What Was, What Is, What Is To Come

Last week a teacher at our school called me to let me know that she had accepted a position in another district. This wasn't a surprise as she had moved to her fiance's home and had a lengthy commute if she didn't find a job closer to her new home. That isn't really as important as the message she shared after informing me of her new position.

She shared with me that after she received the phone call offering her the job she jumped up and down and celebrated for 15 minutes and then cried for an hour because she was leaving us. I knew how she felt because I was thrilled for her new opportunity and yet was sad that she wouldn't be a part of our team. We liked her being a part of our team and most importantly she was wonderful for kids.

As I reflected on her reaction I began to think that her feelings are exactly what they should be for all of us. Whenever we begin a new journey or adventure we should be excited for what lies ahead but hopefully we are walking away from something we cherished and will miss. Isn't that really perfect?! To be excited for what is to come, to be blessed by what is and to have tears of joy about what was says so much. Whether it be for a job, a relationship, a worship service or any other walks we take...to be able to feel all of that is to be enveloped by the grace and peace of our Maker.

Today as I sat in my new office, I was feeling quite overwhelmed, incompetent and wondering if this was really the fit for me. It was then I took a step back and realized my focus was on the wrong things. When I changed my focus and realized how many times this past week I have heard words of encouragement, support and people who expressed thankfulness for me being in this position, suddenly the passion and calling returned. I needed to not dwell on what was (I thoroughly loved my last year as principal.)but celebrate what was to come, feel blessed for what is and shed tears of joy for what was. This is a perspective in life I am going to try to be mindful of each day. What looked like an insurmountable pile of work was cleaned up and gone by the time I left tonight.

Some of our adventures may have 15 minutes of celebration and 1 hour of tears and some may be just the opposite. Either way isn't it cause for true thankfulness. What was, what is and what is to come for me all has and had the hand of our Maker upon each and every moment.