September 15 & October 12

Three years ago, on September 15, 2006, I received a phone call. This person had what was meant to be "good" news for me - a job offer, doing what I loved to do in a city that I liked listing. Little did he know, I had to hang up the phone as fast as possible because I burst out in tears.

And they were not tears of joy.

But I was excited for what God was doing and trusted in that. I was excited to be back in full-time student ministry and looked forward to that. And I was sure it was a good thing and took confidence in that.

So on October 12, 2006, Amy and I arrived in a Penske truck at 2 a.m. with everything I owned.

Well, three years later, exactly to the date from when I got the job offer, on September 15, 2009, I mailed a letter to the congregation of the church where I've been in youth ministry for these three years explaining that my time is coming to an end. And again, there were tears.

And, again, they were not tears of joy.

On October 12, 2009,  I'll be driving back to Colorado. I'm not moving this time, but I'll be there for a month.

Just made me sort of half-smile laugh when I realized these two dates. Not planned. Just sort of happened.

Three years. WOW! The life that happened in between?! So much more than I could have imagined. And it was better than good.