Another musing about goodbyes.

We fly to Europe in a week and two days. We have to pack what we will be bringing. There are good friends to say goodbye to in Grand Rapids. Our church family has just sent us off today. We are truly on the eve of leaving this place for a while. For now, I, Jack, am glad that we don't have to say another goodbye for today. I'm eager to board an airplane and land in a different country again. How do we say goodbye to everyone we could? That makes me more anxious than landing in Bucharest.

An electronic goodbye seems terribly inadequate, but how does one really say goodbye to scores of friends in six days? And these aren’t just our acquaintances in Grand Rapids. Kelly and I have so many true friends here, and now that our consciences tell us that we must say a good goodbye, I realize how Good this community has been to us.

(Kelly and I talk about good and Good.  With “good,” it is in the sense of “how are you?” “good.” Move on. Small good. “Good” connects to something more than what meets our eyes. “Good” is something that connects God and Man. “Good” is what Switchfoot was getting at in “More than Fine.” This will recur in this blog, I’m sure, unless it already came up years ago. And now “good” looks strange from typing it so much.)

So, thank you, dear brothers and sisters of ours. We are held together not simply by our own efforts, but by the strings of the Holy Spirit that connect all people who know each other in love. If we don’t come to your doorstep or meet you for lunch or see you at a party or stop by Calvin to say goodbye to you in the next week, I am so, so sorry. Perhaps a true, all-out showing of love would be to see everyone here whom we love, but I honestly don’t think it’s possible.

The day after Kelly and I became engaged was one of the best days of my life because SO MANY people hugged me (and her). The joy of the day was present in every embrace. For my whole life, I have oddly looked forward to goodbyes that I know will involve a hug, mainly because of the hug. The hugs this week will come in the sadness of love, and the joy of love.  And I dearly hope that we can hug you a Good goodbye. If not, then may our paths cross again someday.