A Year in Manhattan

By Tim Knapp

This month marks a full year for us in the city. Wow. We've been here for that long? In some ways it seemed to have gone by quickly. In other ways, though, it hasn't. We've had to make an amazing amount of adjustments, from the cramped living space, to the incessant noise, to the constant challenge of interaction on all sides. The cost of living is another issue altogether. Just after we moved I saw an article on the cost of living across the US. The lowest cost of living for US cities was none other than Ft. Smith, AR, where we did all our major shopping while in SE Oklahoma. The highest and most expensive city in the US? You guessed it, New York City. Specifically, Manhattan.

I just this month signed on for another year of rent at our upper west side apartment. Huge by NY standards, yet half the size of our average-sized home in Oklahoma. And the cost of groceries. Good grief! Sticker shock still grips us as we search weekly "specials" for relatively decent prices. And yet, we're still glad to be here. God knows we didn't come to NYC to save money. But why did we come here? We still get that question a lot. 

In the beginning, that question mainly came from our friends and family back in Oklahoma. It continues here, especially when New Yorkers discover we didn't come as a result of a job transfer. Most people come because they have to, or because they're looking to make a name for themselves as an artist of some kind: actors, writers, painters, etc. We came because God stirred our hearts for change. We didn't want to move, we felt compelled to move. There's a difference. Yet it's often hard to verbalize.

I recently listened to another of Dr. Tim Keller's lessons where, in speaking to church planters, he described how when one encounters God personally, the result is you go. Throughout scripture we see that when a person meets God--when one gets a new glimpse into the reality and person of God--the result is you can't just return to life as you know it. Some how, some way, you simply have to go and live out this new life, this new realization, you’ve received. For some it’s a new endeavor or a new job or ministry, but for others, it means you go. It’s hard to explain why at times. But you just have to go. And you hope they’ll understand, even support your going. 

It’s at times like these that one’s life takes on a whole new meaning, and it’s exciting. It’s never easy to leave, not knowing what’s ahead or how you’ll go about things. I’m the kind of guy who never leaves home without a map. But for this sort of journey, one rarely is supplied an atlas or GPS. Now please don’t mistake me; I’m no Abraham or Moses, LOL. I’m just a guy who has been completely overwhelmed with a new realization of what Jesus’ work on the cross was all about, and it has completely overpowered my personal sense of reason. We left not really knowing what it was all about, except that we should go. 

And go we did. We didn’t expect everyone to understand, and they haven’t. In fact, most still don’t. But it has been nice that along the way, every now and then, God has supplied us with just enough encouragement to keep us going. In fact, I just received one such bit of encouragement from a guy I didn’t even know, until now. I’ve pasted a part of his message below:

...As he told me about the drastic move your family had made there were some things that sounded a bit familiar to me. I decided to google your name and came across your blog... 

Anyway, I just wanted to connect with you as a former SE OK guy who "gets" what you are doing. I am sure the decision was incredibly difficult for you and your family. And I'd also guess that folks didn't quite understand! All that to say, there is someone out there from your neck of the woods who is inspired and understands why. When we really grasp what God has done for us in Christ, it usually leads to these sorts of life-altering moves.

I hope you and your family are growing through this process. 
Take care.

I must say, I am only beginning to grasp what God has done for us in Christ. But I do know it has resulted in a much-altered life... and a life-altering move. And I know my family is growing through the process.

Thanks be to God, and to you, Greg, for getting it.