Temporary

Two years ago, I sat in this very chair outside in my parents' backyard and wrote a blog post about leaving for my semester-long internship in Ghana. It is now the eve of my departure for Alberta and a new chapter in life and I can't help but think that this is only temporary. Every other time that I've left on a plane, I knew when I was coming back. I knew how many months I'd be gone for and I had an idea of what to look forward to both on my adventure away and when I came back.

This time, it's not temporary.

This time, I'll be staying away from my beloved home in Hamilton for who knows how long, how many years. I leave for Alberta tomorrow. It's a scary thing to think about, when your whole life and most of the people that you love are all in one province and you are leaving it for a permanent job. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly excited about it and I've had some conversations about Children's Ministry and I've brainstormed ideas for the youth and church life in general, but the psychological and emotional toll that moving far away takes on your mind is exhausting. Throw in there an unexpected, late night trip to the emergency vet and you have one mentally drained Cheryl who desperately needs some alone time away with God.

And He gives just what we need. After a busy night of packing last night, the wind started to pick up and slight raindrops fell as a thunderstorm rolled in. Perfect. I call them my date with God, for I stop everything to watch and listen to the loud, deep rumble of His voice in the thunder, the grand strength of the wind and falling water and the beauty of the splendid lightning that tears across the sky so powerfully, so quickly. I sat on the front porch last night in the lovely heat of a summer's eve and listened. And sang. And listened some more as God played a mighty tune in the air and spoke in a loving voice in my heart. I sat on that porch where I grew up and revelled in the memories, in the people, in the peace and in the power of an Almighty God who has never once failed me.

That storm was temporary. God's love and power and beauty is here to stay.