“It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
So, this last Sunday our beloved pastor announced that he was answering a call from God to shepherd a church in Staten Island, NY which, for me, meant several things. Number one, I'd be losing a fabulously terrific pastor, who has challenged my walk and growth in many, many ways. Number two, I'd be losing a very cherished friend (or at least having a much different kind of friendship due to proximity or lack thereof). Number three, I'd no longer get to snuggle up with Lincoln. I love that baby.
Sunday I spent most of the afternoon teary and in a funk. Not a "Debbie Downer" kind of funk, but the kind that comes along with fear of the unknown. What if the new pastor is vastly different? What if everyone loves him but I'm just not feeling it? What if my friend and I lose touch? What if that baby grows up as the only one in the family with a NY accent? What if.... And then I stopped and did what anyone experiencing this kind of anxiety would do. I took a nap. A long one. I just needed to turn off my brain and reset. I needed to get the heck over myself!
Monday I stayed home with my daughter, who was ill, and was able to reflect, spend time with God in prayer, and wrestle through some of my fears and anxiety about the future. Romans 8:28 came to mind, which says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Since this is a God thing, then God, who loves and cares for VCC more than any of us do, will most assuredly provide JUST the right pastor for our congregation and has abundantly good plans for our pastor's family as they move to the other side of the country. So what the heck am I afraid of? Men bungle things, God does not.
Over the past few days I've had a lot of peace about our upcoming situation. While still grieving for our loss of both friend and mentor, I'm able to see that Bethany Lutheran needs our pastor and that there is another pastor who needs us. God grows everyone in different ways. Our pastor has attended VCC since he was a youth and perhaps you preach differently to those you know from a young age than a group of people who don't know you from Adam. Our pastor needs to grow, Bethany needs to grow, VCC needs to grow and whoever comes to pastor us needs to grow and I am trusting God to do that growing.
The happiest realization is just how many good, close friends I have through VCC. Though I began attending simply because I'd made a friend through work whose pastor husband went to high school with me, and though it's often been a two steps forward, one step back journey for my family, I am proud to say that VCC is my family, regardless of who holds the title of "pastor." I have strong friendships with people I can lean on for support and lend my support to as well. I grieve when they grieve and rejoice when they rejoice. We pray for one another, comfort one another, and strive to help each other in our Christian walk.
We have our pastor for a few short months, then he begins his new adventure in NY. My focus is to pray for him and his family, pray for their new church, pray for our church and serve in any way I can and enjoy the time remaining with our pastor and his beautiful family.
May Staten Island be blessed as we have! And if they need a translator, my husband is always just a phone call away...
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