To Move or Not to Move?

We move faster, farther, and more frequently today than ever before in human history. Sometimes relocation happens by necessity, but often it is by choice. Perhaps it is for new work or what seems like better work. Some move to be closer to family. Whatever the reason, moving is commonplace, especially among young adults.

But what is commonplace today may not necessarily be the best way.

Long before we built moving vans or airplanes, there was a man named Anthony who lived alone in a desert. He is sometimes called the father of monks, as he was one of the first. He said once to a visitor who came to ask for his advice, “In whatever place you live, do not easily leave it.”

Why? Perhaps Anthony’s point was that we carry our personal issues with us wherever we go, and that location does not solve our most critical internal problems. Or perhaps he was asserting that there are very few things more beneficial to us than the relationships we have with those around us, which take time to develop. I think both are true.

So does that mean we shouldn’t move?

Not necessarily. Each of our lives and environmental contexts are unique. There are no easy answers.

There was another desert monk named Evagrius who clarified Anthony’s guidance. Evagrius concluded that the most important stability to seek was not the geographical kind. Rather, it was settling one’s thoughts in the remembrance of God, which of course is a monk’s main purpose. Sometimes, a place would become unsuited for this pursuit. In such a circumstance, it was best to leave it, for the place no longer supported the primary purpose of the monk’s life. If you’re reading this, you’re probably not a monk, but that doesn’t mean their wisdom is irrelevant.

Should you move away or should you stay? It depends:

Does the place support the primary purpose of your life?

It’s a question we would do well to ask and answer throughout our lives, for everything in this world changes—people, places, relationships. Whether you’re facing the prospect of relocation or working to clarify purpose in your life or work, I welcome the opportunity to engage with you in these important conversations.