January 2022 has just started, and with this new year comes a new chapter in my life and story. I will be turning 40 years old in just a few short days, and that boggles my mind. Some days my body 100% feels forty or even fifty; seriously, the old Youth Ministry injuries are starting to catch up to me fast and faster. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m 100% excited to see what 40 is going to be fantastic, but like most people in my position, I find myself thinking a lot about where my life has been and what’s coming next.
A few years ago, I started a journey and began to wrestle with the question, “who am I?” more specifically, the question was “what if I wasn’t a Youth Pastor anymore?”. The question came in a season of my life where I felt that what I did define much more of who I was than I liked. That process resulted in coming to grips with who I am, my priorities in life, and ultimately being comfortable if it all went away (little did I know).
That last part took me on a journey out of ministry (not by my choice) and into a year of fixing iPhones for Apple. It was then that I found myself in a new role at Village Church, overseeing our kids (and a bit of youth) programs. Currently, I think I’m doing some of the best work I have ever done in my life, and I’m having a blast doing it. Looking back today, I see the journey God has brought me on and life is good… maybe too good sometimes.
I’m definitely not compiling about where I’m at these days, but if I’m honest, I have let some personal life things stay firmly locked in cruise control or even neutral. I find myself being sucked into video games, Netflix and procrastination way more than I would like. I 100% don’t think those things are bad (maybe the procrastination), but I think that part of my problem is that I’m not stretching my creative muscles or any of my muscles, for that matter.
So, in the spirit of a new year and new season, I’m making some commitments for this coming year.
- I will do my best to write or create content for Fresh Ministry every week. I’ve got some cool ideas in the hopper, and part of that work will be just updating the site as a whole.
- I will do my best to eat better and exercise more. These 40-year-old bones don’t move very well, and I need to keep up with the Twins.
- I will do my best to invest in my family in new ways and continue to learn from the past.
- I will do my best to cook more, try new things and maybe even dust off the old fatjesse website.
- I will try and write one new book, create a new game and/or do something interesting in those worlds.
- I’m going to try and do for a few what I can’t do for everyone.
The last forty years had their celebrations and challenges, and maybe I’ll write more about them one day. But, for now, my eyes are fixed on what’s coming next. The biggest lesson from the last 40 years is that I’m not alone. Not only do I have an amazing wife, kids and family supporting me. But the God of the universe who put the stars in place is with me every step of the way. With Him, anything is possible, and that’s where the real adventure begins.
Fresh Ministry Consulting 