Moving On

Today is my last day at work.

It’s a bittersweet day but truthfully, it’s been bittersweet since the hubs and I decided that I would give my notice to pursue another opportunity.

Do you know how hard it is to leave a place that has been such a huge part of your life for two years?  It’s different when you work at a church; when you see the faces of the people who are responsible for your paycheck.

It’s hard.  And several times over the past month, I’ve wondered if I made the right decision; if I heard God correctly.

We have laughed together, cried together, mourned together and celebrated together.

I keep telling them I’m not moving to Zimbabwe.

I need to take my own advice.

But as sad as it is to leave, it’s equally exciting and I’m looking forward to diving in at the new church a church where I won’t be the office manager, but the Director of Children, Teens and Families – a position that I knew would present itself somewhere and somehow, because I had received the call, but I wasn’t sure when or where.

I wasn’t looking for anything – in large part, I was just working and minding my own business when I opened an email from a local job seeker ministry in town.  The job description looked interesting, but I wasn’t looking for anything – life was stable.

The second time I saw the job posting, I mentioned it to the hubs.

“That sounds like it was written for you, Hon. I think you should investigate.  You have nothing to lose,” he said.

A week later he asked, “Have you sent your resume in yet?”

“No,” I responded.  Yes, I had nothing to lose, but I was busy.  To get that resume done, one for ministry (of which I had never done before) was a lot of work – and would take a lot of time.

But I did it.

I sent it off and within five minutes, the girl scout leader sent the job posting to the girl scout parents.  I responded with, “I just applied.” It wasn’t long before my new mail notification sounded.  ”You were the first person I thought of,” it said.

Confirmation.

And then I waited.

There was a phone interview.  And then a meet and greet with the pastor and a member of the church where I could learn about who they are, and where they see themselves going.  And then an interview with the board.

And this whole process was covered with a whole lot of prayer.

And then?  I was offered the job.

Holy cannolies!

A decision had to be made.  Do you stay at a job where you’re loved, and you know you love it, and you know everyone — one where you just keep on doing what you have been… or do you step out in faith, saying goodbye, not only to your work church, but to your home church as well — to everything that you know and you’re comfortable with?

No big deal, right?

In the end, we felt positive that God was calling us to a new church – to a new adventure.

I didn’t want to tell my boss.  I didn’t want to tell my Pastor.

But I did.

I joke and say making two grown men cry on the same day didn’t provide the level of excitement I once thought it would, but the reality is, it killed me to tell them.  I didn’t want them to think it had anything to do with them, or where they were the pastors, but had everything to do with where we felt God leading us.

That was the worst part… well that and telling those that I was closest to.

“Sad for the church, but happy for you,” is something I heard quite a bit as the news spread throughout both churches.

And satan had many opportunities to hop in there and mess with my head.

So today I say goodbye.

And Monday, I say hello to a new adventure.  I say hello to a church that is located in our neighborhood — a little over a mile from our home and directly across from the elementary school where Things 3 and 4 are everyday.  And where I’ll be able to pick them up after school so there’s no more after school care. (Although, we will all miss the sitter!  So we’ll just be going over for social visits!)

A church who is planted right smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood I didn’t really want to move to a little over two years ago – but a neighborhood I’ve come to love – one where I’m involved.

A church who realized the value of attracting families — and one who has done nothing short of making our family feel special, welcome, and wanted.

But I have a challenge ahead of me as I’m not replacing anyone – I’m coming in to a blank slate.

And that’s a little scary – but I’m told that’s a good thing.

Now to make it through today…and Sunday where our home church will send us off.

I hit the ground running on Monday – and I’d appreciate your prayers if you’re of the praying kind.

And you can certainly expect updates from me on this new venture.

Until next time…