Bob and I were certainly hasty when we got married, just seven weeks after we met. We didn’t get the idea of taking time to get to know each other or do any sort of pre-marital counseling. We believed God put us together, so why wait?

This haste led to a detrimental marriage for nearly a decade. Our haste brought us into a poor marriage. We were both self-seeking, triggering each other into vicious arguments and looking for a way out. We had nothing to give and constantly ran on empty. 

Recently, I started school again, pursuing a theology degree with an emphasis on mission and outreach. A month after beginning classes, I found myself starting a new role as co-pastor of our local church.

Returning to graduate school and starting a new vocation in my forties has all the feels to it. Excitement. Nervousness. Uncertainty. Anxiousness. Happiness. Anticipation.

The scripture for today is one I must remind myself of frequently. I tend to believe I can do everything on my own. I can do and accomplish and check off my list to move my life forward, bear fruit, and make an impact. God is there for the big and hard things, but for the day-to-day, I can take care of those things myself, right?

Instead, Jesus reminds me that he is the True Vine. This means there are other sources I could try to draw our life from, like self-accomplishment. They look like viable options and might even look similar to Jesus. However, when I am connected to him, I am also connected to the giver of life-God the Father-and the Advocate-the Holy Spirit.

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be part of the same church, career, or neighborhood for decades. Having moved twenty-plus times and wearing many different vocational titles, I recognize I will never know the stability many others have found joy in.

But, if there’s any truth I’ve learned in all this personal change, it’s this: we are all always in a place of transition. 

As I’ve settled into life in Oregon, I’m making new friends and looking for ways to connect. But why is it so difficult to find time for genuine connection with others? It might be because, as soon as we pull out our calendars to schedule a coffee date, we point out with a sense of pride how busy we are as we scroll weeks out in advance.