What: John, James, and I are moving. John is being appointed to a new church.
Where: Royal Oak First United Methodist Church
When: June
This was announced at both churches Sunday morning.
Story
Tuesday - Where I Was
My Home Health Nurse had told me three ingredients for healing are:
1) Protein
2) Comfort
3) No/minimal stress
Tuesday morning, I had intentionally decided to let a particular stressor go. I acknowledged my job for the next six months or so is to undergo chemotherapy treatments and to concentrate on healing.
Then came Tuesday night... and a phone call for John.
The Cabinet was assigning him a new appointment.
We would be moving.
I had just encouraged our son James who had been looking for housing in his price range and close enough to his job in Plymouth, to not worry, that I thought we were "safe", that no one would move us in the middle of chemotherapy.
Just shows how self-centered the life of a cancer patient can be.
Life goes on!
Processing
A lot of emotions and processing can be involved with unexpected news. But by Friday night, when John, James and I went to the "Introductory Meeting" with the Staff-Parish Committee at the Royal Oak church, we were mentally open to new possibilities.
The people were wonderful and welcoming!
Plus - bonus surprise - longtime school friend, Kip G-T was on the committee and added her own warmth and enthusiasm.
Meeting Each Other
I was concerned for the group when I said I had cancer.
The room was quiet; what can one say?
There we were:
Their terrific new pastor.
The 24-year-old son who was willing to be involved and active.
Then the wife... so broken and vulnerable.
I had mentally prepared a little speech in case they had questions:
"Would I have expected to move in the middle of chemotherapy?
No, but I had not expected to go to Africa either.
And I did last summer with John's sabbatical.
I found that God's unexpected blessings and grace are no less real, in fact, more real, than any I could imagine."
But they never questioned.
Instead, this group of people on the Royal Oak Staff-Parish Committe said,
"It is our job to support you."
"We will help make this work for you."
"Let us know what you need."
Wow.
Such unexpected blessings and grace.
The Body of Christ...
alive...for us.... in us.
My concept of "home" is expanding.
I trust God - and the Royal Oak people - are preparing a place for me.
And a place in me, for them.
