Change Is Always Hard
I have resigned one job for another.

I have spoken here - and many other places - of how much I love my job working as a chemical health specialist in schools. To be on the front line with youth is a remarkable, challenging, humbling, exciting, scary, and frustrating experience. It is more than any I could have hoped for in the past 21 months.

But it is time to move.

In a few weeks I will be working in a private counseling center as an adult chemical dependence counselor. For the first time in my adult life I will be working full-time in the "private" or "for-profit" sector. It is a big change. I wrestled greatly and have mourned the change deeply. (Even good change brings grief!)

But when God puts all the pieces in place and hands them to you and says, "Weeellll, it's your move!" you move.

It came out of the blue. I didn't go looking for it. I was happy, satisfied, in the midst of all kinds of plans. Which is usually the way it happens. My wife is in the midst of a major change that takes her from a full-time position to a part-time pastoral position in a rural church. That meant a significant pay cut for her (and for us.)

It was 40% to be exact.

The same day she said yes to that- in fact at almost the exact time she was preparing to say yes - I get an email from the director of this counseling center. He has wanted me for a couple of years. This times he makes a new offer. A very clear and specific offer. With a significant increase in income over what I am currently earning.

It was 40% to be exact.

"Doh! What do you want, pilgrim, an engraved invitation?"

It took me a week to make up my mind. I'm still a little slow on these things. I don't want to appear greedy or anything. And as I said, I have loved the job. But it appears that God wants me to move on. It's time for something new. It's time to accept some entirely new challenges out there in the world. It's time to follow God's leading into a new area of work and- yes- of ministry.

I'll keep you posted on how it all goes. But it is bittersweet as all such times must be. Life is always moving and changing. I don't like change- unless of course I initiate it. But sometimes it is possible that comfort in one place means that I may have stopped growing. So, off to a new challenge and new visions.

And I wouldn't have traded these past 21 months for anything.