Vienna Diary
October 16

We are contemplating this huge move, an enormous, gargantuan change – packing up our family of five, including the disabled child and moving them to another continent, another culture, another lifestyle, another language.

Last night we had dinner with the director of Vienna Christian School and another couple.  The husband of the “other” couple is a native Austrian and was really there so that we could pick his brain and get in depth info about living in Austria.

Mostly, we discussed the challenges involved in having my son overseas.  At one point it was said of us, but not to us, “They need to be realistic.  This is not America.”  I was later told by several people that this person had spoken in her characteristically blunt fashion, but it was not meant unkindly.  In fact, I knew even at the time that she was concerned that we weigh everything, that she just did not want us to enter into this with stars in our eyes.

Be realistic.

I wonder. 

Realistic would have been Robb staying in a job he didn’t like, working for a company that manufactures products he does not care about in order to provide his family with a comfortable living.

Realistic would have been realizing that our son will never be able to function with any degree of independence or success in this world and putting him in a home and getting on with our lives.

Realistic would have been saying of our adopted daughter, “There are too many obstacles to this adoption.  It’ll never happen.  Let’s not put ourselves out there just to be hurt and disappointed.”

But:

Realistic doesn’t leave room for God to be amazing. 
Realistic stifles creativity. 
Realistic is an enemy of faith. 
Realistic doesn’t let God be God.

Ephesians 3:20 & 21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

(You’re looking at the hall of flags in Vienna Christian School, where flags are flown from each nation that is represented among the student body this year.)