Saying Goodbye
I stink at goodbyes. Like a lot of people I think, I always find it wonderful (cue swelled head and irrational ego boost)but exceeding awkward to receive praise. What are you supposed to say beyond "Thank you?" And how are you supposed to tell the people you are saying goodbye to how much they mean to you without descending into repetitive and trite comments? At any rate, since I am convinced (and have historical confirmation) that I am way more eloquent in writing than I am verbally, let me just say how amazing it has been to be part of Philpott and oXyGEN over the past few years. Whatever I put into it, I got way more out of it in terms of gaining a better understanding of who God is and what being part of a real genuine and loving community really feels like. I think it's rare to find such a large group of people who have all bought into the idea that service is a joyful way of life instead of a pain in the rear end. It has been (and will continue to be, albeit from a remote location for a couple of years) a joy and a privelege to be with you on the journey!
The other thing I've really realized over the past week of goodbyes is that it's really amazing how something that you do or something you say can really affect people in ways you would never dream. I've been really touched by what several people have said to me... both the standard "goodbye, we'll miss you" and really specific anecdotes about how something I did was important to others in their spiritual walks or just as friends. I know I could recount a host of stories on that front myself regarding situations where others really ministered to me. This is no means a complaint (and if it were, I would be condemning myself equally), but I have to wonder why we so often wait until a goodbye to share with others how they have encouraged us.
OK, enough of this before it starts to descend into a weepy, Oscar acceptance speech-style ramble... 
