They're not leaving, they're GOing

It seems a lot of people have been leaving our lives lately. I still struggle with the loss of a friend and confidant to cancer a few years ago. Certainly the passing of Jane's mom this year is still very fresh in our minds. We have had our share of departures from our church over the last 8+ years. There are always those who come and go - mere visitors. Some people have left our church and it was actually better for everyone concerned. We've also lost a few good friends and not-so-good friends in some rather messy break-ups. It's difficult when you've prayed for someone on a regular basis though.... to just watch them leave.

But today I'm thinking of some "blessed departures." People who haven't so much *left* our church (and lives), but have *gone out*. They've moved on. They didn't die, and they didn't leave because of displeasure or under bad conditions. We were blessed to have them, and now they are blessing others.

The core of our church band moved on last summer: Isaac, Graham and Aaron. They went off to college. I loved spending time with them, and I miss being around them. The three of them are still spreading a positive message/vibe with their hardcore band (Hiroshima, Mon Amour). It was pure joy not only to listen to their music, and be led in worship by them, but just being around them made my world better. It has been a blessing to see these guys grow and mature, and to know that they are now spreading the blessing beyond.

Not only was Isaac a band member, but he is also my son. No one brought more people into our church community than him during his time here. More than that though, I miss him as a friend. I never really considered just how good of friends we were until he was gone. But he is probably who kept me 'up-to-speed' more than anyone else - through the books we read together, the theological conversations he challenged me with, and even just talking about random things like music and sports. He made me a better person and a better pastor. Now he is a sophomore at Anderson University. He and Graham room together; they both did an internship at their church this summer; both are involved in peace "stuff"; both helped start a homeless ministry in Indianapolis; and Isaac is involved at the youth prison in Anderson. The ways he blesses people goes far beyond his ability to see it. I am humbled by him and know that he will bless people far and wide.

My daughter, Carrie, is another one who just recently *went* from us. While attending Huntington University she drove back and handled our computer/tech stuff on Sundays, and probably didn't miss a handful during her four years there. I don't think she ever really understood the positive impact she had on our church community and on me personally. She was certainly my most welcome and respected source of feedback - on my sermons, the worship gatherings, church in general, and society at large. She is a bundle of energy who *happens* wherever she is, and she's the only person I know who runs across a friend or acquaintance everywhere she goes. She just has that something about her. She is now on staff at Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Oh., and they are blessed because of it - let alone the number of people who will be by passing through there.

We are just getting ready to see another valuable part of our family *go* too. Joan (who is an occasional commenter here, and is listed on my sidebar) is moving to Washington D.C. to work for Sojourners. She has become a dear friend to Jane and I, and someone we have bounced many ideas off of and who's advice and council we cherish. It doesn't hurt that her two children are the same age as our two children (Graham, the younger; Alex, the elder). Joan is one who doesn't ever say much, but her mere presence at any type of gathering adds substance to it. She has been one of our top contributors financially, as well as providing emotional support and wisdom. I hate to see her go, but it is such a huge opportunity to have someone be able to work for an organization like Sojourners. We have been blessed and they will be too.

There have likely been others, but these are the people I am thinking of today. I love them all dearly, miss them immensely, but it is such an honor and privilege to have been blessed by them, and to now see them *going* and blessing others. So... this post is meant for no one but me - to remind myself that they are not leaving... they are going. I'm not sure how many more of these departures I can take right now though - blessed or not. But may He who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine be with us all, now and forever. Amen.