I had a remarkable thought as I was driving around on this Labor Day weekend. I had mentioned to the church on Sunday, that it was my 17th anniversary of being there pastor. I had started on September 1, 1994. I received the warm applause that reflects the graciousness of the people in this congregation (along with the side-comments "Seems like only 25 years ago!" that shows one is accepted).
But today, it dawned on me that I have now been living in Northern California for longer than I lived in Southern California! I arrived - kicking and screaming - in Sacramento in August/September of 1981, having just graduated from seminary and wondering what in the world God was going to do next. I knew exactly one person in Sacramento and yet had signed up to be a Bible teacher at a Christian high school!
I've always identified with Southern California more than its Northern counter-part. Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside and other counties down there were my haunts for many years as I traveled around playing volleyball.
But, I'm more settled in Northern California. I don't know if I consider it better - just different. Here in the north, one has some type of change in seasons (along with the withering summers). In the south, temperatures were much more moderate - likely the smog kept the weather from changing. There's a slower feel here in the north ... although friends from even smaller cities remark how the don't like driving in the "big city." I do miss the easy access to the beach and the ocean, although I don't miss the megaopolistic feel of cities being strung together in the south.
I suppose there is no great epiphany or revelation ... just a note in the passing of a milestone.
No comments:
Post a Comment