The Long Goodbye
Our End of Year Party with students! This was our last night with the group before going into the summer.
Back in January we went to the Development Conference with Word of Life for new missionaries. One of the sessions that we were taught was on ‘Resilience in Transition.’
Life is full of transition moments. There are little disruptors all the time about every 12-18 months, either directly in our lives, or in the world around us. And then there are bigger transitions, that some have called ‘life quakes’, which people normally experience only three to five of these in their whole lives.
We all experience transitions. And it was helpful to not only talk about the different aspects of transitions, but to have the clarity of what part we are experiencing and when.
Before there is a ‘new beginning’ (which will be our lives in Panama one day!), there is a phase called ‘the messy middle.’ This will be our season in Costa Rica. They said this phase is marked by uncertainty, doubt, and the need for deep introspection and adjustment, because it is the turning point in the transition to something new. We will shed old habits and create new ones. But there is also deep anticipation and hope in this time, sensing the new beginning is coming. And we are excited about this next chapter of life and ministry that Jesus is calling our family to!
But before the ‘messy middle’ is the phase of transition called ‘the long goodbye.’ That is the phase we are in right now, and have been in, since we sensed this change coming.
Transitions take longer than we think. There aren’t any short-cuts. It’s still one day at a time. And as humans we have the full spectrum of emotions, and different personalities, when it comes to change in our lives. Do we resent, resist, or avoid change? Do we run to it and all the new things? And how do we process it all with those around us, who are also dealing with the change?
‘The long goodbye’ is mourning the past that isn’t coming back. To truly grieve well, is to choose to remember and process all the emotions. Someone gave us some wisdom along the way that was really good. They said, ‘Give yourself the permission to feel whatever you are feeling, whenever you are feeling it. Don’t wait till you leave, to try and grieve the change.’
That has been incredibly good for our hearts in the midst of this long goodbye. And it is the path we continue to be on until we launch to Costa Rica on August 13.
Please continue to pray with us on this journey!
Last week was our last night with our students. Tonight is our last night with our amazing team of volunteer leaders. June 11 we will close on our house. June 22 will be our last Sunday at Rockpoint and our family commissioning day (more on this in the next update!). And then throughout June and July it is full of final ministry trips, travel to see family, three weddings we are officiating, and in the midst of it all, trying to connect with friends before we go.
We know the beautiful thing is this isn’t truly ‘goodbye’ goodbye. We know the unique role we will be in will help keep us connected.
But it will be different. And it is a big change.
Ultimately in all of this, it turns the attention of our hearts to Jesus, Who is the One telling the bigger story of our lives! When we do that, regardless of whatever phase of transition we are in, we are good, because of Who He is, and who we are, in Him.
Our students, as part of the church of today, got to pray over our family to send us on this mission to Panama!
