Grief, Joy and Following God's Call

If you ask my middle daughter, "S", what her favorite Bible story is she will tell you . . . Jonah and the big fish.  (Don't mistake that with Jonah and the whale.  She will correct you that the story is Jonah and the big fish!)  I still haven't figured out why she likes this story so much.  "S" has poured over her children's Bible.  Now she reads her full text Bible.  However, this portion remains her top pick.

While there are many pieces we can draw out of this scripture, the one that glares right at me revolves around what God asks us to do.  We are people with a calling.  Each and every one of us has a calling from God.  This does not mean that God has masterminded a plan for our lives.  We are not merely puppets dancing to God's every whim.  What we are is people that are given gifts and talents and opportunities to use them . . . or not.  It's our choice.  However, when we aren't fulfilling our call situations can get interesting.  For instance, we could spend some quality time with the insides of a big fish. 

It is difficult to determine our call in life.  Even more challenging is the difficulty determining and coming to terms with our call changing.  Welcome to my current world.  Over the past weeks I have been wading the waters of what God is calling me to and where God is calling me to.  Grief and joy wage a battle against each other that neither wins.  Grief for what my family and I are leaving behind . . . a wonderful community of caring people, a home that fits us just right, familiarity from the past five years.  Joy for what we're about to embark upon . . . a new congregation that is welcoming us with open arms, an adventure to discover a new place, opportunities to share our faith and live it out loud with the community around us.  Neither joy nor grief will win the battle.  Both are necessary parts of change and transition.  

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have served as Director of Youth and Family Ministry with Emmanuel Lutheran Church.  It is an amazing congregation filled with faithful people.  As we journey our last couple months together I am reminded of the road we have traveled.  It has been one of blessing, growth and discipleship.  The experiences, relationships and ministry with the congregation and community will leave a lasting mark on my life, my ministry and my family.  I can not say thank you enough.

As I look forward excitement fills me.  There is an adventure waiting for me and my family in serving with the congregation of Pilgrim Lutheran Church as their Minister of Community Life Formation.  It's a change in what God is calling me to.  Discipleship and relationships are driving this ministry into new territory.  I'm energized to be a part of the journey. 

I would appreciate your prayers as we walk this path of change.  Prayers for my change in call, prayers for my husband and children in their transition and prayers for both congregations as we walk the line of grief and joy respectively.  Thank you all!