Clay in the Hands

I guess it has finally begun to sink in.  This Sunday is my last Sunday in my current position.  After resigning as associate pastor and giving my notice, I began focusing on all the things I needed to get done in order to leave smoothly.  I moved computer files to a flash drive to be handed off.  I organized file drawers to make things easier to find for those who will be picking up where i have left off.  I have tried to tie up all the loose ends of my current position at the church so that my leaving will not be a burden on anyone.

Then there is the packing – how can a person collect so much stuff and put it into one office in 9 years?  And where will I put it all?  My new office needs paint and organization before I can even move in.

All that to say, I have not really focused on THE DAY.  But here it is . . . this Sunday is my last day at First Baptist Church in Levelland.  Monday, I will officially begin my journey as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Littlefield (for those of you not familiar with God’s country in west Texas – yes, our founding pioneers were not very creative when they named our cities!).

At least, I had not thought about it until last night.  The family and I sat down to watch one of our favorite shows, The Office.  And last night’s episode was Michael Scott’s last day on the job as manager of Dunder Mifflin.  As I watched the episode it began to sink in.  For those of you who have remained distant from the shenanigans of Michael Scott and are not familiar with the show, Michael has been the boss for the entire run of the show and he is now moving and leaving the company.  So last night’s episode was his goodbye.  As I watched him trying to say goodbye to all the employees individually, I began to realize that I will be saying goodbye on Sunday.

At one emotional point in the episode, Michael said, “Goodbyes stink.”  I could not agree more.

Even though I have no doubt that God is at work in this transition, saying goodbye to all our friends here is going to stink!  But that is part of life I suppose.

It has been an incredible journey here in Levelland, but as we part ways, I know that God has even bigger plans for our friends who remain here as well as my family as we make this transition.

I encourage you to continue to follow our journey through my posts here.  Nothing will change with Clay In The Hands.  It will continue . . . just from a new location.

Goodbyes stink, so I will simply say, “Be blessed!”