Leaving a place I love
For new addresses, new countries, and the goodbyes in between.
Also for saying goodbye · leaving home · leaving friends · moving away · farewell
A prayer
Original writing, not a quotation of Scripture.
Lord, this place has been home. I know which bakery opens early and which friend I can call at midnight, and now I have to say goodbye to all of it. When Paul left the Ephesians, they wept together on the shore.
Let my goodbyes be honest like that. Thank you for every person and every year here. Keep these friendships alive across the distance, and prepare the place I'm going to before I arrive.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Bible verses for moving and change
I thank my God whenever I remember you, always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy, for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.
Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance.
Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”