Chris and I have talked a little and 'de-briefed' each other a bit after last night. Our conclusion is that it's not *so* difficult to leave people you love, so much as to leave people that love YOU very deeply and selflessly.
For me, it IS a new experience. This is different from leaving one's parents at marriage, despite them loving (at least in our cases) so deeply and sacrificially, simply because it is surrounded by ceremony and one is transitioning to the next stage in progression of one's adult life.
When we left our previous church in London (in 1990) although we had many friends there, some of whom we were quite close, there was nothing like the bond of love that has joined us with our family in BCC. There is a sense of family that we've known that goes beyond the natural bond one usually feels with people that one lives and grows with. I think we've been really privileged to have known these people, been part of their lives and have them as part of ours.
We've laughed with them, wept with them, prayed and fasted with them and partied with them. We've washed up, made up, sung, played, child-minded, taught, learned, angered, forgiven, dug and planted. Good heavens - this is starting to read like a Godfrey Birtill song!
And so, from here on, apart from being prayed out on June 9th we're part of HPC. Pray for us - grace for them with us and us with them. And maybe that we'd help others to know what it is to be part of a family.
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