William is one of those guys that strikes you as somewhat crazy just beneath the surface. Right now, it’s breaching that surface through his hair, but overall there seems to be a drive behind his actions that point to a motive, a purpose for being – but he struggles about what that really is.
I’ve known William for most of my life. In those early years he was generally a mild-mannered kid with a temper that could boil over unexpectedly. There was a daredevil streak in him too. I remember him riding his bike off of a four foot porch when he was about 12 over at his grandmother’s house. He hurt himself on that one.
I think something happened when he was about 13 though. There was a summer that he really didn’t talk with anyone outside of his youth group at church, and even there he was a bit quiet. Whatever the experience was, he was different afterward. When he was in high school, he sorta let a lot of his personality really come out through new mediums. His artwork & poetry became a standard method of expression for him. His temper subsided to an acceptable range that only would emerge once provoked. He carried a little gray book around with him that he would draw in or write poetry in.
I remember he published some of his poetry in the school paper, “The Compendium”. There was a bit of a darker side of him that would come out in the poetry. More of a mix between Edger Allen Poe and William Blake if I say so myself. The wording and rhythm of Poe with the spiritual insight of Blake.
College provided to be a necessary evil for William. He loved knowledge, just not formal ways of learning. He knew God had called him to the ministry. There was no doubt in his mind or heart about that. Unfortunately, he also fell in love while in college for the first time. The relationship lasted through Senior year, having been married in the junior year of his and her college career. It ended unhappily. William suspected an emotional and possibly physical adultery had taken place on her part with what had been a close friend in college. William’s anger probably boiled over a bit then too, but knowing him, it was probably directed more at himself than anyone. He finished his senior year without attending any classes in person and working with each professor over the phone to finish up the required credits to graduate. For the first time in his college career, he also made the Dean’s list. The judge declared the marriage final in July of that year.
With a broken heart and a college degree, there was a huge void in place. William had been working as Part-time youth minister in Columbus, but since the dissolution had been being pressured by the Christian Education director in various ways to leave the church. He resigned. Later, it came out that the Christian Education Director was having an affair with the administrative assistant. William saw it as a sign that he had made a correct choice in leaving when he did.
God soon opened the door for a new position in a local church in William’s hometown. There was a promise of working primarily with the youth of that church eventually, but it never came to fruition. Other gifts in ministry relating to design, computer work and small group ministry became more apparent, but overwhelming at the same time. During this time, he also met Rebecca. From the very beginning, they were friends and eventually lovers. For the first time in William’s life, he felt as if all the peices were coming together, that God’s plan for him was being fulfilled. Rebecca brought out in William the best of his personality traits and love for God, and a love for doing God’s work flared up in him.
Working with the leaders of that church, he felt fulfilled, but also felt a bit uneasy. He was young and inexperienced in their eyes and they let him know how they felt. Administrative tasks bogged him down by taking up time that would have been better spent in personal devotions and preparation for small group ministries he was already leading. Church finances had taken a turn for the worse, and some blamed their predicament on hiring William in the first place. William worked occasional part-time jobs to make ends meet. William’s salary was cut and never fully restored. He took to working for a blogging company online in his spare time, at which he excelled till the company made some cutbacks and his position was cut.
For the last three years out of five, William was the go to person for the church website, the powerpoint on Sunday mornings, worked with the youth group as an adult leader and managed the audio and visual setup of the church and handled all calendaring details for the church. With all the very different aspects of what he was doing as well as serving on the Leadership team (which had taken to meeting in four hour segments each week) it was taking a toll on his health, and straining personal relationships in his life. It was time to move on after five years there. It was apparent that William’s first foray into full-time ministry had scarred him with burn-out and emotional wounds.
Rebecca had maintained her constant love and affection for William during this time. Often I believe, feeling neglected for all the things her husband was trying to accomplish. But as a Pastor’s kid herself growing up, she understood and took extra jobs when she could to supplement the household income. She recently became pregnant and gave birth to their first child, Aidan Wesley Alan Lehman. Currently, William is working at Olan Mills as a Studio Photographer trying to cope with the winter hours, and taking some time with his family, and they have transitioned to the church William grew up in. He is currently teaching Sunday School for young Adults on Sunday morning, and looking forward to working with the creative team later this month. Rebecca is writing a new website called Motherhood for Dummies and enjoying being a stay-at-home mom at the moment. I love her more than ever and look forward to celebrating our four years of marriage on Feb 19th, here in a couple of weeks.
