Tears

"But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, with his head covered and walking barefoot; and all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went."

(2 Samuel 15:30)

In the United Methodist Church, we clergy are given one year at a time in the churches that we're called to serve. It was originally set up that way so: a) clergy could preach/teach/lead as God inspired them (unbeholden to any Board of Elders), and b) if it wasn't a good fit, the local church could request a change of pastoral leadership. Initially, clergy only stayed a couple of years before moving churches (thus, the local church would find their identity in themselves and not in their pastor). But over time, we clergy have been given longer appointments (even though it's still just one year at a time).

I'm in my 4th appointment in 25 years: Christ UMC (3 years), Hilo UMC (3 years), Aiea UMC (15 years), and Palmdale UMC (4 years, and counting!). Every time I've been asked to change appointments, it always came with tears. I was willing to go, of course (I knew the system when I was ordained)... but I loved every congregation I'd been privileged to serve. I'd invested my life, my heart, and my spirit into the community... and it was painful to have to leave. Every time.

King David was arguably the greatest king in Israel's history. He was the 2nd King (and wasn't without controversy - see "the Bathsheba affair"), and reigned a long time. The Bible even says that David was "a man after God's own heart." But his own behavior led to some major dysfunctions in his own family. Including one of his sons (Absalom) who violently took over the throne from his dad.

David, seeing what was coming, chose not to fight his son, but instead fled the capital (and thus the throne). He could have stayed, but he didn't ("If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back..."). As David was leaving, the writer of 2 Samuel tells us that he was weeping and walking barefoot with his head covered (those last two items were traditional signs of mourning).

I really connected to David's tears. Iv'e had to leave 3 communities that I've been leading. Three communities that I'd grown to love and cherish. Three communities that I'd invested myself into. But I also knew that God was connected (intimately) in the move (and would remain a vital presence in the churches I was leaving).

Let us give thanks for the relationship that are behind our tears upon transitions.

(PS. I'm grateful to be anointed for another year as Pastor of Palmdale UMC!)