Bittersweet Street

Driving to church with my hubby at 8 a.m. this morning. The drive to our church has become a familiar drive since we both work there and worship there. One, two, and sometimes three of our cars drive that street to church every single day, with hardly any exception. Driving this morning , though, I felt a sense of heaviness building as we knew the church announcement of another pastor's decision to serve another church would cause many to react in a variety of ways...and sometimes, unfortunately, it's not very pretty.

As we drive this very familiar road, Greg is praying aloud. We are holding hands and praying over the morning and our various roles of responsibility - over our pastor as he preaches - over the safety and security of our children - over the congregation - and praising and thanking the Lord for His many blessings. I've got my eyes open (as it's nauseating for me to close them in a moving vehicle) and we pass a street I've passed a million times (well, maybe not that many, yet) but never noticed before. The street sign says: Bittersweet Street.

So what's it like on Bittersweet Street?

It's bittersweet that we have released three wonderful men from our church body to let them pastor in other churches. We can all be sad that they, and their families, are moving on, but oh how sweet that they have been in training at our church, for a number of years, and are now ready to use this God-given wisdom, refreshment, and experience in other congregations.

It's bittersweet that some members in the congregation would rather judge, point fingers, gossip, and assume the worst instead of enouraging and edifying the body of Christ and realizing that staff changes happen - frequently - even in churches! Just because someone is leaving doesn't mean something is wrong. In this case, it shows God's amazing power (and timeliness!).

It's bittersweet to see our leaders agonize, evaluate, question, and yes, lose sleep over these transitions, but oh how sweet to see them trust in the Lord with all their heart...acknowledging Him in all their ways knowing He will guide their paths (as the Word promises in Proverbs 3:5&6).

It was bittersweet when we moved here to Wichita from Windsor, Colorado. I absolutely loved my life back in Windsor - my wonderful neighborhood and caring neighbors, the kids in established schools, important ministries within our local church, volunteer groups we were a part of, and our many, many great friends. Believe me it was VERY bittersweet! But we knew God had called us to use all we had learned and all we had experienced in Colorado and begin serving Him here in Wichita. Bitter to leave - but oh how sweet to serve Him here.

God, however, is not bittersweet! He is always, always, always sovereign and in control. And you know what? Sunday's coming! May I be His instrument of peace - spreading around even more sweetness (a tender term of endearment my husband voices to me every day) rather than bitterness. May we all be a little more sweet than we are bitter.

And, please God, may I never dwell on Bittersweet Street...