. The God who reportedly put the planets and people in their place on the cosmic map with exquisite precision and abounding love. He promises surpassing peace here and hereafter. We most often find Him in our turmoil.

This God is a good God who provided a loving remedy to all that ails us. And there is so very much that ails us.

What if all this growing unmanageability is an invitation to let go of the reins already(!) and re/turn to Him?

What if all the bad news is really...

Good News

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NIV)

His name is Jesus, and His plan for all this is a happy ending. He’s available here and now, and promises to return to set things right, no matter how big the wrong. He doesn’t need our help or say-so.

We cannot outrun God.

We don't want to!

Really.

This is good news because we very much seem to be powerless over most everything and things sure are pretty nutty.

There is One who has all power. May you find Him now.

Prayer:

Jesus: Forgive us for looking at all the things here and there, and not at You. You are the crossbeam that holds the whole world in place. Let us lean into You, sturdy and true.

Thank you. I love you. 💖