I’m not a huge fan of Sheryl Crow but I like that song. It’s also an appropriate title for this entry. Life has gotten interesting. I don’t know why I should expect any different. I learned a long time ago that plans are made so they can be changed. I have also learned that I am not in control of things no matter how much I want to be. I have even preached on that a couple of times recently. God is in control of all things even when I feel like they are spinning out of control. I believe that but sometimes I still have to pray, “Lord help me believe.”
I was in North Carolina last week. I was leaving my wife there so she could begin a new job. She has taken a job down there because our fourteen year old daughter is now living down there and we don’t believe she should spend her high school years separated from her parents. What was meant as a quick weekend trip turned into a nine day adventure. There were a couple of unexpected deaths (no one in my immediate family) and there was an extended battle with a Mercury Grand Marquis. I finally got back home last night after eleven hours on the road. The traffic was horrible and we (me and Kobi) arrived to 18° temperatures. Considering it was 70° in North Carolina on Thursday, that was a bit of a shock.
I do want to point out that I love this area and I absolutely love my church family here. However, I would be lying if I didn’t acknowledge that these next few months are going to be hard. Robin and I have been a couple for thirty years. We’ve been married for twenty-eight years and with one exception (when I moved up here six years ago) we have never been separated for more than a week at a time. I won’t be able to go down for Thanksgiving or Christmas and she doesn’t have any vacation since she’s started a new job. What that means is we will not be able to see each other (outside of video chatting) until at least January of next year. I am prepared to remain here until Chris graduates in June but as I’ve already said, plans are always subject to change.
Neither of us want to leave this area. These past six years have been filled with unbelievable challenges but our church family has been right there with us through every one of them. Although I know I need to look out for the needs of my wife and daughter first, I still feel as if I am betraying the people here. I honestly planned to remain here the rest of my life. I could not have even begun to imagine all of the things that transpired to bring us to this point. I do know that God is good and He will help all of us get through this as well. That doesn’t make it any easier. My heart already breaks as I contemplate the inevitable day that I say goodbye to folks here.
I recently “rebooted” my online presence and I have this “new” blog to share things in. I really didn’t know what to write here but I have a feeling that it will be helpful for me to chronicle this next phase of my journey. If any of you get something from my ramblings, that will be an added blessing.
Grace and peace.
That 80s Pastor Dude 