Dear Community Heights family,
We loved deeply didn’t
we? And
we were loved back.
(That
is arguably the best part of all.)
It was
a sweet season- our years with the Osterbauer family. It felt right. It was good.
Really good.
We grieved deeply
when they left. We did not want to let them go. Our hearts ached. Goodbyes are always painful when you love like
we did.
Months have passed and
we are getting used to their absence. Sort of.
Life has a way of ‘going on’.
And we must move
with it.
God’s grace covers us as we do. Grace
gives us what we need to face the realities we don't necessarily like and the seasons
of change we don't necessarily care to make.
His grace always
does. Its there. It covers.
Always.
I am grateful. I bet you are too.
So here we find
ourselves receiving a new worship pastor and his family.
You know, when Beau
was leading worship during his candidating Sunday Cory shared with me something
both interesting and wise. He said, I had two thoughts as Beau was leading worship.
#1. He’s our guy. He is going to do a great job.
#2. I
miss Mike.
It’s possible you
know. Possible to feel and think both of
those thoughts simultaneously.
They can co-exist.
Two attachments. Two loves. Two favorites. Two
bests.
There really is no
need to replace one with the other. No need to compare. No need to push one aside
or resist entrance to another.
There is room for
both in our hearts. It’s possible. It’s okay. It’s healthy.
Since meeting Beau and
Jen I have shed a few tears…
Down one cheek a few tears of grief have rolled because I loved having the O’s here. I miss them. I miss their
kids. We were close friends. We trusted each other. We did life together. We
were ministry partners together. My
heart aches at their absence. It does.
But there has been other
tears, tears of joy, that have fallen down the other side. They've been tears of gratitude that God would
kindly bring us Beau and Jen. It’s right. I am thrilled. We
connected.
They will be a great fit. I am overwhelmed at God’s kindness and
favor in bringing us such an incredible family and so soon. I know we will
trust each other and I look forward to calling them friends and partners in
ministry. In fact, I already do.
I am overcome with gratitude and deep emotion
over it all. It’s too good. I feel blessed.
Immensely.
This is all possible-it
really, really is! This shedding of two kinds
of tears at the very same time- it’s possible.
If you find yourself
feeling the very things I am then please…
Do not feel guilty.
Not for one second. Do not attempt to
wipe one tear away or stop the other from pooling. Let the two flow… let them mix beautifully
together in the recesses of your heart without trying to figure it all out
emotionally. Their coming together is beautiful. This is life.
Don't hold the new at an arm’s length because you loved the old so much.
You don't have to.
Some of us miss so much blessing, so much
richness in life because we think we only have permission to love one. Have one
favorite- one bff- one loyalty.
Silly. All. Of. This.
Is. Silly.
Faulty thinking is
all it amounts to. But make no mistake, resistance leads to clogged up hearts, stunted
growth and loss of relationship.
And all of that grieves the heart of God.
Can I encourage us to
love deeply, love fully right now.
Right here whoever is currently in our space. I dare you to let go of all that
hinders you and embrace- big- those new souls God has placed in front of you-
Whoever
they may be.
I realize for some
that means for the first time you give your Father your blessing to love again
since your mom died. And maybe you even give
yourself permission to accept your step-mom for who she is. She replaces no
one. No one could take your moms place. Everyone knows that. Except for you or
so it seems. Its time you allow yourself to shed two kinds
of tears. Really its okay. Be free.
Maybe it’s your son’s
new wife, your brother’s new stepkids, your daughter’s new coach, your new
next door neighbors, your new boss or your new pastor… you fill it in.
Who is it? Who won’t
you accept because you loved the last one so.
I know, I know you don't
like change. News flash-no one does. But you don't need to be so scared of it. You liked the way things used to be. Well, be
grateful for that time. But stop letting the past hinder your progress now. You
may even realize you like something new-something you didn’t think you would. So and so did such and such and… yada, yada, yada…
Seems kinda silly doesn't it? All of our
excuses. All of our reasons for withholding.
Risk it-your heart will be ok.
Your arms are big enough to embrace another.
They really are. I promise.
CHAC family,
Mike, Krista, Ella,
Gabe, Audra and little Ben will always be precious to us.
Always.
I will always
have the ‘ tenderest ‘and fondest memories of our years together. I loved doing
life with them. I loved how they ministered. I loved their personalities. I
loved their strengths.
And I hated to see
them go.
But I will refuse the
ploy of the enemy of my soul and of my church to withhold love and loyalty and friendship
to Beau and Jen and their daughters. To
entertain the notion that I am incapable of opening up and fully embracing who
is new among us, or resisting what God is doing in our midst for such a time as this
would be nothing less than a tragic loss on my end. I simply won't have it.
I can love greatly and therefore miss deeply AND be brave enough to do it all over again.
And so can you.
There’s plenty of room in my
heart. Plenty of room in yours too.
So what
do you say we do this together.
Love deeply.
Embrace fully.
Enjoy completely.
Another.
