An Epic Week

In spite of my dramatic announcement of Sunday last, the world is continuing on, quite unaffected. The media has paid no attention, far more concerned with the socialist takeover of health care. The humanitarians are rushing off to Taiwan to find the survivors. The rice farmers are focused on getting the harvest in before the next wave off the African coast develops. And the beat goes on.

Yet, the news of my immanent departure has made a dent. I have spoken to a lot of folks in our community, the word is getting around that the preacher is leaving for the greener pastures of home, and apparently, my life in Branch has made a difference. I have heard many fond wishes for success, many heartfelt thank yous and words of encouragement, and a whole lot of compassionate understanding. But mostly, I have heard about how much I matter to my friends, how much they appreciate me, how much they love me. And that is very special to hear.

Every man needs to feel like his life matters, that his days on earth count for something, that his effort and labor and love are of value, of substance. It is ingrained into our DNA to know that we stand for something and that we have made at least a dent in the order of things. And I have had that fundamental desire reinforced and affirmed.

As we live through our days, it is hard to measure the impact. We all go about doing what we think is the right thing, doing the best we can, what seems right in our circumstances. As we live through our times, it is hard to measure, to determine if what we are doing is valid, is significant in the important ways.

But on occasion, when the dramatic occurs, and folks are allowed to be sentimental and speak from the heart and reveal their gut feelings without shame, they can speak about such things and not feel corny about it. And I have been overwhelmed with kind words and gratitude for the work done and the Word spoken. I feel like it has mattered, and I feel like it made a difference.

Now, I have not solved the riddles of time and space or evangelized the whole world from the headquarters in Branch. I have not brought peace to the Middle East. The governor will take no notice of my departure, CNN will not camp out in the yard as they would with Brittney or Micheal.

But even better, I have loved and been loved. Sweet sorrow is what the Bard called this emotion. Now I get it.