I believe one of the most painful parts of life, is having to say goodbye. The hardest part about accomplishing a milestone like graduating college or changing jobs is saying goodbye. The hardest part about ending a relationship or losing someone you love is the goodbye. The hardest part about leaving America to come to Ethiopia was saying goodbye. And there should be no surprise here, but the hardest part, so far, about teaching here at Bingham has been having to say goodbye.
We had a Gibsha today in which we honored and prayed for the staff that we will be saying goodbye to in a couple of weeks. Bingham is a special place that encompasses a multicultural community. We have staff and students from all over the world, working and sharing life together. It is one of the most unique components of the school. However, often times the staff and students are only at Bingham for a season before God calls them away to do something else. And because they come from all different parts of the world, you realize that when it comes time for them to leave, you may very well never see them again.
People are often only put in your life for a season. When that season ends, you grieve the loss of not only the season, but the people that shared the season with you. Sometimes you don’t even realize the effect someone had on your life until you have to say goodbye to them.
I want to dedicate this post to those who are leaving Bingham. You truly will be missed, and Bingham will not be the same next year as it was this year. However, I met you because you followed God’s call to Ethiopia, and for whatever reason He has called you to follow Him somewhere new. I know He will be faithful to you! I will end with my favorite monologue from The Prince and Me. This is the speech the prince prepares for the people after he has been crowned king. I’ve always been touched by the emotion and truth in these lines. May you be blessed as well!
“Today, marks a proud but a bittersweet milestone for all of us, as we bear witness to both an end and a beginning. And while we must continue on, we must also be grateful to have been blessed with someone who has so ably guided us to where we are today. When there has been so much love and happiness for someone it is natural to be reluctant to close such a wonderful chapter in our lives. For moving forward is rarely accomplished without considerable grief and sadness, and while our sorrow may be profound, the clouds will clear and the sun will shine on us again. And in that warm, bright light, we will find ourselves facing a glorious future. A future of exciting challenges and infinite possibility in which the horizon will stretch out before us rimed in the heavenly glow of the sunrise of our tomorrow.”
