When a trusted fellow work leaves...

After fourteen years of working closely together, our staff pastor in charge of seniors is retiring.

I'm sad.

Ward has been a close friend and trusted confidant.  This grew naturally out of his sixty plus years as a pastor and his wisdom learned along the way--wisdom offered only when solicited.

Ward, now eighty-four years, has a remarkable knowledge of God's Word, an incredible sense of humor, a great singing voice, and an ability to stand in front of a crowd and speak clearly and coherently.  (At 64 I don't always manage that...)  All of these skills were utilized in his ministry at the rest home, at the hospitals, with seniors in their PrimeTimer's ministry ( a social gathering), and in his teaching ministry at Grace.

So I am grieving his departure--content that he has served well and now will bless his family in Northern California--but sad that when I walk into the office during the week his familiar face bent over a book (often the Bible) or bowed in prayer., he will no longer be here.

I'm sad.