Some numbers carry special meaning for us. For some it’s a favorite number which can be traced back to their birthday or the number on their jersey in high school. Some numbers are historically special. We see this all the time in biblical texts where numbers convey special meaning and importance. Seven is one those special numbers. In scripture it is the number of completeness. We see it appear when God created the world in 7 days and later at the end of the Bible we see it again and again in the book of Revelation.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the number seven recently because I am coming up on my 7 year anniversary of serving at Thompson Church. If I’m being completely honest with you all I would have to admit that I had no idea I would be serving at Thompson this long. Typically an associate pastor in her first call does not serve the same church for seven years. But what I have come to realize is that serving alongside the good people of Thompson is not your typical call. I have grown a great deal in my years serving at Thompson because the members and church leaders have given me so many opportunities to serve in new ways and to stretch myself. Of course, some of those opportunities were not things we planned on like staffing changes or a global pandemic, just to name a few.
I’ve heard from some members that they are grateful to me for my presence in the midst of all this change and uncertainty which we have faced as a congregation over the past few years. I’m glad I’ve been able to provide that comfort, but I want you all to know that I feel the same way about you. Over the past seven years a lot has changed in my life both professionally and personally. And if any of you know me well you know I don’t really like change or uncertainty. I always want to have a plan. I want to know what’s coming my way so I can be prepared. I want my life and my call to be decent and in order. Of course, that isn’t how life works out most of the time and that has been more true recently than at any other time in my life. And yet, I don’t feel as adrift and anxious as I might have been and I believe that is because of Thompson Church. I knew that no matter what the road ahead might look like, no matter how choppy the sea, the people of Thompson Church were there for me and for each other. So thank you for allowing me to lend you some comfort over the years, but please know that I am thankful for each and every one of you as well for being my comfort and support. I am proud to serve to Lord with you all.
