Saying Goodbye

I was expecting to learn an immense amount of information, and put in a lot of work when I started debate. I expected to laugh and have fun. I even expected to make good friends.

But, as I told our coach before I left the last club meeting on Tuesday, when I started debate, I didn't expect Rainmakers.

I never expected God to use Rainmakers in the way He did-- to change me in powerful ways. I learned to trust them to rejoice with me, cry with me, just be quiet with me, laugh with me, and pray with me. I learned that I could ask questions, and give my opinions.
But most importantly, the Rainmakers taught me how to glorify and keep my eyes on Christ, no matter what the circumstances. Win or lose, they always encouraged me to keep my eyes focused on Christ.

Far more precious than the medals and trophies were the friendships built. And conversely, far more bitter than the losses, was when the time came to say goodbye. It was more difficult that I could have imagined at the beginning of the year. But, as in everything else, the words and laughs shared on the last night encouraged me to focus on Christ.

There was a unique sort of pain that came when a friend turned around one last time to say, "Bye, Rachel." But the pain, rather than undoing all the spiritual growth that had happened throughout the year, made me lean all the more on Christ. As one friend so aptly put it, "We always have heaven."

It was when I had felt the bitterness of saying goodbye that I could truly be expectant of heaven. In the face of separation, how sweet is the realization that the day will come when we will never have to say goodbye again. For brothers and sisters in Christ, earthly goodbyes are always temporary goodbyes.

And how precious are those friends who, in pulling you closer to themselves, pull you also closer towards Christ.

Endings beckon beginnings, and separations point towards eternity. Praise the One who conquered death and made this promise ours. We truly have nothing to fear.
Cling to Christ, and hope in heaven.
Blessings,

~Rachel Lynn

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"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words..."

~1 Thessalonians 4:15-19~