beginning of the end

Sam said to me at the end of GIFT on Sunday "This is the beginning of two weeks of goodbyes."

He's definitely right.

This week is dead week, next week exams. Goodbye to classes.

The last GIFT was on Sunday. My last one-on-one with Sam was today. Goodbye worship committee.

Friends are graduating and moving on. Goodbye this community (hello new one).

And lots of other things are ending.

Last year I would have been a complete emotional wreck. And by would have been I mean I was.

But I've realized that I don't have to be sad and upset. Yes, things are changing - people, things and activities that I've grown to love and appreciate will leave and those relationships will change.

Despite this, though, I take joy in the fact that the people who are leaving are going to have new adventures. It is time for them to leave Dordt and venture outside of this place, to a new place where God will continue to use them.

I don't have to be sad about GIFT because I know it will be in good hands. Rachel and Tim will do a good job and learn a lot, and both Tim and I will be here for them if they need anything. That is a blessing for me (and I'm sure Tim too).

New activities will come about - ones that are just as fulfilling and joyfilled as the ones I've been in this year. Perhaps even more so.

I have so much to be thankful for. Losing it because things are changing just seems to be a waste of time.

Perhaps I've grown a lot more than I realized in the past year...