Today.

Today marks the first. The first day of a new job. The first day in a new state. The first day of a new chapter.

I packed what my car could hold and I left Willmar, Minnesota yesterday afternoon. With a few "see you laters" I found myself struggling to be too excited about this new venture. After all, it had been less than four years since I first arrived in Willmar. Some days saw that barely as a couple years, other days saw it as what seemed an eternity. More than 3 1/2 years of amazing experiences, incredible relationships, tear-filled struggles, and heaps of life lessons. My life held characters of all different sorts throughout this last chapter.

I have had my fair share of antagonists and tempters. Some a little more villainous than others. Some causing a little more heartache than others. Some forcing more life lessons than others. Just like any good story, antagonists are needed in order to create a well-rounded story. Plus without antagonists, I suppose we would all soar to whatever heights we desired. Antagonists keep us grounded, focus on what is reality rather than allowing our heads to become stuck within the clouds.As much as we wouldn't like to attempt, as much as I wouldn't like to admit....antagonists are necessary.

To every Barbie, there is a Skipper. To every Mario, there is a Luigi. To every Thelma, there is a Louise. Geoff Moore and the Distance had a sweet song a few years back titled "A Friend Like You". Go ahead, Give it a listen, I'll wait. So maybe it was a little longer than "a few years back", but despite the awesome hairstyles and even cooler clothing you were able to figure out the point of this song, besides illustrating the lovely fashions of circa 1992. For every great person, there is even a greater person that walks along with us in life. Both the ups and downs and the ins and outs. Shall we say a sidekick of sorts? I've been blessed to have many sidekicks in my life. People who not only put up with my incessant ramblings but who have also lifted me up, dusted me off and gave me a metaphoric kick in the pants. Maybe someday farther down the road when I'm reaching for something to blog about I can remember the endless blog I could do solely based on people who have blessed my life in what I lovingly refer to as the "Great Sidekicks!"

Like everyone needs in life at one time or another, I have also been blessed with an arsenal of mentors. People who have contributed to my ever-growing, awe-inspiring, and death-defying skills. There are those mentors who have allowed me to learn on my own and coach from afar. Other mentors who have taken an active role in my learning and have walked beside me pointing out which plants are good to eat. And even others who have invited me even closer and have led by example. **Anyone who can talk theology and Lutheran doctrine to toddlers should be commended and awarded the highest civilian honor. Much like many of my sidekicks, my mentors have supported me and encouraged me, even when they knew I was wrong. A true mentor can know everything about you and still encourage you to be yourself.

Some stories aren't complete without some kind of gag-inducing love interest. However, I have almost found myself priding on the lack thereof! That doesn't mean there wasn't hot swimsuit models throwing themselves at me! Looking back on the last four years, I just didn't make an effort towards something substantial. I had time however to explore a lot of wrong turns and dead ends however!! Man, there were some real winners! Unofficial winners of the Darwin Award were some of the most memorable "dates" I've ever had! Those experiences caused me to be a little more cautious when dating, and even moreso to change my name, email address, phone number and physical characteristics on a regular basis.

Looking back on the last several years, I'm overwhelmed with love, grace, and forgiveness. So often we let the dark overshadow our lives. Allowing it to take center stage, and take credit for everything that was not. Not me. Not now. I've had so much grace breathed in to my life it's hard to remember that the darkness ever existed. It's those times that I pray I remember for the days, months, years ahead when the darkness claps nearby.

I wouldn't have traded the last four years for anything. The people of the last four years of my life will always hold a very special place in my heart, some closer than others! We will continue to stay in touch and continue to remember that God places people in our lives for seasons, for reasons, and lifetimes.

So as this day of new firsts comes to a close here in Chetek, Wisconsin, I welcome the next chapter.