A New Role

Sometime in August I will be taking on a new role.

This happens in life.  As we mature and grow through life stages we are forced to take on new roles.  I went from being a high school student who lived at home with my mom and brother in a structured setting, to being a college student who was independent, living in a dormitory with 299 other freshmen boys.  I went from being a carefree college student, where I was basically responsible for myself, to being a teacher and a coach, where I was suddenly responsible for the learning and performance of high school kids.  I went from being a boyfriend, to being a husband. I was a son and son-in-law. I was a brother and a brother-in-law.

              

I took on the role of being a college chaplain and a college coach. I went from being a husband, to being a father. I played the role of a staff member at a large church and then being the Lead Pastor of other churches. 

              

Sometimes I took one role, but ended up playing others. I coached teams, but I also became a mentor and sometimes a surrogate parent. I was a father to my own kids, but also a trusted advisor and mentor to their friends. I was a spectator at my kids games and also a confidant and counselor to other parents. 

              

I have had to play some roles for which I was completely unprepared. Our middle child, Jesse, was a soccer player and one year we were late in getting him signed up for a team.  When coaches found out that Jesse was available to be on a team, they all wanted him, but the league officials said he could only be on a team if I was one of the coaches. A coach called me and asked me to be an assistant coach.  I told him I knew nothing about soccer. He said I didn’t have to do anything but show up, what he really wanted was Jesse on his team!

              

That is the way life goes. God puts us in places and asks us to play roles. Sometimes we are ready and eager, and we are embracing long-awaited opportunities. In other situations we are caught off guard.  We feel totally inadequate and we need to simply fall to our knees and be completely dependent on God for wisdom, insight and strength. 

              

In my new role, I will be embracing a long-awaited opportunity for which I couldn’t be more grateful.  At the same time, it is a role I have never played before, which means I will be totally dependent on God.

              

My children, Jesse and Marta, are making me a Grandpa!