When Everything's Different!

It’s been almost three weeks since my retirement from full-time pastoring and I can tell you,  everything is different. I no longer have the same routines I once had. I find myself  immersed in a very different environment. I’m no longer doing many of the things I once did on such a regular basis. Yes, everything is different. 

For the many years I was pastoring, I had pretty set routines. I knew when I needed to be in the church office, which days were for sermon preparation, when there would be staff meetings, and which days and times were my own for going to the gym, getting things done around the house, and spending time with family. I had my Sunday morning and Wednesday night schedule. I knew which evenings were set aside for meetings, services, counseling, etc. My schedule now looks very different.  

I now find myself immersed in a totally different environment. As you may or may not know, I’ve plunged into the world of personal training. I’m jump-starting my own business (www.secondwindpersonaltraining.com). And I’ve been hired by a local gym where I’ll begin to take on clients beginning next week. There I’m surrounded by other trainers who are mostly in their 20’s and 30’s—and all very fit!  It’s definitely not the church environment I’ve been so used to. 

And the things I once did on a weekly basis, such as sermon preparation, the planning of services, planning for upcoming holidays, and leading staff and board meetings are no longer on my task list. Instead of those tasks, I’m learning how to do fitness assessments, sign-up people for their training packages, and I’m promoting my own business. And of course, I’ve got more at-home tasks on my list. 

Everything feels different because everything is different. Yet, when I step back and take a birds-eye-view of my life, I have to admit that there are many things that are not so different. For one, Kim and I are yet living in the same house and neighborhood. (We love living here in Monmouth County just a few miles from the beach!). The relationship Kim and I have—and our relationship with our children and grandchildren—has remained the same, and continues to grow. My relationship with God is the same, if not growing as well; he is yet a constant presence in my life. Finally, I sense that my calling as a pastor has not changed. Thus, I’ve been praying for God to continue to use me to pastor people whether it is in the gym, with the clients I may train, or through the opportunities that come my way to preach and serve within the church world. 

Of course, we all go through seasons of life when things may become very different. During those times, however, it’s good for us to step back and reflect upon those things that have not changed—those things that are really the pillars of our lives: our relationships with loved ones, our relationship with God, and the calling we may have upon our life.  Seasons may come and go, but thankfully there are some things that never change. 

Most of all, may we always remember, Jesus himself never changes! He is “the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8- NIV) For that we can all be especially grateful. 

Have a great day!

- Pastor Tim Harris