First Day of School.... I mean, Work

Yesterday was my first official day of work at First Presbyterian. I'm not gonna lie- I was nervous. Would my co-workers and congregants like me? Would I fit in? Did I pick the right outfit? Whose lunch table would I sit at? (Okay, maybe not that last one- that was what I was thinking on the first day of 8th grade.)

But it is crazy. Though I am not yet officially ordained, I have been hired to be these people's PASTOR. I'm gonna preach once a month. I'm gonna teach classes. I'm gonna marry and bury people. I will be invited into the most intimate and sacred spaces of peoples' lives and be expected to SAY something... about God, about truth, about hope... something that matters. Sheeeeesh. What have I gotten myself into?

Not coincidentally, I think, I have just begun reading the book of Acts. And I am struck by two things. The disciples who were once so dense they could barely tie their own shoes are now proclaiming the Gospel with an eloquence that no unlearned fisherman should ever have. They can't HELP but talk about Jesus and people are being saved by the thousands.

Now in my first 2 days at work I have not spoken in tongues or healed any paralyzed people, but I have prayed that Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to empower me for ministry the way He did for Peter, John, and all the rest of the disciples. They couldn't have done it on their own, and neither can I.

So, here I go. This is the life I've been looking forward to for a long time. Now, I just hope that I don't have to sit next to the smelly kid on the bus. That would really hurt my rep.

Yes, I did have Dave take my picture outside the door. C'mon, just cause I'm a pastor doesn't mean I can't be a huge dork.