I have been meaning to write this post for two or three months. But I just haven’t for a couple of reasons. One is simply because when school starts those heartfelt posts about serious issues get pushed aside while grading and reading take up most of my brain space.
But the second reason that this post is hard to write is because it’s a little bit sad. But I feel like it should be written down.
So here we go. I will try to make this long story short…
Our lives changed abruptly this summer when we found out some crazy news. After a long series of events at our beloved little Scottsdale church, we found out that our pastor, Heath, was going {back} into the military to be a Navy Chaplain. This meant a number of things:
1} It meant that his entire family, including his wife Lisa who had become one of my best friends here, and all his precious children that I had grown to love, would be leaving Arizona. If you were wondering who the adorable baby girl I always used to Instagram was, it’s their youngest child. They are now on the east coast, about to be stationed in Virginia for two years.
2} It also made the departure of my other friend, Anne, who started seminary in California this year even more bittersweet. Lisa, Anne, and I had grown extremely close and now that we are spread out all over the country, reunions will be far and few between.
3} It also meant that our little church, the very first one that we tried when we moved to the desert two years ago, still tan from our honeymoon, would be shutting down. We were a small church without a permanent building, so finding a new pastor wasn’t really feasible. Instead, we merged with a larger church down the road that is a part of the same church planting network.
Within six weeks of finding out the Taylors would be leaving, our church had our last service together. Three weeks later, Anne was leaving for California. And a month after that, Lisa and the kids were headed on a plane to meet up with Heath who had already been in training on the other side of the country.
It was like a big punch in the face and a knife in the heart… I’m only slightly exaggerating.
But like every hard situation, it taught me a number of things:
1} My identity is not in my church. Since we found a church and got plugged into community so easily when we moved to Scottsdale, it became easy to make church my identity. My friends were at church, my activities were at church, and for a while, even my job was at church. But my church is not my identity; Christ is my identity. And although the building and the people on Sunday may have changed recently, He remains the same. We are slowly but surely getting plugged into our new church, and we remain united with brothers and sisters in Christ, whether near or far.
2} The desert is weird. We are not natives of Arizona, and not long after moving here, we learned that no one really is. Only 25% of Arizona’s population is made up of native residents. Everyone else comes and goes… snowbirds, college students, people who live in the sunshine for a few years and then move on to cooler climates. We’ve already seen friends move away, have other friends who will be moving away soon, and have other friends who hope to move away in the next few years. We’ve learned that we need to be social and hospitable and active in our community. We can’t count on a core group of friends that will always be here. People are coming and going and we have to remain eager to meet new people here, while being dedicated to keeping up with friends that move away.
3} But then again, we probably won’t live here long term either. After I graduate, who knows where God will take us next. Watching Anne and Lisa leave was just a gentle reminder that this world is not our home. Anywhere we live, whether for a year, a decade, or a lifetime, is simply a temporary dwelling while we wait for our eternal home in heaven. Having friends move away is always a good reminder of this.
So that’s it. I said goodbye to some dear friends. We said goodbye to our church. We have a new church. We are making new friends. We are keeping the old {just like I learned in Girl Scouts}. It was a sad transition, but God, as always, has worked it out for good. And here are the rest of the pictures. The ones that show exactly why I miss these ladies so much…
Anne and Lisa, here’s to California in three years! I love you both. XO!
Transitions like this are so hard, but, as you wrote, they're going to happen.
It's nice when God prepares our hearts at least a little ahead of time.
Hey there,
I totally am understanding how you feel. My church wet through almost the same thing this summer. In that we were going to have to shut down an merge with a church in the same church planting association. I was get super bummed about it an actually really selfish. It's hard to let go of things that have become more of a home than home is. It' where we started new life.
Thankfully we didn't have to merge, but now I ended up having to move about an hour away from my church. Not getting to see everyone ALL the time has been such a bummer. I just always remind myself that this is the season God wants me in. Be it long or short. Everything is in his time. 🙂
Have a great day and thank you for your words and sharing that with us!
-Lyndsy
I am so sorry that you are losing two wonderful ladies (and families) but how awesome that God is using them to do BIG stuff! And despite your church breaking up, you really do have great perspective. It is somehting I have been praying on, since Jon and I are in transition with churches, that my identity belongs in Christ, not a certain church. And btw…you look cute with a bump!!
While I still haven't had the opportunity of a stalker moment at LGO, the husband and I are both AZ natives. We will most likely be here for the verrrrrry long haul so please feel free to reach out if you and Micah ever need/want. I know finding new people to fill any kind of a void was not the intent of this post at all, but just throwin it out there.
I grew up in Phoenix and totally know what you mean about everybody moving all the time. I'm praying for you as you go through all of this transition! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Awwww…good post, Jen. This was hard to read and encouraging at the same time. Thank you for pointing out how we can grow through difficult times! I miss Anne and Lisa too.
We are a military family, so I certainly understand how hard it is to see people move. Thank goodness for technology and being able to stay in touch with those who mean the most to us!
i totally understand. after only a year and a half here, it has gotten harder as people i know here have moved away. add a child to the mix, it's horrible. so sorry you are going through this 🙁