Out of My Routine

     I am a creature of habit. Take me out of my routine, and I feel like Samson without his locks.
     The Enemy, of course, knows this, and rejoices. Me, I just keep putting one foot in front of the other each day as I live between two worlds: Beamont and Dallas. I preach my last sermon this Sunday at Saint Andrews, and we await the congregational vote this Sunday at Grace.
     It can't come soon enough!
     I have seen my family probably five days over the past month-and-a-half. I never knew how difficult this would be! Sure, it's crazy when we are all together -- the loudness, the television, shuffling to-from activities, cleaning up messes. But man, they give structure to my day and keep me on track.
     I guess this time alone has revealed just how much I need to better develop personal disciplines and healthy habits, and lean more on the strength of the Lord. It also has revealed how much I depend upon others and how much meaning my family brings to my life. I guess I will have to accept that I am not a self-made man, by any stretch!
     The family returns to me this Tuesday for our final week in Beaumont, and I can't wait to see them.
     When I finally start at Grace in mid-August, it is time to get down to business: Get back into a running routine, stop eating out so much, and return to "budgeted" living with our time and resources.
     And of course, getting down to business means getting to work at Grace!
     Until then, I continue saying farewells to the many folks who have touched our lives here in Beaumont. I have participated in many "last" things over the past few weeks -- my last Wednesday Night Bible Study, my last Lamar Bible study, my last Youth Sunday School Class, my last Junior High Sunday School Class, my last sermon, my last Monday Morning Bible Study, et. al.
     I am blessed to have these "last" opportunities at St. Andrews as  approach my last week.
     Being out of my routine is what I have been called to do over the past month-and-a-half, but I long for the structure that a new routine will bring.