I remember sitting in an empty classroom four and a half years ago with Doug Pesce, my current boss and Middle School Principal of King’s Ridge Christian School. It was about two weeks before school started, and I had never formally taught before. I had already been invited in for a slew of interviews, and this was round two. He was ready to hire me but couldn’t quite make it official yet.
I’ll never forget what I told him in that moment. In the moment of decision. Grappling with the idea of leaving my current job with less than two weeks notice. Leaving a job that was easy in order to do something I had never done before without knowing if I was even capable of doing it.
Looking around and seeing that empty room… a room I would have to turn into a class. A room I would have to decorate. A room I would essentially own and be responsible for. I felt completely overwhelmed. I told Doug “I feel like I’m jumping out of a plane without a parachute.” And I totally did. I felt like I was absolutely jumping into the oblivion with no guarantees. No idea if I would even like those kids that would be pouring through the halls in a matter of days.
And yet it was exciting. Somehow the element of the unknown was intriguing, and Jesus just seemed to be in it. It was the coolest thing and hardest thing I had experienced in a long time. God seemed to open the doors wide open, and I just dove for it. I jumped right into the unknown and trusted it was part of God’s plan. Kind of reminds me of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty when Walter jumps out of the helicopter into the ocean. (Just happen to be watching that right this moment).
Right now I feel like I’m right back in that empty room again. Except this time I see a number. $17,000. This time I see leaving things and people behind and not knowing how I will feel about it. This time I see going to places I’ve never been and hoping that I will not only like the people, but will love them. I see a blank space where there was once job security, and I have no idea where any of this will lead.
It’s just like it was five years ago. The door is wide open and I’m walking through. Walking through without glancing back, and it feels like I just jumped out of the plane again. I jumped out and there’s no turning back now. Just free falling in grace hoping that wherever I land I’ll be in the hands of Jesus, the author of this crazy journey I’m on.
I’m so excited for what this is gonna bring, and I’m scared to death at the same time. I’m convinced of one thing though. Jesus is faithful, and he’s got me right where he wants me. Even if I feel like this is the craziest thing I’ve ever done (and I do), I believe he’s in it and he’s behind it and he’s already ahead of the curve.
So here we go… no turning back now!!
