Transitions.

Eight months.

It has been eight months since I wrote a blog post. In internet time, eight months can equal forever.

But, it is not really all that much time. But still, a lot can happen in eight months.

I graduated from seminary. I became ordained. I received my first call. My wife and I packed up our little apartment down south and moved into a house of our own up north in Iowa. 

I went from a full time student to a full time pastor.

Of course, all of these things are turning out to be a good transitions. Some of it is hard. We miss aspects of our lives down in Georgia. So many friends at our old church and at seminary and beyond are dearly missed. I miss having discussions about ministry everyday with my friends and colleagues. I miss grits (which I never thought I'd say when we moved down to the South).

But ya'll... I forgot about Culver's. Our weather has been insanely nice and mild up here. I learned how to kayak. We've met some of the greatest people while we've been here. 

And sometimes I still have to pinch myself that I am doing the work that I've dreamed of doing for 11 years. 

That's a lot longer than eight months.

It feels like we've finally arrived at a destination. I have my dream job. We have the house we've always wanted. We are starting to root into a community. But even though it can seem on the surface like a destination, there isn't a day that goes by that I go, "Ok, what's the next step?" Maybe that's wrong of me, and maybe I should revel in finally "making it." But I can't. I didn't become a pastor to be ordained. I became a pastor to be a pastor to a community. To walk with a community and with people in life. So naturally, the question is always going to be, "What's the next step?" I don't think you have to be a pastor, a church leader, old, or young to ask that question. Because God is constantly calling us forward. To go. To serve. To live. To disciple. To love.

So, even in the rough times, in both tough or easy transitions, we should constantly be wondering, "What comes next?" We won't always have the answer, but, just like a toddler, one foot in front of another always seems to get the job done.