This month, this week, even today is a jumble of emotions. Such is life, sometimes. People we know come and go, change and rearrange, often without warning or time for our being prepared. Here's what I mean:
No sooner do you think you have your children about where they can take care of what's going on around them than they graduate. Oh, not that their graduation surprises you. You've known it's coming for a while. Kinda like a hurricane in the ocean. But, as well as you've tried to prepare them, you fear they aren't as prepared as you would like because graduation brings new challenges to them. And to you as a parent. Even though you knew it was coming your not really ready.
This past week has seen two young and vibrant families move from our church community. Mark, Angela, Amelia, and Lillian Graham and Seth, Angie, and Gwen Lindbloom have moved to new places and new peoples. The Graham's to North Carolina. The Lindblooms to Texas. We already miss their witness and their ministry among us, but we know that God will continue to work through them in their new homes to grow disciples and increase the kingdom. We are sad. We are happy. Our emotions are jumbled.
This morning at around 6:00 David Butler died. His wife, Jeanette, and two daughters, Kay and Dawn, were surrounded by many friends and family members at the hospital. You don't face the death of someone you love easily. And you're never ready for death, even when you know it's close at hand. We cried. We prayed. We laughed some. All of those emotions are part of living. And dying. We already miss David. We're still being made stronger by his life.
Two hours after David's death, parents and youth leaders gathered in the church's parking lot to send some of our 4th, 5th, and 6th graders off to camp. Camp is always an exciting time for our children and youth. So many good experiences are discovered in camp settings. We stood in a circle praying. The kids giddy and excited about the week ahead. The parents glad to see their children involved, still a little apprehensive about being away from them. And we prayed for safe travel and a good week and for God to bless the Butler's.
A jumble of emotions. A tidal wave of activity. What do we do? How do we understand God? What next? We can see those questions as nagging reminders of how fragile life is ? how uncertain our surroundings are, or we can go to work to understand them in the light of God at work. I believe the latter choice to be the best. From North Carolina to Texas to Camp Maranatha to wherever our graduates go to college and continue their life to the budding presence of God enjoyed by David Butler and all those who have died in the faith, we are wonderfully joined in ministry. Sending and being sent. One more day in the life of God's children. And thanks be to God for the gift of that day.

Grace and peace,