This week when our daughter’s phone was unlocked our four-year old granddaughter Josie spoke up in the living room at her house and said: “Hey Siri! Remind me at 3:30 naptime and remind me to watch American’s funniest videos with Papa at 7:30.”
And then this self-assured 4-year-old said, “Hey Siri, call Zack Armstrong!”
Zack, her dad, was working downstairs and answered the call from Anna’s phone, probably wondering why she was calling him and not just coming downstairs: “Hello?” he answered.
He was surprised to hear Josie’s voice say, “Hi! Papa I told Siri to remind me to watch American’s Funniest Videos with you tonight because we didn’t get to do that yesterday and I really, really wanted to!”
Both Zack and Anna were laughing so hard by this time.
We all have said it: If you have questions about technology, ask a child! For, certainly they are learning the language as part of their childhood lingo. I don’t know what the fallout might be, but I do know that the advent of the technology we have available today has changed how we parent and how we live. Karen’s mom at 95 is astounded daily at what technology can do.
We live in this really unusual age of these computer-phones, to which you can speak, give direction, and get assistance. Who has not sat at a dinner table and had someone “google” some topic from the discussion? It happened for us just last night! “Google” became a verb on June 15, 2006 (I learned while writing this) when it was added to the Oxford English Dictionary. And now few there are who have not used that verb or consulted with Siri or her Android cousin, Cortana.
When our kids were little, we would have the same kinds of conversations and similar questions arise, “I wonder what the origin is of that phrase?” Then, we would get out our big book “Origin of Phrases…” and look it up. In my childhood, the same happened at the table with questions begging an answer, and we would turn to the Encyclopedia Americana.
So, it is just the place we look that has changed, and that we can simply “ask into the air” and get an answer, rather than open a book. Isn’t this wild? When you think of the changes that have occurred, we are living in what the prophet Daniel predicted of the later times on earth when “Information will increase.” Indeed. Could Daniel even have imagined what would be happening in fulfillment of that verse?
Because of technology we can communicate in this season of isolation in ways we could not have even a decade ago. Our “shelter at home” mandate has not meant we have no contact with others. Many of you have expressed how grateful you are that this is the case. We can still see and speak with one another. We can still connect. In fact, during this “shelter at home” season, through Westside we have offered two different classes, weekly prayer times, along with other small groups and worship times, on top of many others meeting for bible studies and fellowship times. I can promise this -- without this mandate, we would not have offered nearly as many opportunities to connect through Westside. Certainly not another Gifts and Talents Workshop nor the Enneagram course. These both emerged from quarantine.
Pastor Brett joked with me the other week saying, “Now Brian, remember, don’t start anything new in the last few months of your pastoral work!” The fact is that we are mandated not to begin anything new in our congregations in the last months there as the clergy leader. He and I both know that this quarantine has forced all of us leaders to start all kinds of new things! Brett has such a rich sense of humor and joy.
As we march toward June 28th, and my last Sunday, we are on the last leg of this multi-year journey together. What a time it has been! If it had been a movie, the plot would have been filled with adventure, twists and turns, walks on the Camino and deep, rich worship. But mostly, the plot would have been filled with life-changing conversations.
We know that plans are in the works for a goodbye time June 20th. There will be more information published in the newsletter which is coming out on Tuesdays and Fridays now. For those who cannot or prefer not at that point to come out, please be in touch and let’s plan another way to connect via phone, zoom, or you can come stand at the distance that gives your comfort outside my house and we can have a chat.
Like Josie, after July 1st, you can tell Siri to call me. I cannot call you, however. You can reach out, but I am not to do so. You can send an email or messenger note, but I cannot do this. I will of course answer you! But I am not allowed to initiate contact.
So, if you reach out, we could get together for coffee if the day comes when that is again allowed. But I will not be your pastor. If you bring up pastoral care concerns or needs, I’ll redirect you to Pastor Brett. I will not engage in any conversations about Westside with you. You get to work on welcoming Pastor Brett, his family, and that new baby, as you have welcomed and loved and honored me these years.
That may sound really direct -- and I need to be. We must say goodbye friends. It is so hard. I don’t want to, but to hold on and hold on and hold on will do you no good nor will it be good for me. In order to truly welcome Pastor Brett who has such immense gifts, you need to give thanks for what has happened with me in your lives and say goodbye.
I remember when I first shared that I had one year left last June 30th, Wendy Pursinger called out, “I am not forgetting your phone number!” That is wonderful and fine. And others joked about needing mediation. That’s great too, but so you know, I am really expensive! ;-)
For those of you who hate the reality of needing to say goodbye, who want to avoid the pain, who want to ignore the need, do yourself and me a favor: say it. Write it on messenger, FB, in an email or in a card and send it. You could say: “Here’s how I have grown, thanks for being my pastor.” In addition, Kari Suppes is collecting notes for the journals which can no longer be written in at church since we are not there! So, email or mail Kari Suppes to add a note for me to my journal or a note to Pastor Brett to add to his.
What we have learned this year about making transitions is this: it is important to say goodbye in order to say hello. Many of you have done so, I know. Thank you. For others, I encourage you, find how you need to voice “goodbye” and do it to help yourself really grieve the ending in order to be able to say “hello” to Pastor Brett. You have won the lottery in him. He’s unique and beautiful, deeply alive in Jesus, and in love with the church.
So, let’s do this well friends. Let’s use all the technology we need to, and every means to celebrate well all that God has done in these years. Then, you all can step into July 1st and beyond buoyant and with rejoicing. Westside’s best years are yet ahead of you!
And remember this: I love you all.
Next week I will share some reminiscences of these 33 years of ministry...