Forward

Forward
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

 Well, friends, here we are (again). An interim. We didn’t ask for it or expect it, but there it is, just the same.
 
I remember someone (probably John Foster) in the last few years describing an Old Testament image. Apparently, there is some Hebrew word or turn of phrase that describes walking backwards. In this way, one can be moving forward while looking back. It’s a great image, actually. Think of how the Hebrews so often recalled the great deeds of their God as they used the past to encourage them to move into the future.
 
It's the perfect stance for our church just now, I think. Goodbyes are tough, to be sure. And I know, as do many of you, that they don’t get any easier just because you’ve had to say a lot of them. Every time is hard. But life just doesn’t stand still, does it? People move on, or even go to be with the Lord, and it’s just a part of the ebb and flow of life. It’s okay to grieve when we lose people—we should and frankly we must. But it’s not okay to lie down and wallow in it. Like it or not, we have to say goodbye and move forward.
 
Moving forward does not mean forgetting. We never forget people that we’ve loved, people that have changed us, people for whom we have become family, and they for us. But each season of life means another step into whatever future God has planned. When summer ends, I miss my lazy days of reading, writing, and spending way too much time looking at  political posts on the internet. But I also look forward with great anticipation to what the new school year will hold. I love summer break, and I love teaching. Two things can be true, as they say.
 
So here we are, saying goodbye to good friends and beloved little ones. We’re kind of sad. But God has already chosen the next man to pastor CPC. He has gone ahead of us, just as He has so many times before, to provide what we will need. Those of us who have been here a while may be a little bit calmer over all of this. If you’ve been here long enough, you’ve seen a building built, pastors come and go, two mortgages burned, and even a total change of denomination. And through it all, God has been in control, just as He is right now.
 
So, let’s walk backwards together. Moving into the future, reassured by the past; tears of grief in our eyes, smiles of bold and confident hope on our faces. We go forward in faith.
 
Peace.
Jackie