Goodbye

Tomorrow is my last day at Rocky Creek Baptist Church, as an intern or member. I have been going there since I was 3 years old, which makes 17 years of attendance. During this time I have seen a lot of changes. Building changes, staff changes, friend changes, and vision changes. Rocky Creek has gone from a "church happy" church, to a mission oriented church, and I am incredibly proud of that.

I have been reflecting the past couple hours on what tomorrow is. It is a goodbye, I don't know when I will return. The youth I work with now will grow up, become leaders of their own- some of them I have known since they were in kindergarten. I will miss them, all of them. I was one of them, I grew up in the youth group- I never really left.

But with every goodbye comes a new hello. This hello is a new church, with new opportunities. I don't know what God has in store for East Flat Rock First Baptist Church, but I know this: God has something in store. Nothing else is needed.

I also know that goodbye is not a term even remotely associated with the word forever. At all.

My youth pastor, Toby, became my supervisor in an internship, now, he moves to colleague. But more importantly, one thing isn't changing- he is my friend. He built a relationship with me that will last eternally. I want to have that with my students. I want to be the example that Toby has been for me.

Me leaving the youth isn't about them losing an intern, or about me leaving a position, or anything like that. I am leaving what shaped me. Fifteen years ago, I learned to play basketball in the very building that I lead worship in today. I had birthday parties there, I met my fiance there, I grew up there. It is like leaving home. It is home.
From the haunted stairwell behind the office, to the children's room that was once our fellowship hall.
From the organ side 2 row pew that was my family's row until I was in 7th grade to the gym where I had my first job.
From the field where I learned to play baseball, kickball, football, wallball, tag, and countless other games, to the very same field where I learned to drive automatic and later manual transmissions.
From the corner window I used to climb through to get into my father's office to the room with no windows that we played sardines in.
From the third floor classroom where I got my first girlfriend on a Wednesday night, to the baptistry where my father baptized me.
This church literally holds my childhood in the walls.

And I will miss it.
And at the same time, I look forward with immense joy and excitement on all that God is going to do at East Flat Rock First Baptist Church. The goodbye is sad, but the joy that comes from the hello is so, so good.