This morning we drove our son Isaac and daughter-in-law Rebekah to the bus station for their trip back to Montreal. They have been with us for a week and saying goodbye was an emotional experience. We were keenly aware that this visit is the end of an era. Isaac will be ordained in May of this year, so their lives will change. Entering into ministry means busy Christmases and restrictions for travel through the season, not to mention exhaustion after it is all over.
Isaac will be amongst the first candidates for ministry to be able to negotiate an initial pastoral charge and it looks as though he will be serving in rural Quebec, not far from where Rebekah will be working as a freshwater biologist at Mt. St. Hilaire, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. http://www.mcgill.ca/gault/sainthilaire/ Their bilingualism is considered an asset in this rural community.
Well, after saying farewell at 8:00 am we chose to walk at Second Marsh, taking advantage of the calm and sunshine of the early morning. Our walk was soothing and beautiful. We spoke together about how spiritually restorative time in the natural world is for us.I know from past reflections that it is for many of you as well, but I'm always interested in hearing your thoughts.
3 comments:
I look forward to hearing about Isaac's journey this year with ordination and settlement on the horizon. When you mentioned the difficulties around gathering with him and Rebecca in the future because he is entering ministry, I resonated with those words. It is much harder to take a weekend trip or go away over Christmas or other holidays. It even makes it hard to plan events with Jeff and the boys. They have the weekend off, but I work on Sundays.
It's not the most convenient of schedules, but I know that there are some who work on statutory holidays or have to work hours where they don't see their kids at all. I am lucky enough to have a flexible job where I can be home for the kids after school and take a day off if they are sick, etc.
As for taking a walk in God's wondrous world, there is nothing better! I admit to staying inside during these winter months. I don't do a lot of winter sports and walking is impossible. Everything is covered in snow and ice. I am really looking forward to the spring.
I hear your mixed emotions as Isaac and Rebekah departed: joy for their respective successes in finding meaningful and compatable work and life (those things we pray for, for our kids)) and yet sadness at the loss inherent for you. Parenting is hard!
Am reminded of a tearful flight I took to our new life in Winnipeg, 7 months pregnant with our first baby (first grandchild) and have often thought since then, as hard as that was for me, it must have been so much harder for our folks.
Deb, I also remember anticipating spring in the Prairies, which finally came that first year in May,...hope springs eternal though, and perhaps you'll see an early spring in Saskatchewan this year. Until then stay warm and enjoy that beautiful blue sky and record winter sunshine.....bright skies are restorative, in and of themselves, for me. :)
As much as we anticipate our "loss" there is something about stepping into a new life without the immediate support of family and friends that can be very meaningful, as both of you point out.
While those of us in ministry know what we're getting into, it doesn't make it easy during the "high and holy days" nor in the practicalities of juggling regular schedules. We're finding that it is actually more of a challenge with the passage of time.
As parents we could feel Ike and Becky's excitement, along with an element of trepidation, and that is the way it supposed to be. It was fun to talk about our experience of first Christmases in Newfoundland, where Isaac was born, and about their possibilities. Thanks.
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