The Familiar

Leaving home, means leaving the familiar. Scary at times, but still mostly exciting. Some of those familiarities don't come to light until faced with it's replacement. Like, no one would expect to miss a local grocery store, until it is no longer an option in another location, and the new local market just doesn't compare. And, there are certain familiar's that can be foreseen as something that will be missed or even happy to be done with. And one of my familiar's that had me a bit apprehensive, was leaving my home-church and joining an unfamiliar family. The last few Sunday's at home had my mind wandering about the end of this routine and the reality of a new replacement. Let's be clear. When discussing church's, it's really not appropriate to compare, or state which one is better, or give a rating of 1 to 5 stars. In this case, it just comes down to what I am familiar with, have grown up in and love, even with all the quirks, quacks, and other 'q' words that I can't come up with right now...

But one Sunday. The first Sunday, swept away all those wondering thoughts and calmed me. Unfamiliar smiles. Hand shakes. Hello's. The beginning of a new familiar.

And another something I couldn't have expected, nor foreseen as something I would become so attached to and impressed by, was the familiar that they have already created. It's so simple. Not much. But I love it. The conversation usually begins with a 'hi' and 'how are you' and then 'how was your week?' And at the end of the conversation, or as a way of saying good-by upon walking to the car, they offer a 'Have a good week!' It's loaded. It bursts of caring about your welfare, inquiring about daily details, hope for a good near future, and the simple reality that this will all happen in repeat next week. Where, it is assumed that we will both be in the same place at the same time, wanting this to be an ongoing activity. Knowing people are there to care about you. Knowing they want the best for you. And still knowing that they really don't even know you that well, and yet they care. They want you back next week. They want to know.

And all that, from just a simple, four-worded phrase 'Have a good week!' Now that is a familiar I can get behind!