Anxiety vs. Eagerness

anxious: full of mental stress or uneasiness

eager: impatiently longing

I've always been amazed at the incredible difference and yet similarity between these two words. Some may say they are polar opposites, but at this point in our lives, it is definitely appropriate to use both of them to describe how we're feeling. Mary is at the point of total stress, and I am ready to start classes.

Our transition from the "Maryland Pfahlert's" to the "North Carolina Pfahlert's" is in full swing. I think the reality of it really hit Mary today when she packed up her things from her desk at work and brought them home. She will work Monday and a half a day on Tuesday, and then she'll be done at HMS Host.

We have spent this last week fitting in those last dinners, last visits, last rounds of golf (both traditional and disc), and our last Wednesday night youth group. There were tears and hugs, but there were also promises made. We promised to keep writing and keep praying, and our students promised to keep seeking the Son. We pray that they truly will continue to find strength in their fellowship with each other, and that they will continue to grow through God's Word. I shared these two verses from Hebrews with them:

Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us
fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy
set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God.

We have incredible examples to follow from the Scriptures. Men like Abraham, Moses, and David. Each of them had their own race to run just as each of us have our own race to run that God has set before us. It has come time for our road, and the road of our family at Elvaton Church to split. The road is not always an easy one as we all know, but we run with endurance for the prize that we know waits for us at the end. Though we may all take different paths to get there, we all fix our eyes on Jesus; for He is our goal, and we shall all meet Him in the end.

We praise God for our time here. We cherish the relationships we have made with both friends and mentors, and will continue to keep in touch with the people here. We have learned many lessons and gained an amazing amount of experience. God is working mightily at Elvaton Church and we pray that He will continue to do so in the future.

There is no doubt that the tears and the goodbye's will continue this coming week, as will the packing and the heavy lifting (*groan*)... Bring it on...

T-minus 10 days and counting... ... ...