Transition

I intended to start writing again January 1 like I mentioned in my email back in December. Well, a few things have happened during the transition that have slowed my process, but I intend to get back on a regular schedule and start updating this blog every month. This post is different than how I normally communicate but I felt like this was a good way to begin...so here's what Smithson Says:

The Hebrew Year 5770 started September 19, 2009 and will end September 8, 2010. The actual year started with Rosh Hashana which is a two day (September 19-20) New Year Celebration. The next milestone in the year is Yom Kippur (Judaism's holiest day) which was September 28, 2009 and will be celebrated again September 18, 2010. Another time in the Jewish Calendar I want to brief us on is the Sukkot, or The Festival of Booths or Tabernacles. In 5770 the dates were October 3-9, 2009 and will be celebrated again September 23-29, 2010 in 5771. The Sukkot ends with Simchat Torah which celebrates the love of the Torah.

I realize this all seems rather strange coming from me since I am usually the last person to ever conversate about theology and usually just focus on the love of Christ and leave the debating over communion and baptism to those that want to waste their time debating rather than ministering. Allow me to clear the air just a little. A word was spoken over me about transition not too long ago. In fact, it was specifically about the Hebrew Year 5770 known by the Jewish people as the Year of Transition...the end of one age and the beginning of the next. As I began to look into this for myself  some (I'm no expert by any means) alot of things began to come to light and though I do not practice the Jewish faith, I couldn't help but realize I was living in the Year of Transition.

The New Year started September 19-20, 2009. The following Monday (September 21) was the day Sally was let go and the end of an age for us. Not just at Deer Creek Camp, but possibly the end of our time in camp ministry. That's not to say I don't ever want to do camp again, but for now I don't feel like God is pushing me in that direction any longer. Yom Kippur was September 28, 2009 and that just happened to be our first day without a job and a day we definitely sought after God for His Holy Direction. The Sukkot (October 3-9, 2009) is the time when the Jewish people would set up temporary tents to maximize their time in the fields for Harvest. Today, they still build a sukkot to celebrate the time of harvest in Israel. Those were the days I started networking and trying to maximize my time of transition and hope for a harvest (or job in this case)...sending out my resume, doing interviews, creating a list of jobs and places we could live, and wandering through the desert without much direction. That time didn't end with much clarity, but it did end with contentment. By the end of that week I had already been contacted by Inflatable Wonderland, had a meeting with Young Life's Lone Star Region, reached and met with The First Tee of San Antonio, had scheduled an appointment with Young Life's DFW Region, scheduled an interview in Dallas to become a Financial Advisor, made an appointment with SNU admissions department, and been considered for a camp job here in Kerrville. There is no doubt at the end of that week I knew I was in God's Hands...and I loved His Word spoken over me.

Since that time I have celebrated my Year of Transition in many ways. I continue to work at Inflatable Wonderland as the Manager and am truly enjoying the fast-paced lifestyle of being a "mall guy" and dealing with mostly a student staff. While that has been fun, my heart continued to lead me towards Young Life. At the first of the year I was contacted by the DFW Region again and went up for a set of interviews. Since that time, I have been contacted again and hope to be back up there for the final interview and possibly get hired in the next month or so. There is a good chance (not 100% just yet) that Sally, Abigail, Wrigley, and I will be moving to the DFW Metro area this summer...what a transition. If all that were not enough, we are also about 12 weeks pregnant with the second miracle of a child God has chosen to give us. Remember that the Year of Transition ends September 8, 2010 and we are in the next year (5771) and starting the Sukkot September 23 (celebrating the Harvest)...well, our due date is September 23 and we will truly be celebrating the harvest God has given us with child number 2...and that's what Smithson Says!