Let me paint a little picture. My wife and I lived in San Diego, which is arguably the most
beautiful city in the United States, with perfect weather year round and the
ability to quote Anchorman in context!
We both had jobs that we enjoyed, where we loved who we worked with,
were able to use our gifts and our education, and had a great sense of
purpose. Although transient and
changing at times, we had an amazing community around us that took care of us
whenever a crisis or need arose.
We had 2 beautiful daughters who are, in my humble and biased opinion,
overwhelmingly better than any other kids. As the cherry on top, we find out we are having another kid
with that unbelievable recipe of genes (a boy this time… Praise you sweet Jesus
in heaven). What is the natural
response when you find yourself in that situation? “Let’s quit our jobs and move!!”
Yes, after wrestling with the desire to be closer to family
for years, we decided to choose this moment to go. We made the choice when only one part time job was secured
and no health insurance. We lined
it up perfectly so that we would move just late enough to avoid any
pleasantries of autumn, and yet embrace every moment of winter. Plus, we got there 2 weeks before day
light savings, so our first experience of our new city has the least amount of
sunlight as possible! I know,
brilliant!
A nice advantage is when we talk to anybody who has been
longing and searching for a job that gives them fulfillment and joy, we can
confidently look them in the eye and say, “It’s possible!! We experienced it!” And then we let ourselves go! (I wish, the unemployment checks would
be nice).” Overall theme: with 2.5 kids, we choose Idiocy. At least by the world’s standards.
This reality was very evident in the first few months in
Denver. As I would meet people and
share my story, most would ask, “Did you find a good job here?” as the motivation
for our move? Nope. “Oh, you moved without a job?” Yeah. “WOW!”. Some will
be intrigued and want to know more.
That is probably 1% of people, if the only possibility is rounding up to
the closest full number. Most have
a tinge of, “So you’re an idiot?” in their eyes, even if their voices try to
drown it out with an intrigued tone.
But I’m okay with that. The
reason is because I’m a resident idiot, where this is not my first
offense. This is the third time
that I have made a decision that is virtually impossible to explain on
paper. It doesn’t make any sense
without bringing in the God card, which nobody can fully understand except the
person playing it. Why? The God card can never be a
formula. It is personal. It is unique. It is confusing.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I’m graduating college with a debt in the mid 30k’s. My parents did everything possible to
help me with college, but I had to pay most of my way through (which is a
character-shaping aspect of my life I would not change whatsoever). I feel called to ministry (which is
directly linked to my infinitely stronger calling away from engineering), but I
know I need to pay off my loans first.
I have a job offer 10 minutes from my parents’ house in the extremely
cheap living of Amish country. But
what do I do in a season where my primary goal is to pay off loans? I take a job in the most expensive
place in the United States: San
Diego (this is a fact according to some list that is based primarily on opinion
and assumption). And….. I’m an
idiot.
But deep down, I knew I needed to go. God had been growing me in confidence
throughout college, and I was in a season of consistently choosing the option
that would stretch me the most. I
knew moving back home could allow me to slip back into my former passive
approach to life. I knew I had to
go some place that gave me no option besides figuring it out for myself. The first year was very difficult, but
constant 70 degree weather can always soften a blow. In hindsight, I would not be who I am today without that
step.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I’m working as an engineer. I paid off all my loans in 2.5 years by living in a garage and
judging all personal expenditures as feeding the minions of Satan. Yeah, I was extreme for a period. Luckily I was slowly being transformed
enough that Tatum was willing to talk to me when we met! I thought paying off my loans meant I
was going to be free to pursue full-time ministry, but I realized that God had
his fingers crossed when I thought He shook my hand. In hindsight, I realized how much character development was
remaining at that point. But as I’m
approaching 5 years of engineering, I’m sensing it is time. There is something inside of me that is affirming that I am ready
and it is time.
Imagine the timing of being newly married and planning to
tell your new father-in-law this genius plan: “I’m going to quit my job as a
licensed structural engineer so that I can work as an intern at a church. But don’t worry!!! They aren’t paying me. I have to raise my own support to do this.” Yup, I’m an idiot. I was leaving a secure job, at an
amazing firm, that was directly applying all the money and time I invested in
my college degree, in order to pursue a dream. Amazingly I maintained my good standing in the family, and
they saw the fruit of my decision.
God was slowly molding me for a new calling, and it brought life and
adventure to our marriage.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
And now to my current season of idiocy. I am fully confident that what God is
doing inside of me, and what He is preparing me for, could never happen without
me moving in extreme uncertainty.
I want to be in control and always know the plan. I want to play it safe. But God wants me to have a greater
impact than that. He wants me to
experience Him in a fuller way than would happen with me in the driver’s
seat. So I harnessed my inner
Carrie and sang, “Jesus take the wheel!!”. Actually, I most likely sang “Let it go” since Frozen songs
are in my head daily.
I’m currently in a season of dreaming that I have never
experienced. I’m allowing myself
to consider things that I would always rule out in the past. I’m thinking outside the box. I’m acting with more confidence. I’m feeling more alive than I have in a
long time. I’m freaking out daily
and then calming myself down. I
would not trade this. Do I still
feel like an idiot sometimes when I’m not sure how I’m going to create an
income each month? Definitely. Am I learning trust and reliance, which
is faith, in a deeper sense than ever before. Absolutely.
I chose to be an idiot because I didn’t want to live with
regret and always wonder. I chose
idiocy because I believe God wants me to use my voice more. I chose idiocy because it was time. I knew it. Tatum knew it.
And honestly, it doesn’t matter if anybody else knew it. God is doing something, and I can’t
wait to find out what it is. And
hopefully I find out soon…..
