Pastor’s Note
Auld Lang Syne
Wikipedia says, “Auld Lang Syne is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788…It is well known in many English-speaking (and other) countries and is often sung to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight.” The words “Auld Lang Syne” essentially mean for “old time’s sake”—a song reminiscing about the “good ole days!”
One of the things I love about a new year is looking back for “old time’s sake.” It’s an opportunity to look in the rearview mirror of life and see what God has done. Looking back on 2010 for me is a nostalgic assignment. For the second time in my life I moved away from the city where I was raised. For the first time I moved away from my son which wasn’t “supposed to happen” until he left for college. I’ve been forced to swear allegiance to either Auburn or Alabama and I’m the only one on my street with a 4-foot illuminated, black and gold Fleur de Lis.
It has been a wonderful and concurrently painful year. At the center of my fondest 2010 memories will always be Southwood. When people ask me if I miss home my response is, “well, I’m not really gone from Huntsville that often, so I can’t miss it!!!” That means: this is home. This is my church. This is where the Larrouxs are now “from” and 2010 holds the distinction of having been the time when that occurred.
The New Year also provides occasion for looking ahead. People often make resolutions for the year to come. We plan to “shed a few pounds” or finish some project that has been languishing. I think that 2011 will be quite a year for Southwood. I am finally getting my sea legs. I have had a front row seat to observe and inquire about every facet and program that Southwood has her fingerprints on. I have had great opportunity for thanksgiving and reflection about the history of Southwood. God has raised up this church and has caused His name to be esteemed both inside and outside of the church. It is humbling to be part of the next chapter.
I have heard the stories of meeting at Gold’s Gym and setting up worship on a weekly basis. I have also seen firsthand the fondness with which both Barney and Mike are spoken of. It is my job to make sure I have seen, acknowledged and gleaned the best of our history and then to set a course for our future. I truly don’t know what that future will hold. I’m not certain what we will “look back on” 20 years from now, but there will undoubtedly be changes. Some of those will be warmly embraced while others will likely prove to be more challenging.
I do believe that the brightest days for Southwood are ahead of us. I don’t believe that we can out-dream God. As I look ahead to preaching through Galatians *, watching our next phase of construction completed and seeing the new faces that God is bringing—I get giddy! What might God do with a group of people who are unwaveringly committed to experiencing and expressing the Grace of God? It’s exciting to imagine! I think God’s mercy compels Him to reveal His will to us incrementally because if we saw it all at once we would be overwhelmed. It is an exciting time to be at Southwood!
I had a professor in Seminary who told us that God wants His people to be “available and willing” whenever and wherever He calls. That was true for me in June when God called us to leave Bay St. Louis and move to Huntsville. For all of the challenges I anticipated in moving here, neither comfort, nor familiarity, nor a long personal history in Bay St. Louis were enough to keep us where we thought we were “safe.” That Professor taught us that “Gospel safety” isn’t found in circumstances or avoiding change; it is found in Him alone.
It is my prayer that as we look ahead to the next 20 years at Southwood we would remember that true safety isn’t found in “safety,” it’s found in Him alone. For a church that started as a fledgling congregation in a rented storefront it’s ironic how “nostalgic” faith like that would be.
* Beginning February 2011