God in the Spaces

My son Jon had me write a guest post for his blog about how I am being stretched in this time of transition from long-term called pastoral ministry to serving churches who are between pastors as an interim pastor. I am learning to accept that some people are calling this retirement, but I'm not there yet. You can read that and access Jon's blog at http://jonstolpe.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/god-in-the-spaces/#comment-473

Goldfinch Feathers in Transition

In our yard the other day I found the remains of a male goldfinch that had been the victim of a cat or a hawk (we have both in our neighborhood). All that was left was a small mat of feathers, but among them were just a few larger feathers that were changing from grey to gold, as male goldfinches do as spring and mating season approach. I was struck with how the tips of the feathers had just started the transition to gold.

Candy and I are in a significant transition in my ministry career from 35 years of long, called pastoral ministries with just four congregations to serving as an interim pastor to more congregations on a much shorter term basis. As we head into this transition, we can see that spring is coming, but it’s not here yet. We know something of what to expect, but we are not experiencing it yet. We are seeking and waiting, but do not know where and whom we will serve yet. Perhaps, I am like the goldfinch’s feathers – the gold has started to show on the tip but most of the feather is still gray.