#GoodGrief
I announced three weeks ago that I would soon be leaving Richmond and Ginter Park. I had been in good conversation with Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship in Lexington, SC since Halloween and felt called since the beginning of the process to serve with that congregation as their Pastor.
January 20, I traveled to South Carolina in view of this call. I met with the Pastor Search Committee, the group of people I had shared spirit-filled conversation with. Church members started filing in, embracing me and sharing in the excitement. We gathered around the table, ate, and laughed; much like how we gather on Wednesday evenings in the Fellowship Hall; much like I imagine Jesus’ last meal with His disciples. The sunset was beautiful that night- over Lake Murray after an afternoon of rain. It was a little eerie, but with a bright orange and pink. People kept calling it a Clemson sunset..I guess that’s a SC thing to say. Looking out the window, past the church sign, I took a moment to remember and reflect; feeling grateful for these folks who are calling me to be their Pastor. But I couldn’t help but also being to feel the pangs of deep, deep grief. As often as I was excited about what the weekend would hold, I was also just sad to be leaving you, my Ginter Park community. You’ve been such an important part of my journey, at such a time I needed it the most.
Rob Bell released a podcast episode called “The Good Grief” a few years ago. He says, “Change is a loss, and loss must be grieved.” As a congregation that is undergoing exciting and painful change of your own, may we remember that change is a form of loss, and loss needs to be grieved. As excited as I am about my transition, and what this new season of ministry looks like for me, I’m also grieving. I’m moving away from a community that has loved me so well. I’m moving away from a community that has stood by my side through life. For that, I will always be grateful. This is grief, but the best kind of grief; for this is not the end of us, but the sending out. That’s why I came to this place, after all; to learn and grow into the ministry I’m called to. You taught me. You loved me. And now you send me into the world- full of your support and God’s grace. Good, good grief.