A couple weeks ago my life changed radically. It
wasn’t a tragedy or an unforeseen
event that caused the change, but rather, a decision made by
my husband and me to move to Strasbourg, in the Alsace region of France. Having spent the past 14 years
living in a three-bedroom, three-bath home on the shores of a quiet lake in
northern Minnesota, we knew there would be difficult adjustments in making the
shift to apartment living in an urban area with half a million people. Surprisingly, getting used to city life hasn’t
been all that difficult. A lot of that is due to the fact that Strasbourg, and the entire region of Alsace is
such a fantastic place to live.
The city is filled with rich history and it’s wonderfully
simple to travel through it by foot, on bicycle or via public transport. Sauntering
through its twisting, cobbled streets is like stepping onto a Disney movie set.
Canals encircle the city and the spire of its famous Romanesque/Gothic
Cathedral rises 466 feet above the city’s center. There are boulangeries,
chocolatiers, and cafes on every block. Culinary delights are everywhere!! If
you feel like going to a concert, you are sure to find one. If you want to
shop, there are many places to choose from. Want to take a walk in a park?
There are beautiful green spaces to stroll through. So, as we would say in the U.S., this is “not
a bad gig”! In fact, it is fabulous.
When we decided we would be moving overseas, we began the
long process of “down-sizing”. I had begun reading a blog called “Becoming
Minimalist” by Joshua Becker many months before, and was inspired and intrigued
by the idea of simplifying and getting rid of unnecessary “stuff”. The whole
idea of minimalism is that by owning less, we live fuller lives. At the time I began reading that blog, I had
no idea that I would be moving overseas and, out of necessity, would become a
minimalist myself. In 9 months time, we got rid of most of our belongings. We threw
away copious amounts of stuff, sold some things, and gave away others. Most of
these were things that we didn’t really need or care about, but in the process
we also parted with some things that were special to us, but were too large to
fit in our suitcases (like our golden retriever) or store at my mother-in-law’s
house. We arrived in Strasbourg with 3
suitcases each, plus my guitar. Right now, all my clothing fits in
one-and-a-half drawers, plus one meter of hanging space. (I confess I have a
couple drawers of clothes back in the States so that when I return for a visit,
I have something to wear.) Gone are the shoes I never wore. Gone are the
clothes that no longer fit me. Gone is the home décor that I could never find a
spot for. Gone are the old magazines that I was going to go through. Gone are
the Christmas decorations that didn’t really help me celebrate His birth anyway.
Basically, gone is the excess. Gone is the clutter.
I think I’m going to like this lifestyle. So far, living
with less has been like a breath of fresh air. Our apartment is furnished and the kitchen is
well equipped. We have everything we need. I never thought of myself as a materialistic
person before, but when the call came to get rid of it all, I discovered that I
was a bit more attached to my “things” than I realized. Having said that,
however, I can honestly say that I don’t miss any of that material stuff now.
The things I miss aren’t really “things” at all. I miss my
friends and my family and some things that more intangible. Like mist rising
off the lake on a cool morning. Or complete silence when I step outside. Bright
stars in a black sky. Knowing how to read the labels on my food. Wearing yoga
pants and a hoodie to the store. Chatting with everyone in line at the grocery
store or bank. Running into people I know everywhere I go. Knowing everyone’s
phone numbers and birthdates by heart (I don’t even know my own phone number
here). Making a joke with a pop cultural reference and knowing that people will
get it. Friends who love me, faults and all, and a few who even claim to love
me because of those faults. Basically, I guess I miss the sense of familiarity
with everything around me. Fourteen years in one place will do that for
you. It’s that feeling of
belonging. Of being understood and
understanding the people around you. Kinda like that old theme song from Cheers that says, “Sometimes you wanna
go where everybody knows your name.”
But here’s the thing: that kind of feeling and sense of
belonging takes time. It takes a little effort too. Feeling awkward for a
little while isn’t going to ruin my life.
But ignoring the call of God just might. So here I am. I’m grateful for
the friends we have already made here who have been amazingly gracious and
generous in trying to help us adjust and get settled into our new home. I am so
thankful for this opportunity to experience something new in my life. It is
going to be an adventure unlike any we have had before! Someday, I am confident
that this
will become that familiar place “where everybody knows my name”.
I’m hoping to use this blog to write of my experiences here
in France and the ways in which God
will use this time to shape my attitudes,
my life, and my faith journey.