Milestone birthdays have an effect on us.
We reflect on past achievements, while simultaneously mourning opportunities passed;
reliving distant memories, while planning distant futures.

I want to be a generous person. I presume you do too.
Generosity is an incredible trait – being able to hold things not too tightly, to be open-handed, to give as we have been freely given to – yet why do so many of us struggle with it?

Accept my generosity; and be thankful.

Don't accept my generosity; and be self-sufficient.

Accept my generosity while storing up goods for yourself; I don't need you.

Abundant generosity, met with a shopping list of needs; picking and choosing. 

Infinite generosity, met with a 'when I feel like it' attitude; I can do most things on my own.

When will we learn? 

When will we stop and be thankful? 

When will we start being generous; no matter the cost, no matter the response, no matter what. 

Eugene Peterson interprets Jesus' words so simply:

When will we freely give? When we start freely receiving. (Matthew 10:8)

It's obvious, isn't it!? Stop living for yourself. Rely on him. And be generous in return.

I've recently returned from a couple of weeks in Sydney.
Sydney is my home town.
We support the Sydney Swans, I can drive in Sydney without google maps, I could take tourists on awesome days out, I have close friends and family.

But while in Sydney, I didn't feel at home.

Yes, things felt familiar. It was comfortable. I knew backstreets and suburb names and saw people I knew in the streets. I knew the good coffee shops and the best places to eat and catch up with friends. I loved seeing my family. But I didn't feel at home.

Five months ago, I moved to Melbourne.
Melbourne is a place I have visited.
I follow the AFL, I can drive a 10 minute radius around my house without a GPS, I don't know where to recommend our visitors to go, I'm getting to know people.

But in Melbourne, I feel at home.

I feel at home but I don't feel comfortable. I miss my family. I'm with the one who I want to share my whole life with. My friendships are only 5 months old. Our house feels like ours. Our neighbourhood is foreign. I feel at peace and excited to be here. It is where we're meant to be.