Anniversary

So we had our first anniversary here at Northern Light Church last Sunday.  I know it doesn't seem like much compared to those married couples, like my parents, who recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.  And it doesn't seem like much compared to the person who gets up at an AA meeting and announces several years of sobriety.  And I know there are churches that have been around for decades, centuries and even millenniums.  But we rejoiced never-the-less.  We made it a year, and feel good about it, gosh darn it.  We're on solid footing, financially and otherwise.  We love our site.  We love our people.  The "foundation" is in and were looking to "build the walls."  The future looks bright.

Someone asked me what its like to start and grow a church.  The best way I could describe it was that it it like raising a child.  First of all, like parenting, others have done it before, but there is really no set of perfect instructions.  We learn as we go, and experience constantly evolving highs and lows, challenges, demands and pleasant surprises.  Secondly, we can set a direction in which we want our child to go, but they are going to find their own way, sometimes in spite of our best intentions.  Thirdly, we have to learn to be flexible and adaptive, because if we don't every one is going to suffer.  Lastly, to do it with any kind of integrity its just a lot of plain old hard work.

As most parents would say, church "parenting" is delightful and a meaningful, rewarding and fulfilling experience What will the next year bring?  Not quite sure, but we will embrace the journey with open minds, open hearts and open doors.