Goodbyes of All Kinds

It's my last day at Heartland. I go to Dallas 9 o'clock tomorrow morning. I'm there for a week. I leave on Wednesday for Chicago. I'm there for two days. I'm in Grand Rapids on Friday. The End.

Goodbyes are so strange. So strange. It's one thing leaving something that you're okay leaving because you have an opportunity to move on. Go forward. Get going. It's another thing to leave something that requires real, authentic emotion to leave your body while the person or place leaves you. This summer has been full of hello's and goodbye's. See ya later's and It was nice know you's. Who was that's and I think I remember them's. Being at a church with 8000 people has had its ups and its downs. However, the relationships that I have built have been incredily rewarding and have made me consider myself very greatful.

What's sad is that often times, you don't necessarily know how much of an impact you've made on something until you leave. I have had some incredible affirmation while I've been here but about two hours ago, I had my going away party (see: cake and Dasani water bottles). It was very nice to see some of the church staff for the last time and them give me some encouraging words. Dugan, my best friend that I've met here, spoke very kindly of me and gave some funny, quirky comments. Mike Hickerson, my golfing buddy/boss/Sr. High Head Directional Leader, told everyone that I would be perfect for hiring at any point down the road and that I gave as much if not more to Heartland as I recieved. And then Tammy, my host mom, could hardly speak because she was crying too much. I was shocked by that. Tammy, an incredible woman and sooo nice, has been nothing but hospitable and a joy to be around. But I had no idea that what ever I've been around the Buteyn's (Host family's last name) was worth crying over. Little things like that continue to encourage me to be myself in all situations. I've only been me here and people have really accepted me as a good friend, trustworthy collegue or family. It's been hard.

But with that, my time here isn't done yet. I still have about one more week and two days of "work" left although none of that will be spent in Rockford. It should be fun though. I have a busy life ahead of me and a lot more goodbyes to say. The ones ahead are going to be harder but they are also going to be more memorable. I have loved my time here at Heartland but it also has proved to be another short stay in my proverbial journey. Someone told me today that in their prayers for me, they believed God was telling them that wherever I would land would surprise me. I think that's going to be true. I don't know if it's going to be a good surprise or a tough one to deal with, but my life, I hope, will not prove dull. I won't have it any other way.

Thanks Heartland Community Church.