http://www.chrishardie.com/blog/2008/01/why-do-we-leave-the-communities-that-love-us.html Personal Blog for James Christopher Hardie Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:14:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 http://www.chrishardie.com/blog/2008/01/why-do-we-leave-the-communities-that-love-us.html#comment-70630 M.E. McKimmy Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:50:12 +0000 http://www.chrishardie.com/weblog/archives/2008/01/why-do-we-leave-the-communities-that-love-us.html#comment-70630 A very thought-provoking post, Chris. As someone who has gone through the process of packing up and leaving behind everything (and almost everyone) I've ever known for what some might see as a "vocation-related relocation" I can definitely connect with your thoughts here. Also, having spent the last 8 years in communities where the transient, ever-changing nature of those involved in higher education has had a great impact, I have struggled with how to be a part of and help build meaningful communities in such environments. I am particularly struck by the impact of this reality not only on the individuals who leave but on the friends, families, and communities they leave behind. Interestingly, the sermon I'm working on for this Sunday at Richmond CoB deals some with this topic and the issue of being "called", which for me, at least, resulted in just the sort of departure you write of. There is a complex interplay that takes place between our vocations, our participation in and longing for community, our needs as humans for a sense of personal fulfillment, and the call of God that takes place in the lives of both those who are called to the set-apart ministry and those who are not. Thanks for this food-for-thought on some of those complexities. A very thought-provoking post, Chris. As someone who has gone through the process of packing up and leaving behind everything (and almost everyone) I've ever known for what some might see as a "vocation-related relocation" I can definitely connect with your thoughts here. Also, having spent the last 8 years in communities where the transient, ever-changing nature of those involved in higher education has had a great impact, I have struggled with how to be a part of and help build meaningful communities in such environments. I am particularly struck by the impact of this reality not only on the individuals who leave but on the friends, families, and communities they leave behind. Interestingly, the sermon I'm working on for this Sunday at Richmond CoB deals some with this topic and the issue of being "called", which for me, at least, resulted in just the sort of departure you write of. There is a complex interplay that takes place between our vocations, our participation in and longing for community, our needs as humans for a sense of personal fulfillment, and the call of God that takes place in the lives of both those who are called to the set-apart ministry and those who are not. Thanks for this food-for-thought on some of those complexities.

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