I’m highly caffeinated.
It’s nearly 1am. I spent right around nine hours in a car today. And I’m wired.
Two iced coffees, two sodas, and a cup of warm coffee in a church fellowship hall.
The day began with worship at my home congregation. Talk of upcoming ordination and congratulations were many from dear congregation members. There was a bit of distraction and also a bit of focus on the congregational vote that was happening in Austin. THE vote to call me as pastor.
I arrived home and found my phone ringing. A 507 number. This was it. I answered and heard this on the other end –
“Congratulations!”
[pause]
“Thank you?” [I wasn’t entirely sure who was on the other end …]
The conversation continued and it was, indeed, the chair of the call committee of Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church in rural Austin. They voted to call me as their pastor. [yay!]
phew. I had known in hypotheticals that this would eventually be the case. I’ve never heard of a vote not passing but it was still reassuring to know that it’s the real deal, that I could make it facebook official, and that I can now mail out my ordination announcements.
After the phone call, I jumped in the car and headed north on Interstate 90 towards LaCrosse, passing a bus of Dawson friends traveling south at one point just north of Madison. I knew that Dawson youth were on their way to Chicago for a mission trip and I knew that they had stayed the night in the Dells the night prior. I kept my eyes peeled, wondering if our paths would cross. And they did! I called Emily to say hi and to tell her I saw her bus with organist Chris driving in his bus-driver-man clothes. It was a fun coincidence.
I drove to Sparta, jumped in the car with friend, Cassie, and we headed west to Albert Lea to our pal, Josh’s, ordination. I was able to catch up with my roommate, who also attended, and congratulate Josh. Josh is called to a church in southwestern Minnesota – the synod I was in last year while intern in Dawson. I caught up with the bishop from that synod, who was interested to know if I had a call yet. If not, he said he was ready to snatch me up. [Apparently both southern Minnesotan bishops fought for me in the draft. ego boost] Cassie and I returned to Sparta, and then I jumped back into my car and drove home, arriving on Aarback just after midnight.
It was a good church day. I have an official job. Josh was ordained. Car time road trip with a seminary friend. Waving distantly to old friends. Tomorrow [technically today] will be a good day too. Ordination announcements can officially go out and plans can begin to be made officially. And then I’ll start crying because, for some reason, my ordination makes me super emotional. More about that to come.
there's no place like gnome. 
IT makes me emotional reading about your call, I think because I know what an amazing pastor you are and what you have ahead of you, also because you have been working so hard for this, and it is finally here, you will finally be able to do what you love to the capacity you wish to. I am jealous of those congregants as they get to be there to watch you grow and be who God has called you to be! I am so excited for you wish I could be there to celebrate with you!