There were times when it seemed like eighty years and times when it seemed like only a few years. It was replete with highs and it had its share of lows. As Charles Dickens put it, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair …” [Charles Dickens, English novelist (1812 - 1870), A Tale of Two Cities] And yet, here we are after forty years together as Pastor and Congregation. Who would have thought it possible back in 1969?

Maybe because of the number forty, I can’t but help thinking about Moses and his term of office with the people. Throughout their time together, there was upheaval and calm, contentment and angst, approval and disapproval, pride and fury, appreciation and frustration. Nevertheless, their time together was tightly knitted by the Lord and the growth on both sides was significant. They, like we, had been through much together and, at the end of the day, it was for good.

Looking back I find myself remembering some things I would rather have forgotten and many things I am pleased that I have not forgotten. Only the Lord knows what I have forgotten. But through it all, we have learned how to walk out our faith in mutual caring and in tolerance. Many experiences have served to draw us so closely together that in many ways our identities are locked together.

I have seen, as you have, many relationships, friendships, marriages which explode in fury or dissolve into estrangement after just a decade or less. Indeed, church and pastor relationships average only a few short years in longevity for most. I believe that the reason for these short-lived bonds is the failure of those concerned to work through the conflicts, hard times and clashes which must be resolved for growth to continue. Many marriages have failed for this simple reason: the commitment is insufficient to sustain the energy and work required to survive together.

And it does take work on both sides of any relationship. How easy it would have been for this congregation to simply release (another term for “fire”) this pastor when problems or disappointments arose. Also easy is the solution of seeking a different congregation to “call” the pastor to a fresher horizon in the face of difficult situations.

But, in the midst of living together, the good times, the love, the caring, the concern, the mutual reaching for something higher builds bonds that do not so easily tear, nor are they so quickly abandoned. Our Savior has called us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling [Phil 2:12], to walk worthily of the calling wherewith we were called with all lowliness and meekness, with long- suffering, forbearing one another in love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [Eph 4:1b-3]

I can’t think of a better congregation with whom to learn that than you. Thanks for being who you are and for sticking with me all these years. I pray it has served you as well as it has served me.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 1st, 2009 at 11:47 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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