It\u2019s been awhile since my last blog. I always wait until I feel the urge to write something. Then I think about it, write it, erase it and write it again.\u00a0 I guess in a sense it\u2019s listening to what God is saying. This blog started off in so many different directions that I really had to pray about it. Mull it over in my head.\u00a0 I wanted to talk about hurt, change and the New Year. I couldn\u2019t figure out the one main topic. I wonder if this is how a pastor feels when figuring out their Sunday sermon.<\/p>\n
If you have read my blogs in the past, you already know I was totally against this whole pastoral family life. I didn\u2019t want to leave family, friends and a job behind. By the time I moved out to the seminary, Doug was starting his second year on campus. I started to embrace the new adventures ahead of us.<\/p>\n
After arriving at the seminary, I started to make connections with people, and one person in particular.\u00a0 However, like everything else since this journey began, things \u201cended\u201d or \u201cchanged\u201d.\u00a0 The friend I connected with, left that following summer.\u00a0 The family graduated and moved on to their first call.\u00a0 Don\u2019t fret, that friend is still there today, just not right across the street.<\/p>\n
Then came the internship year. Doug was to learn what it\u2019s all about putting things into practice under the guidance of an established pastor and church body. The site we were given was more than we could hope for.\u00a0 The people were so welcoming and willing to help us learn as a family. Good thing too, as I heard plenty of \u201chorror stories\u201d as well as \u201cgood stories\u201d from past interns at different locations. This too had to come to an end, as internship only lasted a year.\u00a0 I myself learned so much from that year. I have great lasting memories of people who took an interest in my interest and helped me to grow.<\/p>\n
During my husband\u2019s senior and final year, he did what they call supply preaching.\u00a0 In terms I understood, this was much like the substitute teacher in the classroom.\u00a0 You fill in when needed and be on your way.\u00a0 Through this time, I again met some wonderful people. I learned some interesting history, met a \u201cGuinness book of World Records\u201d gentleman. I even tried foods, I never would have tried before.\u00a0 Okay, I\u2019ll say it, I tried squirrel.\u00a0 Just as I was about to take a bite, I overheard the person talking about it.\u00a0 This person, lived off the land from my understanding.\u00a0 I\u2019d have to say it was gamey and not my thing.\u00a0 However, since squirrels like to torment my dogs, a few less would be okay in this world.<\/p>\n
Upon graduation, goodbye\u2019s happened again and we headed off to our new home and church family.\u00a0 Being the emotional one, I figured I\u2019d cry. I did, but what surprised me is when I cried.<\/p>\n
Shortly after pulling out of my office parking lot on my last day of work, I cried. I\u2019m not even sure why.\u00a0 I had made \u201coffice\u201d friends and we did a few things here and there outside of work.\u00a0 However that too ended as people left for new jobs, changed schedules or departments.\u00a0 Yet, I still cried.\u00a0 I was keeping my job and working from home, something I\u2019ve always wanted.<\/p>\n
We left the small community of Wartburg to join a new community, where a few people remained whom we enjoyed and talk too. No one prepares you for how hard it is to say good bye so much.\u00a0 My friend I mentioned earlier; her kids asked when they were moving shortly after Christmas of the first year in their new parish. When you attend seminary, you can move a lot. \u00a0If you\u2019re wondering, yes, three years later they are still there.<\/p>\n
We headed off to our new community and new church family.\u00a0 However, a year after we arrived at the first church, we said goodbye again to some very wonderful people.\u00a0 Most pastors will remain in their first church for 3-5 years. Some will stay on longer than that. This particular place was not God\u2019s plan for us.\u00a0 I learned a great deal that year too.<\/p>\n
We moved again to our new and present location. Things are going well, and it appears we have found our place in God\u2019s mission. These people have welcomed us into their homes and their lives. I hope as you read this, you can understand following God\u2019s path for you is not an easy path. I think I can truly say, I understand what Jesus was trying to tell his disciples.<\/p>\n
Matthew 8:18-22<\/p>\n
\u201c18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, \u201cTeacher, I will follow you wherever you go.\u201d 20 Jesus replied, \u201cFoxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.\u201d 21 Another disciple said to him, \u201cLord, first let me go and bury my father.\u201d 22 But Jesus told him, \u201cFollow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.\u201d\u201d(NIV)<\/p>\n
When I first heard this passage, I didn\u2019t understand it, and I spoke with many about its meaning.\u00a0 The way I interpreted the passage is this.\u00a0 God ask you to trust him and follow him.\u00a0 You have no idea where you will end up.\u00a0 You do know and count on God being with you every step of the way.\u00a0 Difficult trials, are lessons learned to be applied to later. Happy times, provide the strength you need to get through the difficult ones. We don\u2019t know when things will happen or how long they will last, be it good or bad. God does. He\u2019s seen it, he\u2019s preparing you for it.\u00a0 One the most difficult lessons I learned during these last 5 years, BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE, AND WE DON\u2019T KNOW WHY, THEY JUST DO!<\/p>\n
You can do everything right, sever God, read your bible, love your neighbor, but bad times will come. How we learn from that time is up to you, it\u2019s up to me.\u00a0\u00a0 Okay so I\u2019m the one who kicks and scream a lot and throws a pity party, before I can move on.\u00a0 \u201cPoor me\u201d, \u201cwhy always me\u201d.\u00a0 Then the time comes to move on, I don\u2019t know where I will use my \u201cgood\u201d or \u201chard\u201d lessons.\u00a0 However, I will.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s path for you and me is not an easy journey.\u00a0 Jesus did not have an easy journey. At least I don\u2019t have the burden knowing that I will be lifted up and persecuted. Jesus did.\u00a0 He knew, yet he did it for us.\u00a0 He carried on knowing he would be beaten and crucified all in the name of GOD.<\/p>\n
So there it is. Hard times are hard times, good times are good times.\u00a0 Know that God is with you always.\u00a0 I will end today with a final verse.<\/p>\n
Philippians 4:6-7<\/p>\n
\u201c6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.\u201d (NIV)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s been awhile since my last blog. I always wait until I feel the urge to write something. Then I think about it, write it, erase it and write it again.\u00a0 I guess in a sense it\u2019s listening to what … Continue reading