This week, our community of faith bid good-bye to Dan Cooke, our former Campus Minister. As he begins a new season of life serving the Station Camp church of Christ in Gallatin, TN, as their preaching minister and we begin a new season without him in our immediate community, we look to the Lord to guide us in saying good-bye. Often, we find ourselves at a crossroads of feeling sad when a loved one begins a new journey but also excited for them because this is what life is about…saying good-bye, welcoming new possibilities, and continuing to transform our community into a family that is sustained by God alone.

People will come and go; ministers will come and go; families will move, and people will continue to pass away from this earthly life, but God alone remains the same. He never changes. He never leaves us for a new job. He will never pass away. He is present. He is sustaining. He is God. His love transcends our small picture lives, and invites us into His eternal big picture life!

As we miss those who leave us to embark on new adventures, may we honor them by glorifying the Lord with our lives. We will miss you, Dan Cooke. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord shine His beautiful face upon you, and may the Lord give you, our community of faith, and your new community of believers, peace.