It's official...I am leaving my current job here at Spring Lake Wesleyan Church. Effective June 11th, my tenure here will be over. I will have served here 3 years. Crazy to think that I have been here 3 years as they have simply flown by...However, I was tremendously surprised by what happened yesterday. We announced to the entire church that we (Nate and I both) will be leaving, and in every service, people stood up and clapped and came down and prayed for us. I say surprised because you never really think you have that much of an impact on people until you leave. As a pastor, you rarely hear it from people while you are in the trenches and serving on a daily basis. However, when you leave, it is different. People bring out stories and moments that you had forgotten that had somehow impacted their lives. It is pretty amazing.
On another note, I was tremendously drained physically and emotionally after the morning services. I just wanted to go home and take a nap, and then today I began to think. Is that normal? Whenever people leave a job that they have really invested in and died to, is it normal to be drained and dead after you make the big announcement? Also, I am wondering if it would be wierd to throw a party for myself? I have been contemplating that, and wondering if that would be unethical or not? Any ideas?
In the end, I cannot say enough about this church and its leadership. Anyone who could get a shot at working here, take it! The staff is great and so is the leadership. Great kids as well. And I am learning that is what you miss when you leave a church...the people. Sure, you will miss the crazy games and fun times at camp, etc. But it is the people that connect you to a place and a job. Especially those you never really thought you had an impact on...until they come up to you crying, and you are sitting here going, "Did I really make that much of a difference in their life?"
On to the scary part, I am looking at going back to school to get my doctorate, but have not been accepted anywhere. As a matter of fact, I have been rejected at 3 schools, with 2 yet to let me know my status. Thus, if I do not get in anywhere, who knows what I will be doing in the fall. Anyone know of any good fast food places in need of workers? ha!
Let me know your thoughts and advice...
