It is true that I am back from vacation, but I ran out of “week” before I could get Jason’s post in. So I asked him if he would help me out in my transition of returning from vacation and getting “my head back in the game” by writing a post about where he and his family are right now. Jason lives in Juneau, Alaska for now but will soon be making a transition to Oklahoma. Talk about night and day!! Anyway…here’s Jason:
I appreciate Bill and his heart and wisdom. We may have never met in person, but he has demonstrated true friendship. When Bill asked me if I wanted to write something, I said yes but then got stuck on what to write. “Write what you know,” they say.
This is where I am.
I’ve heard it said before, “God never shuts a door without opening another, but that hallway is hell.” I certainly seem to be living in the hallway right now.
Not hell as in eternal damnation, of course, just hell in the sense of feeling overwhelmed, finding my place, and trying to get way too many things done at the same time.
God has initiated a cross-country move for me and my family. We’ll drive from Alaska to Oklahoma and in a lot of ways start over (more info here and here). Right now we’re packing up while still leading a church family.
That’s challenging, but soon we’ll face new challenges. New jobs, new school for the kids, new house, new culture in some ways. Really, the transition is just heating up.
We’re leaving the church congregation we helped relaunch just over four years ago and though we tried to plan and get everything settled, we are still without a permanent leader to replace us and they’ll be moving locations for a while.
Transition.
Once Jesus was questioned about why He did things so differently than the Pharisees or even John the Baptist. I have to admit I have been asking Jesus similar questions. Why can’t it just go on this way? Why does it have to change like this?
“Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” –Matthew 9:17
Sometimes Jesus just wants to do something new. Despite all our planning and attempted manipulation (insert your own less harsh word if you like), He wants new wine so He looks for people ready to get uncomfortable and go through the process.
Old wineskins already went through the process and don’t have the elasticity they need. God won’t pour new into those because He has no intention of destroying anyone. Wineskins obviously don’t have feelings as they stretch and pull, but you certainly do. It’s hard to embrace.
Maybe you’re in transition. Maybe it’s really uncomfortable and feels like hell. I’m not saying all that goes away by recognizing what God’s up to, but at least there’s hope.
And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” –Revelation 21:5
Maybe, just maybe, you can join me in rejoicing in your transition.
What do you think? Are you experiencing the “new” and the uncomfortable that goes with it? What have you learned about transition?
Jason Stasyszen
(On Twitter)
I am one who dislikes change. I am comfortable with routine. With routine I can find my peace. With peace I find my smile. It’s interesting though that sometimes routine can lead to stagnation, to not challenging ourselves, to being afraid of meeting new people and facing new situations that God is trying to lead us to. One thing I do know, change when you are by yourself can be horrible, but with your best gal by your side, you can probably take over the world. Blessings and good luck.
You are so right, Daniel. If I’m going through change and other hard things, I want my wife and family and the community God has for me. I understand the necessity of change, but I’m like you, I definitely don’t seek it out! Thanks Daniel.
My life has been of changing so much over almost two year. I would like for the change to slow down a bit.
I hear you on that, Larry. Two years is a long time in transition. Grace to you!
Thank you so much, BIll, for giving me the privilege of writing for you. I so appreciate you–your wisdom, heart, and honesty. You’re an inspiration!
It is my pleasure Jason. It has been fun having so many different contributors over this past week. So glad you were able to take part with your busy moving schedule. You are showing me that following God is exciting, strange, unexpected, and fulfilling.
Yeah, I don’t if everyone’s following is as strange or unexpected as ours, but I’m glad He’s leading. 🙂 Thanks again, Bill.
He certainly is at work in our lives. In radical ways for some. In seemingly mundane and boring ways for others.
Thanks be to God that we walk by faith and not by sight.
Yes! Thank you.
It’s been a year and half since we made our last move, Papua New Guinea to California with a short stay in Kentucky. You are so right, the hallways are terrible. I am working on a new post about hallways. Actually wrote it once, posted and let deleted it by accident. One thing I have learned is there is good stuff in the hallways but we are so anxious to get to the open door we forget to enjoy it. We usually don’t want to leave the closed door for it is comfortable. The open door can be a little frustrating after walking through it since it carries it’s own stress for a while. Good post Jason
Great point, Betty. There is much to enjoy in the journey even through difficult transitions. His grace, joy, and strength are available to us in profound ways. What a move you guys have made! Blessings to you, Betty.
Anyone who has lived long enough knows tribulation. For those of us who belong to the Father often get to learn the lessons associated with tribulation and the wisdom that comes from walking through the valleys a little deeper.
That’s a great analogy, Jason. In His mercy He doesn’t break us. The depth of His wisdom, love, mercy, and sovereignty is awaiting all of us… yours will be realized in the OK and the number of souls benefited by this trip might be countless, brother.
Amen and amen. Thanks so much, Floyd. I appreciate your wisdom and encouragement!
