Thursday, May 29, 2014

the one where we said ciao {for now}

Goodbyes are a funny thing. They are both completely ordinary and then totally momentous.  We say them everyday when we hang up the phone, when we leave the house or when we leave our workplace for the night. We say them carelessly - without a second glance and with feigned politeness. Other times, we say it meaningfully - with a hug or a kiss and a promise of "see you soon."  

But then we have goodbyes that break our hearts a little. They are the lingering goodbyes -- the goodbyes that we keep postponing in favor of just one more hello so that it won't be THE goodbye we've been dreading. "Not just yet," we tell ourselves. "No tears today," we say. 

But then the inevitable comes. The final goodbye. And this final goodbye has a way of blindsiding us even if we thought we were fully prepared and anticipating this moment all along. The longer-than-normal hug, the tears, the promises of skype dates and iMessages and to-be-planned visits. 

I said goodbye in that long, lingering, just-one-more-visit kind of way yesterday. And as soon as I walked away, I got in my car and then more tears came (per usual). And then today, a lot more tears. 

Jesse and I said goodbye to two of our best friends - Jon and Rachel Buchholz. They're moving to Milan, Italy (like they're literally at the airport right now) and it's the culmination of many years of faithful prayers and unrealized dreams as they become missionairies in a country not their own. They're headed off for three to five years (maybe more?) and over the last several months I've watched them give away virtually everything they own and prepare to move away from their home and their families for the first time ever.

Jon and Rachel are the kind of people that are always going first. They were the first among my husband's friends to tie the knot, first into the ministry, and now the first to head out on the foreign mission field. Being the first to do anything is not something that I naturally enjoy. I would rather let others test the metaphorical waters before diving in myself. And whether by design or decision - Jon and Rachel have been consistently willing to jump on in and encourage those around them to do the same. And to be perfectly honest, they've made it look good - figuring it out and touching many lives along the way.

At a time in life where so many our age are focused on themselves and their own futures (ahem, myself included), I am so proud of my best friends who are putting aside their comfortability for a greater purpose. May we all be willing to do the same in whatever way our Maker asks:) 

When J and I started dating, they adopted me into their little Boston family and an instant bond developed between Rachel and I. This bubbly, bouncy, quirky blonde has been showing me how to be a godly grown-up since the day we became friends. And even now, I've loved learning from her example as they've prepared to move. I watched her fight to trust God and his time table but I've ultimately seen her respond in her usual Rachel way - with prayer, excitement, check lists, and that all-contagious joy.

I've said goodbye to lots friends and family members over the last few years and so I kind of expected to be a professional farewell-er by now - but nope. I'm still the same old teary mess I've always been. But every tearful moment just reminds me of how dear you are to me and how thankful I am for our years in Boston together. 

We love you, Buchholzes. 

Ciao for now!