Today is Adrian’s last day of work here. Tomorrow we leave and start our 3000 km
journey to our new home.
I don’t want to go, but I know we have to. We are called to move. While we deliberated the call, it was
easy to see how God was calling us onward, yet when we said yes, it suddenly
became a much bigger deal.
Though I have moved 9 times in my life (4 of which were
large, either across Canada or to Australia), I find this place harder to
leave. It has become my home. Maybe it’s because we started our
marriage here, or because our three sons were born here. Maybe it’s the stage of life. Maybe it’s the beauty of this place or
the people who live here. Maybe
it’s the memories that crowded the empty house we cleaned yesterday.
All I know is that it is time to say goodbye, or rather
“farewell”.
Fare well, my beautiful town with your lovely, pristine
beaches. Fare well, first house of our marriage – the place where our children
grew, where I painted a tree on the wall, where we played and danced and sang,
cooked and cleaned and worked.
Fare well to the place that was sometimes unbearable for me – the
distance away from nearly everything like when I couldn’t even contemplate
going to my grandmother’s funeral.
Fare well to silly poetic thoughts of the glorious and terrifying
ocean. Fare well to friends met
and made by all of us. Fare well
to two lovely congregations who have cared for us and challenged us. Fare well to some of the best
coffee. Fare well to shops where
the keepers know me (and the children) by sight and ask after them if they are
not with me. Fare well to windy
days and middle of the night towel banks by the front windows in rough
rain.
Fare well to long drives north and west. Roads known so well, filled with
conversations and silly things.
Fare well to walks in the bush and on the beach, around the
neighbourhood and over rocks. Fare
well familiar sights and smells.
Farewell lovely people whom I will miss. Fare well habits and schedules, birds and trees.
Fare well to dreams unfinished, hopes unrealized and plans
undone.
I love you, my little house of dreams; goodbye. May God
bless this place and these wonderful congregations that made this place
home. We pray God will bless you
with a faithful pastor.
Hello to the future, to not knowing what’s around the corner
but going boldly where God has called us. With our home in our hearts (and future
vacation plans) we go forward to new dreams, new hopes, new plans.
Farewell.
Bec--your post made me tear up! I love you--safe journey! God be with you all!
ReplyDeleteEv
*HUGS*
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine the tsunami of feelings we should have when this day comes for us here at some time in the future, my dear sister.
As I read, I cry because I know your pain first hand, I've been there 6 times in my marriage and it never is without bittersweet feelings. Trust God as you go and know He will hold you through the tears and bless you as He has done thus far. You are in our thoughts and ever in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteLove ,
Mom and Dad
Dear Bec
ReplyDeleteI know how hard it is to move from people you have grown and worked with, though not nearly to the extent of your move...Your clarity in how you state things here brought and continues to bring tears to my eyes, as I too will miss your first home in Australia. Continue to write (both here and elsewhere) as you have time and energy. Praying all goes well in your settling in. Love you loads! Farewell familiar puddle jumping spots! ;)