I have invented a new word to describe this period of my life…trans-tension.
A little over two weeks ago I accepted a new pastoral position at a church in Baton Rouge. I am heading back to an area I am familiar with, having served in New Orleans for seven years in the 90’s.
Though I am excited about the new opportunities in Baton Rouge, I am finding out more and more how difficult it is to leave New Jersey…not the high taxes, congestion, and the snow but the people and the relationships. We have been here for almost twelve years now. Our kids have grown up here. Our roots have grown deep.
Right now I am sort of in a limbo. Between two places. I am still tied to life in New Jersey, selling the house, finishing up tasks, transitioning responsibilities…but I also now tied to a new life in Baton Rouge, buying a new house, making new relationships, preparing for new responsibilities.
Trans-tension. Being pulled across two places at the same time.
There is a level of stress in all of life’s transitions. The stress scale lists the impact of each of these transitions on our life. #1 is the death of a spouse (100 points). Moving to a new location, selling/buying a house, and taking on a new job add up to 75 points collectively.
Of course, no one can truly measure the impact of a specific event on your individual life. But the point is clear. With any transition comes tension. You are stretched. You are pulled. You are knocked out of your routine. You are forced to adjust…and to grow.
The Christian life is a trans-tension. We are citizens of heaven but also residents of earth. We are seated with Christ in the heavenlies but also seated next to someone snoring on the bus. We are called to live in two worlds at the same time. Stretched across two places. With our feet planted in the present but our eyes focused on the future.
It is not an easy balance.
But if we allow ourselves to be stretched…and learn to rest in God’s hands in the process…then we will discover what it means to grow.
