 |
 |
Dear Church Family,
Sometimes when a business closes or there is an abrupt change in something we've always counted on, we remark that, "It is the end of an era." Probably we took the "era" for granted while it was open, but not until it's demise do we find ourselves nostalgic for it place in our life. This week I said goodbye to two of my homes "away from home".
My mother moved from our hometown in Ohio to be near my sister in Georgia. Her comfortable home is always "home" because she is there and she creates a beautiful space. And it is my hometown so there are connections to relatives and dear friends. Her move felt like an end to an era of hometown + mom + family & friends + a visit to the past.
The other home away from home was a massive Victorian in Los Angeles that our friends have been renovating the past 15 years. We spent many vacations from Honolulu there, and enjoyed watching the renovation and using the space for gatherings, celebrations, quiet dinners, and unwinding. They are moving to Santa Fe to pursue their business dreams.
As we visited them this week I had the opportunity to meet the new owners, a young professional couple - A program director at USC in Religious & Spiritual Studies who wrote a beautiful letter to my friends when they submitted the offer. They spoke of a space to gather, celebrate and practice spiritual arts. I liked them immediately, because not only because they appeared like kind hearted people, but because they understood the intentions my friends had put into the renovations - a place to gather and celebrate.
As we helped them pack up a few sets of china - (Holy cow how many sets does one need?) And prepared several other sets to be sold at an upcoming estate sale, I remembered some of the pretty dishes from our celebrations and dinners together. And I thought, "It is the end of an era." Not really knowing what it meant except we won't be gathering here, celebrating here again. Someone else will. And that brought me comfort.
Now my mom and friends are off to new adventures. New places to explore, new spaces to make home. And I'll look forward to creating new era's with them in new cities. I know they will create beautiful spaces because it is part of their genius in the world to do so. I know they will thrive wherever they are - because that, too, is part of who they are. And I know they will surround themselves among kind-hearted loving folks because that is what they do. All of the tools and skill sets for creating a new and, dare I say, fabulous era are present, honed, and a natural part of their heart and mind. Now it's up to me to prepare myself to allow it to happen.
Perhaps you identify with this dynamic of change - While we are nostalgic about the end of the eras in our lives - its up to us to allow the new era to blossom and grow. As the adage alludes: the end of one era is the beginning of another.
Here's to celebrating the Good!
Many Blessings,
Pastor Robert