I Love to Laugh. Ha Ha Ha Ha.

As a girl my favorite scene from Mary Poppins was Bert, Mary and the kids' carousel ride.  They hop on the ride when all the sudden the horses detach from the carousel and they gallop to the races!  Little Katie's (the girl, not the calf who bears my name) imagination ran wild. Could this happen in real life?  Sadly it hasn't worked...yet!  Maybe one day; however other brave souls will need to find out for me.  I am prone to motion sickness so a carousel ride is a serious risk.  I know, I know:  I'm awesome.

As an adult however, the shenanigans at Uncle Albert's house are my favorite!  I love to laugh!  Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  Loud and long and clear!  Bert and Uncle Albert get to talking, then to laughing and all of the sudden they rise to the ceiling.  The Banks children can't help but join them.  Even the table and chairs make their way up.  They continue to float so long as the jokes keep rolling.  I would love to be on that ceiling.  I dearly love to laugh.

When I interviewed with Scottsville Baptist we spent a lot of time laughing.  When I left for Arlington later that day I remember thinking "That didn't even feel like an interview.  I had such a good time!"  I was me and they were them.  What a gift...but would they call me back?  I had a great time but I did a lot of being myself and laughing.  (And I happen to be one of those people who can't stop laughing once I start.  One time 'booty' was read aloud at the 8:30 service at Memorial and I lost it.  'Booty' was removed from the 11:00 service.)

To my happy surprise the pastor search committee did call.  And soon thereafter the church called and most importantly...God called.  I will always remember that interview.  Recently I spent some time with the committee and told them how much that day meant to me.  I am grateful. 

Here I Am Lord

One of my favorite hymns is "Here I Am Lord." The lyrics are rich with trust in God.  Sometimes I tremble when I sing it:  "Here I am Lord...I have heard you calling in the night...I will go Lord if you lead me..."  It is quite a thing to tell God "I'll go if you lead me" and mean it.

For awhile now God has been leading me to be pastor of a church. God has whispered, sung and spoken the call--but lately God has been shouting! The gracious folks of Scottsville Baptist Church in Scottsville, Virginia have called me to be their pastor.  I am thrilled to begin the journey with them.  The entire process has been grace-filled and humbling.  I am grateful.

Anyone who listened to pop music in the 1990s remembers "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."  As I depart for Scottsville I leave Memorial Baptist Church.  Leaving a church you love is an acute kind of pain I wouldn't wish on anyone.  I trust God's leadership and am eager to serve God's church in Scottsville, but I will miss Memorial.  Never have grief and excitement captured me so fully at the same time.

More than grief or excitement however, I am grateful.  I am grateful for six wonderful years at Memorial.  I am grateful for God's call to pastor Scottsville.   I am grateful for God's people in both places.  I am grateful and blessed.

The last line of "Here I Am Lord" promises "...I will hold your people in my heart."

That I will.  That I will.