We’re Not in Kansas Any More…

[Posted this at ParrisFam.com, too. Still trying to figure out how to decide which blog to post some of this stuff on.]

Wow. What a whirlwind.

It’s now been two months since I worked as a staff member at West Ridge. Now I’m an upstart Worship “Pastor” (still trying to get my brain around that) with barely a clue of how to get upstarted.

Since Memorial Day, we have moved into a rental house in Charleston (South Carolina), rented out our home in Paulding County (Georgia), taken two or three trips back and forth to get (most) of our flammable possessions, celebrated Caia’s second birthday, recognized Jack’s 6-month birthday, scheduled back surgery for Annette…and that’s only the first 5% of what’s taken up our time.

I say “flammable possessions” because there is no more honest time to realize just how meaningless stuff is than moving day(s). It’s all gonna burn. (a lot of it I wish would burn, quite honestly.)

The biggest percentage of my time has been consumed by freelance web-design. It’s been productive…but exhausting. And for the most part, the number of projects has dried up. The economy is hitting small businesses’ web budgets hard. This is a bad thing and a good thing for me. In bad light, funds are very tight. Tighter than ever before. But in good light Annette and I are realizing how important it is that we quickly transition into a fully support-based posture as it relates to my income.

Web-design work is very inconsistent. Feast or famine in the truest sense. A web-designer-friend and I were talking about it this morning. We go weeks with little work coming in, and then a long project list comes in all at once with very little room to breathe. It compromises our ability to deliver a quality product, and breaks down the rhythm of our families.

From Tuesday night until Thursday at 5pm this week, I literally didn’t even step outside the door of our house. Not even to check the mail. All for clicking and tapping my way to healthy web code.

Brutal.

So Annette and I have prayed and talked about how to transition the focus of my time from web-design more clearly to River Church. Not to say I won’t ever do a web project here and there. (Current or recently quoted clients, please take note! I’m still here!) But depending on it solely is wearing us thin already.

I’m thankful for God to show us this so soon and so clearly. I’m excited as heck about it to be honest. There are so many relationships I’m already forming with artists here in Charleston…and there is so much in general to be done to get this church on its legs. The remaining percentage of my time that has been given to River Church has been far to small. It won’t be tough at all to fill my time with things that fulfill the reason God moved us here to begin with.

We all need margin. Leftovers. Wasted time. Doggonit…we need to burn our leftover stuff and some of our time. Enough open time to walk or bike to our destination. Or for a ride on the slow boat. Sustainable pace, people. It’s critical.

Here’s a thought… Pacing yourself and creating margin in your life is a required ingredient for living by Faith. It’s how you tell your list, your family, your Father that you really do believe that you can do It without doing it all.

All that to say, in a nutshell, we’re hoping the storm will soon pass. We’re gonna give it a little nudge, even. It’s time to hit a stride and begin making headway. Gotta get the grease off the soles of my shoes.