The last two weeks have been blurry. Moving will do that to a person. Between packing, moving, unpacking, I've had little time to reflect on our move or to think of a way to say thank you to a group of people who have been so good to me.

I've had several starts to this piece and every time I start, I end up drifting away from the purpose in writing which is to say thank you. I think I'll do just that.

Thank you, Central UMC Rogers. From my first Sunday with all the trepidation I felt about a new role and a new chapter, you treated me like you loved me. As we got to know each other and grow in a ministry partnership, you surprised me over and over again with your kindness. Also, my first week at Central included a half a pig cooked overnight in a pit and Jim dumping green oatmeal goop all over Hannah and Les. For Jesus, I think. We framed a house in the parking lot which definitely was for Jesus as we loved a family down in Mountainburg whose home had been lost to a tornado. I got to participate in the Fall Festival for Bonnie Grimes Elementary School with you, which was a blast, and I got to frighten the Central Childcare kids on Halloween with my homemade Ron Swanson mustache. I myself got to experience fright during the all-night prayer vigil for the What If? campaign thanks to someone looking for the prayer room at 2am. We prayed together and read the Bible together. We sang and served. We ate at the table together both in Holy Communion in worship and at our Wednesday Night Live meals. We did a lot of fun and soul-satisfying things together.

We also did our share of grieving and lament together. There were moments in hospital rooms, next to hospice beds, and even in offices and hallways where we shed tears together. We endured frightening moments of uncertainty and wondered about our own survival—survival of our own bodies and of The Body—during the Covid period. And, of course, there was the loss of our dear brother, Jim Lenderman. I don't know about you, but as painful as that season beginning in October 2020 was, I'll always remember that we learned from him what a deep trust in Christ is all about, even facing sickness and death. He showed us, all of us, what it looked like to walk through the valley of the shadow of death and to fear no evil because God is with us.

Your support for me and the staff during those months was simultaneously shocking and yet not surprising. It was shocking because I just did what I thought I needed to do with no expectation, and you stepped in lovingly and generously. It wasn't surprising because that's been your character throughout the time I got to serve with you. You are a people of generous grace.

I want to mention that you're also a people with a great staff. The heart and soul I've seen these people pour into every aspect of life in the church is incredible. Day after day they show up wanting to make life better for the church and to see God move. It was a gift to work with you. It was also a gift to work with some really great pastors. Jim, obviously, had been a friend and hero of mine since I was 16. I never would have survived the end of 2020 and all of 2021 without Dawn. Full disclosure, I've been telling her for over two years that whenever I moved, she had to come with me because I'm 1000% a better pastor with her but she has clearly turned that down. Finally, Rob landed here with a great deal of sensitivity and humility, led us all well, and continues to lead well. I'm grateful for the grace, friendship, and generosity he has invested in me.

It would be all too easy to say something about our paths diverging at this point, but I don't believe that. We're on the same path leading the throne room of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. We might have a few miles between us, but in the expanse of God's grace and dwelling, that might as well be a few inches. I know this: our lives are but a vapor and soon we'll be together in that blessed space and I'll still be grateful for who you are and what you've done to make me more faithful, humble, and confident in the love and grace of God.

Thank you, Central UMC Rogers.