|
By Barry Buzza
 Maybe it's because of my job as a pastor, or maybe it's that I'm getting older, but I have noticed that there seems to be a lot of people who are leaving these days. Sometimes it's for the purpose of getting an education, and the young adult has to move to another city to go to university. Often it has to do with finding the right type of work. Susan and I have had a few friends move down to the States or to another province for a job. Then, in my circle, I too often visit people (sometimes relatively young people) who are preparing to die.
Whatever the reason that we are moving away, there are an overwhelming number of things to consider. More important than the home we are leaving and the other one we'll be moving into; above the changing of doctors, dentists, dry cleaners and schools, there is the ending of long-time relationships and the beginning of new ones.
I've counseled dozens of people who were preparing to move away, to check out the churches in the area. Their usual response, is, "We'll take care of that after we find a home." Too often, I get a phone call or email three months later, bemoaning the fact they can't find a church like the one they left behind. The reason for that is not usually the Sunday School, the music or the messages; rather, it's the intimate friendships they had forged at home, but maybe had taken for granted.
Among the number of important considerations during the move away from family and friends, here are five more to remember. Each of them has to do with relationships, and each of them requires either writing or saying something very important. I would not consider moving away or preparing to die without taking care of these five conversations.
Continue article >>
|
Number one is, I trust in God. Our primary relationship, because it is an eternal one is our faith in God. Don't leave home without it. Don't even think about changing addresses, either on earth or in heaven, unless God is with you in the move.
 Number two is, I love you. Some of us say these three words easier than others, but all of us need to learn to say to our family and friends how much we love them. Not to assume that we've never not liked each other, or disagreed with each other, but to affirm the value of your relationship. My dad had a heart attack a couple of weeks ago, and while he was in the hospital, he wrote each of our eight siblings a letter which underlined his love for and his pride in his kids. (I don't suggest you wait until your eighty-seven to do this.)
Number three: I forgive you
Number four: Please forgive me.
Clean--up any unfinished relational business. You'll be glad you did.
Number five is to say thank you.
Our church said goodbye to our beloved secretary, Bev, who has served our church faithfully for thirty years, last week. The thank yous we tearfully said at their going away party will be remembered forever. After you've covered those five important issues, remember to speak blessing over your friends and family. Although our words, "Hello" (holiness to you) and "Good-bye" (a contraction of "God be with you") are really prayers, there is nothing that carries as much weight as the blessing of God in a season of transition.
Barry Buzza, a regular contributor to canadianchristianity.com, is a veteran pastor, and also the president of the The Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada. www.barrybuzza.com www.foursquare.ca
January 24/2008
|
