There’s a first time for everything (or so the saying goes).
When was the last time you did something or the first time?
I’m sitting here this morning thinking about first times.
I’ve written quite a few times over the years about my experience singing with the Singing Men of North Central Texas. Fourteen years ago this month was my first time to sing with SMONCT.
In October 2010, I went to Ukraine for the first of four SMONCT concert/mission tours.
Next month will be our first trip to Poland.
In July 1984 I did something for the first time—I became a husband. I became a father for the first time in May 1988, and six months later became a pastor for the first time.
And when I became a grandpa for the first time in October 2014, I found out what all the hubbub was about!
Mrs. Sweetie and I have had quite a few firsts since that wedding day in 1984 (in addition to becoming parents and grandparents). We bought our first house in 1991 (after seven years in church parsonages). We bought our first honest-to-goodness NEW car in 1996. We experienced our first retirement when she retired from Azle ISD in 2013.
And in a few months, we’re going to leave that house we bought in 1991 and move to a new one in a new place.
Last week I announced my upcoming retirement from Harvest Baptist Association effective June 30. That’s not our first retirement since she already did it. It won’t be our first move since we’ve done that 3 times since 1984. It won’t be our first house (though if our pattern holds true, it will likely be our last).
But it will be a first in another way. It’s the first time we’ve moved for a reason other than going to seminary or taking a new job. We’re making this move to start a new chapter near our kids and grandkids in Amarillo, Texas. It’s a deliberate choice to write the next chapter of our lives with family as the main plot line—and to do so while we are still young enough that we’re not creating a chapter for them that is dominated by taking care of the old folks.
So, while I’m “retiring” from full-time association/church employment, my calling and identity as a minister will be as real as ever. It just won’t be carried out in the way it has for the past 39 years.
I’ll be giving more attention to my coaching/consulting/writing business as well as helping churches with leadership transitions and strategic planning. I’ll be doing more with music while I’ve still got some left in me. And I’m working on some opportunities to partner with other ministries and organizations that I believe in.
But we ain’t never done this before, and it’s exciting and terrifying and wonderful and sad all at the same time.
And amazing.
Let’s continue to enjoy this journey together as far as it takes us.
Be amazing today, my friend.