My “new” and “uncomfortable” is kind of at a slower pace at the moment, and I am thankful for that. It allows me time to detail in like I cannot when the transition is more hectic. However, the “new” and “uncomfortable” that my oldest son is experiencing going into high school is a struggle for me to watch as his mom. He’s driven & goal focused but struggles with new routines & having to get outside of the perfect plans he makes in his head. The next level thinking that comes with high school is hitting him pretty hard this week, and we are trying to guide him but let him find his own answers. I realize this isn’t as traumatic as the transition you are in, but I also realize it’s training for the more traumatic transitions to come in his life. Going to have him read this post to hopefully help him with perspective.
No, I completely understand. We adopted two children with varying degrees of special needs and I would be lying if I said I haven’t been concerned on how these changes and new environments might impact them. Besides those two, we have two others that are also facing some big changes. I think you’re right though. We can only guide them the best we can and pray, pray, pray. It’s sometimes harder to watch those we love go through transition than to go through ourselves, but He has grace! Thanks Kari.
My youngest is adopted. His special needs aren’t obvious right away, but they show themselves after a while in struggles with behavior and learning. Any change really gets him off kilter. My oldest, not adopted, still gets off kilter with change but for opposite reasons. He’s had a pretty secure life thus far, so anything affecting his “perfect” plans messes him up. Definitely harder to watch those we love. We have little to no control there. His grace is sufficient!
My wife gets off kilter with change. 🙂 Actually, she has learned to adjust pretty well as a pastor’s wife. I am proud of her cuz we have moved several times.
Okay, so I get off kilter easily too. Having to think quickly/change quickly does it to me. I’m usually okay if I have time to think about it. Fortunately, my husband is not rattled easily.
I like change on most things so I move easily with the flow. When I am shaken, it takes me a short time to stop and think then if I can see the logic or “God’s move” then I will go.
Sounds like our kids have similar special needs. I pray now and pray often! 🙂 Thanks Kari.
Definitely, Jason. Me too!
Change is great – so long as it comes from a vending machine 🙂
I haven’t met anyone who welcomes change without resistance, and the example cited in scripture is good for that as well, if you’ve ever owned a wineskin – they get stretched – a lot!
Nowadays, while I may not always welcome the exercise, I value my stretch marks (and yes, I realize that sounds odd for a guy to say that – deal with it). 🙂
Ha! I’m dealing with it, Rick, and experiencing my own stretch marks. 🙂 So glad the stretching doesn’t last forever. I take hope in that! Thank you, Rick.
To be honest, I feel on the verge of something “new”. The past few years have been wonderful in many ways but also hard (death of my own father and my spouses to cancer). Those years have taught us (my spouse and me) so much, they have stretched us and now it feels as if God is about to lay something big on us, something He’s been preparing us for all along. I’m not sure what but I do know it will be wonderful and somewhat painful…most blessings are (in my experience anyway).
Jason will eventually respond TC but I just wanted to pass along my thoughts. I deeply appreciate your perspective and willingness to share this with me/us. I agree with you that God is preparing you for something. Sort of like “Hang on for the ride of your life!”
I know we’re going to connect elsewhere too, but I just had to say something here about your comment “I feel on the verge of something ‘new.'” This stuck out to me because I feel the same way and have said as much to my husband and accountability partner. Yet another connection that I’m sure will continue to show itself.
I want to join in this conversation Kari. I have felt this way for some time in the church but haven’t been able to put my finger on it yet. We went from a very small space (800 sq ft) to a renovated space of 1600+. It has changed things and God is on the move (or is that Aslan?) 🙂 I feel He is getting us ready for something, but not sure what. Does that make sense?
Aslan and God are always on the move 🙂 and welcome to the conversation. I have felt like God has been getting me ready for something for 6 months now but that He is not ready (or He knows I’m not ready) to reveal it yet. God often reveals things step-by-step because He knows we can’t handle it all or will try to take it over if we know too much. Or, sometimes, I can envision some of the future and have no clue how I will get there except that God specifically intends for that to be the destination. Exciting stuff!
I think his protection is in the small steps. I am not sure many or most of us can take the big unload. 🙂
I love how God meets us and prepares us throughout all our experiences, good and bad. Sounds like many are feeling the call to “new” and that is a good thing. We need a lot of “new” in the earth to release His glory and Kingdom in awesome ways! Praying with you TC (and Kari and Bill). These are exciting times!
Me too. He has used my whole life to prepare me for what’s coming. He knows what He’s doing! Praying too!
When I came here as a 53 year old pastor, I had been told my best days were behind me. Man, was I in trouble then! 🙂 But God has proved that wrong. Age is not a line of demarcation for effective vs ineffective. God has surprised me in a big way and I can’t wait to see what He has planned.
God is putting examples of people who have more numbers in their chronological age in my path. People like you. He does this to inspire me & help me know that my best years are truly still yet to come. God works in ways that are so much more than we can think or imagine, and He defies the “rules” if the world. Exciting stuff!