Saying Goodbye
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 5:00AM 
In July 1998, I arrived as the fresh-faced new pastor of Richview. I was scared and excited, and like every new pastor, I had no idea what lay ahead.
Thirteen years later, we've been through many highs and lows together. I've been stretched in ways I couldn't have imagined. I've preached, counseled, prayed, baptized, married and buried and done all the things that pastors do. My oldest child has grown from a young child to a beautiful young adult. My son, born at Richview, is now in Junior High. It's hard to know where the time (and my hair) has gone.
And now it's time to leave. You don't leave family easily or without pain. It hurts. David Hansen writes:
Saying goodbye is part of life, maybe the most important part. It is certainly one of the most difficult things we ever do. I don't imagine this goodbye-saying will be easy. But the goal, what we are really looking forward to -- and it will come eventually -- is the gratitude to God we will feel for the many years we have been granted to be friends in Christ. And that is what you all are to me, dear, dear friends. (The Art of Pastoring
)
I am profoundly grateful to Richview for the years we have spent together. And while I'm excited about the future -- more on that later -- I am finding it hard to say goodbye. Thanks to my church, my family, for their love all these years. It's marked us, and we'll never be the same.
Reader Comments (7)
Darryl,
This is a sad post on the surface, but I hope it is ultimately a joyous departure for whatever God has for your future. And now I may have to add The Art of Pastoring to my wish list.
I wish you well.
Love Hansen's book.
Darryl, did I miss where you're going? Or have you not shared that? (Or do you not know yet? ;-)
Wow, that's huge. Praying for you, your family & your community during this exciting, yet difficult transition. Peace, brother!
Darryl,
You've done great things at Richview! I will be praying for your transition. Hope you're heading down my way! :)
Hang in there. There's a time for everything under the sun. Every pastor is cut out of different cloth. It's best for all of us.
Darryl
I am still in shock with the news.Thanks for all you did for Richview in those 13 years.They are a very special people.I treasure the time and the goodness of God to Ruth andf myself during our years there.Every blessing for the future in His abundant grace.Gordon and Ruth
Darryl:
I'm a little late to the congratulations party, but I want to add my word of encouragement about the decision you are taking. It's not easy to leave (believe me, I know that). I am grateful for the ministry you had at Richview and well beyond, and I'm confident you are at the early stages of a good thing. Difficult, perhaps, indeed likely, but good. God bless you and your family on this adventure.
Doug Koop
ChristianWeek