Just 3 months

One of the most awesome things about being a Christian is that we have countless opportunities in life to bless people (and to be blessed by them) and most of those encounters go unmentioned.  We say a kind word, we demonstrate an act of faithfulness, we lend a hand without thinking about it, or through countless other ways.  These things have a cumulative effect in a way that, before long, result in lives being changed for the better and hopefully, the end result is that we all look and act a little more like Jesus.
In about 3 months time (June 30th to be exact) I'll be saying "goodbye" to my role as pastor of Crossroads Community Church.  At that time, I will have been on "full time staff" at the church for 11 years and a month.    Hard to believe.  For about 9 of those years I have occupied my former junior high Sunday school room as my church office.
It may surprise people to know that I'm pretty nostalgic.  I still have the orange strap and plastic badge I used to wear as a crossing guard in elementary school.  It's a little tight on me now.  I also have ticket stubs to movies I saw in the early 80's.  Not to mention the tiny brown "onesie" with a little white rabbit on it stuffed in the back of my sock drawer that Grace, and now Beth, have outgrown.
But all these trinkets aside - I'm starting the process of trying to wrap my head around the idea of saying "goodbye" to a group of people who have shaped my life, stretched me, humbled me, and encouraged me in ways they'll never even know.  All those Sunday's together, all those potlucks, baptisms, kids events, car washes, yard sales, work days, budget meetings - yes, even the budget meetings.
One of the songs we sing often at church speaks about the impact that God's presence has in our lives.  I think it also could cover the way we refine, challenge, uplift and bless one another.  The title says it all, "I Will Never Be the Same Again".