{"id":5549,"date":"2015-05-12T20:55:15","date_gmt":"2015-05-13T01:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=5549"},"modified":"2015-09-29T20:59:14","modified_gmt":"2015-09-30T01:59:14","slug":"may-17-2015-saying-goodbye","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/may-17-2015-saying-goodbye\/","title":{"rendered":"May 17, 2015 Saying Goodbye"},"content":{"rendered":"
Aaron Matson, Waterton, SD<\/div>\n
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Warm-up Question<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have you ever moved? What was the hardest part for you? What helped you adjust to your new community?<\/p>\n

Saying Goodbye
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As I was growing up, my family moved from one town to another a few times. Each time it was hard to say goodbye to friends and the familiar places and routines and then to build new relationships and familiarize myself with new surroundings and activities. As I have gotten older, I\u2019ve had to keep moving \u2013 to college, seminary, my first call as a pastor, and beginning graduate school. I\u2019m sorry to say even when you are an adult, and even when it\u2019s a move you have decided to make, moving is not easy. But, as you get older, you do begin to gain perspective, and realize that change, and saying goodbye, is a part of life. \u00a0You will miss the people who have been a part of your life (sometimes very much!), but there are new friends to meet (even though that can be hard if you\u2019re an introvert like me).<\/p>\n

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As a pastor, I have been with families who have had said goodbye to loved ones for the last time. Even with the tremendous promise of Easter that they are in our Savior\u2019s care, and in the fullness of time we will see them again as resurrected people, it\u2019s hard to say good-bye.<\/p>\n

A word that I have found helpful in those goodbyes is \u201cGodspeed,\u201d which (according to merriam-webster.com<\/a>) is from a Middle English phrase, \u201cGod spede you,\u201d which meant \u201cGod prosper you.\u201d It\u2019s come to be used to wish someone a good journey, or good luck, though it\u2019s not used all that much anymore. But, especially in its original sense, saying \u201cGodspeed\u201d is like saying a short prayer for those you are saying farewell to; it is a short hand way of praying that God bless someone and watch over them until you meet again.<\/p>\n

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Discussion Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n