Last things

After being here for 6 years I am near the end of my last week of official work. As you can imagine, there have already been many 'last things'. Last staff and team meetings, last Chapel with students, last day of school, last youth gatherings, last looks...

Here's what these last things have showed me so far:
- Life rolls on without us. I know it sounds a bit morbid, but really most of my 'last' experiences of this season of my life in this place and these roles, have seemed like just another day and nothing is changing. People will keep planning for the future here, things I have done someone else will do in their own way. It's a humbling experience really. It's also a good thing, a reassuring thing.

- Last things don't quite feel like last things because they always lead into First things, new things - so there isn't a real end while we're living. As someone who believes Jesus is God, even death isn't an end. Which leads me to the next point...

- There is always hope. I have hope, that even though I leave here soon, I will return - whether for a day or more, I will see the faces of people I love again. I have hope that God will keep using the time I have had here, and he will use the next season of my life - both for my good and the good of others.

So here's to last things that don't stay last forever :)

Moving: Step 1? The CLEAN OUT!

For a while now this whole moving deal has seemed quite surreal... there's still have a month or so til I completely move, but the process has begun. People have already been saying goodbye - even though I will see most of them at one of my farewells in the coming weeks. But the thing that indicates to me that I am moving is the 'cleaning out' process...which has just begun this week. 

Anyone who comes to my home now will be able to tell I am moving [or just think that I am either a hoarder or nutter for sorting so thoroughly]. One can collect alot over 6yrs! I'm starting to realise there really is a different mindset between Settled and Short-term Focus/Nomadic.

Settled

When I moved here, it was for the long haul. I started out with very little - coming straight from college where I did stints in a 1 bedroom granny flat or the bedroom of someone's family home. The first flat I ever moved into here was a 3 bedroom townhouse - which felt pretty empty once I had unpacked. All my homes here since then have been that size or bigger. So of course I filled them with furniture and created a home office and a spare room in each. I collected things that I thought would be useful for ministry or life in the long-term. I like that feeling of having resources at your fingertips. 

Nomadic

It looks like I'll be moving in with some dear friends of mine in Sydney who have generously offered me a room/their home and their family life. I am really looking forward to it :) I have no idea how long I'll be there for, or where I would move to afterwards. So there's this sense of Adventure and freedom, and a lack of need for lots of material things [particularly because I won't be able to afford them - which really is liberating in some ways].

 

Now I can't wait to downsize, rid myself of all this helpful and possibly helpful stuff that I have. I really don't mind the idea of fitting everything I have into my car - though, that really won't be possible even after I downsize... So this whole cleaning out process is quite enjoyable, even if it is a bit tedious and tiring. Plus it's always interesting to rediscover things. 

You know what... it still really doesn't seem real that my life is about to dramatically change. Better get back to phase 1 of my cleanout before my housemate arrives home to the mess!