I just have to get a job and leave this place!

I grew up in a small town in Virgina and when I was a teenager, I hated it!  I couldn't wait to leave.  I even got married to someone who was in the Army so I could leave town.  NOT a good reason to get married.

I left town all right!.  I was gone for about 2 months.  I caught him in a bar with his hand on someone else's property and I left him.  Guess where I went!  Yep!  I got on that Trailways Bus with all my belongings and headed back to Mom's house. 

Then I got a job and decided that if I was stuck in that town I would try to make the best of it.  It wasn't too long after that I decided that I really did need to leave town.  I managed to get into all kinds of difficult situations and finally decided that leaving town was my only hope of starting over.  So, I headed west.

I thought going to a new town was THE answer.  Things went well for a while, but the problems started again.  That taught me something.  It wasn't the town that was the problem.  It was ME.

Trouble didn't have to "follow" me.  I packed it up very carefully in boxes labeled 'FRAGILE" and toted it with me.  A change of venue was not the answer.  I had to change ME or I would not be happy anywhere!

Through my travels and all, I wound up in Washington, DC.  At each stop I managed to leave a portion of my woes behind.  Some of the lessons were easily learned.  Others, not so much.

I kept moving back to Virginia, to that same small town.  Eventually, most of the bad history was gone or the participants were no longer above ground.  I could walk through town without running into one of those people from my past.  Or so I thought.

Ever have one of these moments?  My mother and I were in a hardware store when a man came up to me and said, "Hey!  How ya doing?

"Do I know you?"

"Yeah!  We dated for awhile!"

My mind was racing as I tried to think.  Who is this man?  He doesn't even look like someone I would have dated.  Except, maybe... No that's not him.

I pretended to remember. Asked him about his wife and children.  Exchanged pleasantries and had a sudden memory of a task that needed to be completed or an important appointment we were late for.

As we left the store, my mother said, "You don't know who he is, do you?"

"Nope!  Can't say that I do!" 

(And this is just one reason why GOD arranged marriages in Bible days.  And many reason why virginity until marriage is a good thing.)

The problem with leaving town is taking it with you.  No matter how fast you run.  No matter how far you run.  There you are.  It may be more difficult to change within some situations, but that is where change needs to take place.  And a word to the wise (the un-wise won't listen anyway) don't post your personal problems on Facebook.  That mess is definitely going to follow you wherever you go!  If you think relatives and friends have long memories, cyberspace lasts long after everyone involved is long dead and forgotten.

Shalom!  Pray for the PEACE of Jerusalem!