Last Saturday I attended an 80th birthday party for one of my former parishioners at my church in Florence, Oregon. It was a lovely event, with many family members and friends gathering to celebrate this lovely lady.
I went because I wanted to give Judy my love and gratitude but also to see some of my former parishioners who I was sure would be there. Sure enough, I received hugs and high-fives from a dozen of my good friends.
It's been seven years since I left Florence, and I wasn't sure what it would be like to see people again. Would they be changed? Would they remember me? Would they be glad to see me?
As it turns out, they did remember me and were very glad to see me. It was as if seven years hadn't passed at all. It was wonderful to reconnect, catch up on our lives, and just enjoy each other. It made me realize what good years of ministry we had there, and how rich it was.
They say you can't go home again, and I guess that's true. But you can get close, and I think I did.
