A Paradigm Shift

Thanks, Linda for inspiring my next blog post!  I want to talk a little more about our vision.  The prevailing cultural paradigm about growing up is that children turn 18, go to college, and then make their own way in the world...perhaps never to return.  

Our multi-generational vision is a little different.  "Generational transfer" is one of the terms frequently used in our network of churches.  We believe in multi-generational families building a multi-generational church.  In fact, that was what our sermon was about just this morning...fathers raising sons who become heirs, becoming fathers who raise more sons.  It's a pattern we believe in.

It's not that we don't believe in college or leaving the nest.  I am a college graduate and the three oldest children in my family have each lived on our own and in other parts of the country separate from the rest of the family for a period of time.  Those were important times.  But ultimately my vision for my life is bigger than myself.  It includes my parents and my future grandchildren and beyond.  I "feel called" to build generationally with my family.

Lest I wax too philosophical, what does this mean for us when we house hunt?  I said in my first post that the goal was to live all together in one house.  Well, this is one of multiple options we are considering.  Basically we're looking for the situation that is right for our family's needs...whether that be two mobile homes, a house with a garage apartment, or one house that's big enough for all of us.  We don't know exactly what it will look like.  We're just trusting that whatever it is, we'll know it when we see it.  

These options are also the immediate goal as a means to an end, not the ultimate goal.  If we can live together sustainably and be prudent with our spending now, it will expedite the ultimate goal which is having enough land that all the sibs can have our own space and build our own homes someday...still ultimately living and working together.

I think we each have a sense that this is rare and special - that we like each other enough to want to live together...long term.  It's evidence of a generational blessing in our lives.  We as children get to reap the benefits of parents and grandparents who have served the Lord and sacrificed for the benefit of future generations.  We're grateful to reap the blessing and desire to continue serving and sacrificing for generations to come.

-Kendra