In the Waiting
Blessing our hellos and goodbyes
"Whatever I put at the center of the wait is what carries all the power. I can't say that I fully understand what it means to wait upon the Lord, but if God is the one inviting me into it, well then, there must be hope in that." by Emily P. Freeman
In her book, "How to Walk into a Room; Then Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away," Freeman reframes life's hellos and goodbyes with ten thoughtful questions and four steps of discernment.
This month, I have thought a lot about hellos and goodbyes with the selling of my childhood home in Boone, North Carolina. I am happy for my mom in this next chapter, as she enjoys life in her new home near my sister in Tennessee.
As a child, I remember the school bus dropping my sister and me off at the end of the gravel lane. We walked home alongside the barbed wire fence where on the other side cattle grazed in the fields. We played softball with our neighbors and rode bikes together. Sadly, as a child, I never truly appreciated the beautiful view that greeted us every morning.
Realtor and friend, Judy Higgins Wagner, posted these pictures of the house online and I paused with gratitude in viewing them, especially the last picture taken in the backyard.
Dad spent countless hours on the hill behind the house tending to his garden, grape vines, blueberry and blackberry bushes, and multiple fruit trees.
Also, on the side of the house, I spent countless hours playing basketball. I can almost hear the basketball go through the net without hitting the rim, making my favorite swishing sound.
In the picture, I imagine the sun saying one last goodbye before setting behind the gorgeous panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
In the silence of Holy Saturday, may we wait with the Lord and consider blessing our hellos and goodbyes.
"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:14
As we say goodbye to the month of March, I am grateful for…
…the honor of serving as Shenandoah Presbytery’s 2023 Moderator,
planning worship with fellow pastors for Shenandoah Presbytery’s 2024 meetings,
attending the Lauren Daigle concert with friends,
meeting some amazing caregivers at our church’s Neurodiversity Education Event,
creating a pray-ground sacred space in our church’s sanctuary,
and seeing my daughter, Haven, enjoy her first car!
As we step into my favorite month, may we discover joy in our hellos and goodbyes.
Serve and Love Well,
Rev. April H. Cranford
I love this goodbye to your childhood home. In my mind I can hear the crunch of the gravel lane as you get off the bus and those swishes from the ball going through the net in your driveway.