A Year

I will warn you...this may be the most disjointed and random piece of writing I have done. Think of it as a “stream of consciousness.” What would you expect from an individual suffering from Olympics overload?

O.K., so a year has gone by!

         

On August 3, 2011 the moving van pulled up in front of our townhouse in Westmont, Ill. and we officially began a new phase of life! Two people in their sixties learning a new culture, meeting new people, shopping at new stores, using new gas stations, eating at new restaurants, negotiating slightly more traffic, and serving God in a new location. Should old people be doing this? Apparently, God thought so.

         

You would think at our age we would be used to this kind of thing. This was the fourth time we had made this kind of move. Leaving a place where you had poured your heart, soul and mind into people and starting all over again. It is like ripping plants out of the ground roots and all, and transplanting them in a new locale, hoping they will not only survive, but thrive. There was a lot of uncertainty.

         

Ministry attaches you to people at the depths of their being. When you are in relationships with people centered on Christ, you are relating with them at the essence of who they are as individuals. You walk with people on the mountain tops and in their deepest valleys. You see people reflect the light of God and you experience the worst of our human darkness.

         

We were in Traverse City last week for a few days visiting with our daughter and some friends, as well as enjoying the natural beauty of the area and just chilling! We spent some time reflecting on the last year.

         

We have been adapting to a new culture, both in our living environment and at our church. Some things are familiar to us and some things still feel very new.

         

We have renewed friendships with some long-time friends from our previous 22 year stint in the Chicago area, and we have made some new friends, not only at church, but in the community at large.

         

The body of Christ where we currently serve is filled with many gifted, committed and faithful followers of Jesus.

         

The body of Christ where we currently serve is also filled with people who live in pain, difficulty, struggle and darkness. In other words, they are a pretty normal group.

         

I have never served in a solo pastorate. I have always worked in situations where there was a multiple staff. God doesn’t trust me out there by myself! The people I work with at ECRC are talented, committed, adventuresome, loving, serious about ministry, and a little goofy. I love working with them, building collegiality and collaboration...becoming a team.

         

Ministry...no matter where you serve...is filled with wonder, awe, and moments when you have to pinch yourself at how unbelievable it is that God would use me and others to accomplish His work!

         

Ministry can also be painful and lonely.

         

There are days I wonder why I do it.

         

There are more days that I wonder why I would ever do anything else.

         

Knowing that you are serving God in the place where He has called you is the most rewarding, life giving, and purpose providing position in which you could ever find yourself.

         

We’re looking forward to another year.