Leaving the Bad

Tonight our church had an ice-cream social. It kind of felt like just another fellowship time. Ice cream and sharing stories and laughter. But it wasn't. Tonight we said said Farewell to Steele Ave. See, later this week we'll move into our new facility. It's an exciting time, and long-awaited time, and a scary time. Exciting because ... well, most new things are. Long-awaited because this project has been in development for at least 6 years. And scary because, as they say, you can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take Jersey out of the girl. Or better said, the building doesn't determine the strength and effectiveness of a church.The people inside do. If we pick up and move everything in the building on Steele Ave. into the building on West Main St., there could be some real problems.

I have some great memories at Steele Ave. I met my husband there. We were married there (even tried to burn the place down.) It was the first church our daughter ever went to. The first kids we will ever call "our kids" were the teens there from 2000-2002.

Those memories drive my love for the church here. It is the place that brought Jimmy and I together. Those kids started our love for ministering to others, especially young people. And though all of them have finished high school, we still love them today and want this church to be an awesome place for them, for those who are teens and children now. Those memories will go with me, keeping alive a fire for the work God has called us to do.

But I have some painful memories there as well. I sat by my mother as a statement was read that hurt my family deeply. I have had leaders and other members who have been hateful to me. I remember being in church one Sunday when a man very special to us was no longer in the room. I have sat on that front pew with people I love as they cried, asking for prayers for strength, forgiveness and love.

See, if I take all those with me, I will always be limited by the times I have been hurt. And I'll be honest. It's held me back since we moved from Searcy. There are times when certain words, songs, and worst of all, people, bring it all back. And I would guess that everyone else there has a mix of good and bad memories that could be brought along. If we all bring our bad stuff with us, we might fill too much of this great space with stinky, rotting garbage. So here's to taking the good, and leaving the bad.

Unfortunately that's easier typed that done.