So it's Christmas now... about one hour into Christmas in Australia. I've just come back from my church's midnight service. I'm going to be moving (again) next year and this time, I'll be changing churches, too. Actually, I'll be living next door to a church. Actually, I'll be living on the church's property... so, of course, I'll be going to that church.
Which means goodbye current church.
Anyway, as much as I'm looking forward to it, I'm going to miss my current church a lot. I have a lot of history with that particular church, way back when I was a kid. Actually, tonight at the midnight Christmas service, I ran into an old babysitter of mine who I haven't seen in years.
I have a lot of friends there. A good community, too. It's very sad. It wasn't that long ago when I had to say "goodbye, possibly forever" to people from TAFE. I doubt it'll be "goodbye forever" to people from church because people know each other within the Christian community and I know I'll see them again in this life and the next. And I know where I can find them. But I basically grew up in that church. Most of my best growing-up memories are at that church. Some of my best grown-up memories are there, too.
I still have the whole of next month at that church, though, so it's not all happening yet. And unlike at TAFE where giving people proper goodbyes may be awkward and not always appropriate depending on my relationship with said people, I know that at church I can give proper goodbyes and they'll send me off with prayers and hugs.
And I believe that this is the move that God wants me to make.
And actually, this was a pretty crummy year in some ways, but looking back at it what overshadows the crappiness is that I can see how God has looked after me and guided me so I didn't have to find my way on my own. This house is part of that, too.
Anyway, goodnight. I'm sleepy and it's Christmas today.
Love Green.
