This is it, the first day of my new position. I am officially a Church Planting Resident at Riverside Community Church. My new office doubles as a storage space for chairs, and I’m actually not even there now because the desk is shared with some other people. Still I can’t help but feel excited. My work environment may be a little utilitarian, but, hey, this is church planting, people.

The first day of anything is easy to romanticize. It’s hard for me not to think of grand possibilities, not just in this year, but after my residency is up and the actual planting process begins. It’s also hard for me not to dwell on all the events, good and bad, that God used to direct me here. So in between the future and the past, I’m here now thinking of my new desk, surrounded by other people’s paperwork and other people’s chairs. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

New city, new church, new friendships and new risks. New fears, new disappointments, new sufferings and new mistakes.

The first day of anything is easy to romanticize, but I don’t care, I’ll do it a little anyway.