The next step

It is happening right now.  I am posting this on the bus as I head to the airport.  I am officially leaving California after almost 24 years.

It was hard when we left Florida to come to Golden Gate Seminary in the summer of 1987.  My marriage was just over a year old at the time, and we were leaving behind family, friends, and everything that I had known since I was 9 years old.  There were a lot of tears during those days.

There have been a lot of tears during these days.

The tears of 1987 and the tear of 2011 have a lot in common.  Back then Karen and I were leaving so very much behind in order to follow God's calling to seminary.  It was very difficult, but was clearly the right thing to do.  It is the same thing now, only on steroids.  I am even more clear now that this is what God is calling me to do, I am even more clear now that it would be less painful for me to slam my head in to wall while shoving bamboo shoots under my fingernails and having my pinky toe stepped on by an elephant.

We had had a wonderful sendoff that has lasted a couple of weeks.  I have said good-bye to my friends and colleagues at Christian Counseling Associates, to my remaining clients, to many good friends, to our church family and to family that we love more than words can say.  The best one word description for the last two weeks would be "full."  They have been full of appreciation, joy, hope, excitement and sorrow.   It will only happen through God's strength and wisdom, but I am determined to make sure that the sorrow has not been in vain.  I cannot wait to see how God is going to work in the hearts of the people in the Charlestown area.

Spring Hills gave us a wonderful good-bye reception.  We were showered with encouraging words, thoughtful cards and gifts and great food (well, we did not actually shower with the food).  I will try to post some pictures of that soon.