A new year. A new decade. It wasn’t until Erin asked if I’d write on the idea of fresh that I began to think about the change that happened in our life four months ago and what it means for our future….

// I’ll state up front that all initial drafts of this blog post included all or part of the lyrics from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song. //

Erin and I have been through two major life changes in the past two years.

We entered a new season of life when we got married a little over two years ago. For the most part, our day-to-day life on October 1 (the day after we got back from our honeymoon) looked surprisingly similar to September 21 (despite the OBVIOUS benefits of marriage). Circumstantially, our lives didn’t change much – same job, same responsibilities, same church. But spiritually, everything changed. In God’s eyes, we are now one. It was not me and her; it was us – forever and always. Despite the familiarity of our surroundings, life was (and will never) be the same.

This past September, we packed up our stuff (and our own personal teddy bear) and left that familiar environment. In fact, we now find our circumstances to be drastically different from when we first got married. When we woke up in our new apartment in Irvine, nothing had changed spiritually, but everything about our day-to-day lives changed – new jobs, new challenges and new people.

What I’m beginning to learn is that a change in your circumstances is usually the catalyst (albeit a sometimes necessary one) for needed or desired change and refinement in your spiritual life. Both of us felt called to move to our new home, but neither of us fully understand the reason for God’s calling. What I do know is that it wasn’t just to change our surroundings. It was to ignite a fresh perspective and create change in our hearts.

As I look ahead to the path we’re on, I can’t help but be excited. Not just for the palm trees and beaches. Not even for the new friends and memories we will create. I’m excited for the change God will spark in our lives because of our new surroundings.

For the second round of the blog carnival, inspired by the dawn of a new decade, a group of bloggers is writing about the concept of “fresh” today. To see who else is talkin’ about it, go here.