The stress and joy of change

"Hi, my name is Dorothy, and Toto and I just landed on the other side of the rainbow."

OK, not really, but that's how I feel right now. I was moving placidly through a boring life for several months and then, in a whirlwind of activities I suddenly found myself in a completely new place.

While geographically I'm in the same place (although I did move into a new apartment) I feel like I opened my eyes one morning and woke up in a new life. In the course of a mere six weeks I started a new job, began a four-year term on the Northwest Region's board, and got married. Did I mention that everything seems to be different now than it was two months ago?

I can only imagine what God was thinking to place so many big events in my life all at once. I'm sure God was entertained by watching me running to keep up with my own life. I didn't plan it to happen this way. I was going about it all very logically. While I wasn't happy in my previous job I also wasn't so unhappy that it was imperative that I leave. Since I was getting married I very sensibly decided to begin looking for a better job after the wedding so I wouldn't have to deal with the stress of both events (not to mention having to ask for vacation before accepting a job offer) at the same time. As to church, I would keep teaching Sunday School and if asked I would be willing to be a deacon in my congregation.

So much for planning. Instead, I received word that the job I wanted would need to be filled at the end of April instead of in July or August. I couldn't pass it up and I love my job, but the timing made everything else a little surreal.

A couple of weeks after starting my new job I was asked to serve on the Regional Board. Our Region is undergoing a lot of changes right now. Our Regional Minister will be moving on at the end of the summer, and we're revamping the way we do ministry. I can't say I didn't know what I was getting in to, but it wasn't until the assembly that I learned the nominating committee was specifically looking for people with a certain "gravitas" in the region to help facilitate all the changes.

Me? Gravitas? I don't think so. I know I can do the work and that my years with HELM have helped to prepare me, but in all honesty it's a little scary knowing that I'm being entrusted with this position as I'm by far the youngest on the board.

As for the wedding, it was months and months away…and then it wasn't. It was wonderful, fantastic, and all those other superlatives, but I think everyone has to admit it's a major life change. My husband and I are now settling into our new lives together and it seems to all be working out (except for all those boxes in the living room).

God gave me more change and responsibility than I bargained for, but now that I have it wouldn't change it for anything. I have been picked up from my somewhat unexciting black and white life and dropped off in the very colorful land over the rainbow.

Sorry Aunty Em, but I don't have any intention of going back.