Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Luke 12:13-21

Ah, choices, we all have choices. Some personality types (like me, and others with a similar personality) enjoy making choices, make them easily and quickly. Other personality types (more like my husband, Jay) are more deliberate in their choice-making, preferring to think things over very thoroughly before making a commitment for the world to see. For Jay and me, those differences have become even more clear to us in preparing for this move, as I chafe under his deliberateness, and he tolerates my full-speed-ahead approach. And yet, we need one another, need the balance of both styles in our relationship, need both dispatch and deliberation when facing important choices.

On my last day in this pulpit, I suppose my choice of the sermon title could sound a bit ominous — that I am choosing life by leaving you! Let me hasten to assure you that I have experienced a full range of situations in my time here among you . That range has included the divine options of "life and prosperity, death and adversity" as set forth in the reading from Deuteronomy — the range that faces each of us, at varying times in our lives.

Sometimes it is hard for us to understand how anyone could ever choose death and adversity, when life and prosperity with God are available. The answer may be in part that our personal experience differs from that of every other person, in big and small ways. The "clear choices" of our lives are determined by many factors — the gene pool from which we come, the experience and resources and parenting skills and support available in our immediate family, the quality of schooling we receive, the nutrition of our mother before we are born and that we receive, especially in infancy, the personality with which we are born and/or develop, our comfort — or lack of comfort — in relating to other persons, the jobs that are available that fit our skills and interest, when we are looking for employment — and the list goes on. We are all different, and that is by God's choice, God's design.

What we share in common is that in some way, indefinable and mysterious and wondrous, somehow or another we are all related to, bear the image and likeness of, the God who created all things — including you and me — and called them GOOD. Despite the difference in our genetic and environmental opportunities, despite the good and the bad choices made by us and to us, notwithstanding the reality that we are all so very different — we are also very much alike.

And one of the ways we are alike is that we don't like to share. Alice Cherry asked a question one time at a church lunch, something to the effect of "If you could have all you ever wanted of one THING, what would that THING be? The answers around the table were fascinating — ranging from GOLD, to CHOCOLATE, to BOOKS, to FEATHERS — I'm not sure who that was, or what they were going to do with all those feathers, and I'm not entirely sure I remember the story exactly as it happened — but — if YOU could have all the "BLANK" you ever wanted — what would that ONE THING BE? ... And once you had all of that WHATEVER IT IS FOR YOU — would you be willing to share some with someone else?

Sharing is something that we human beings don't, by nature, do well. We don't. I don't — at least, not all the time. Not until I'm sure there is enough of — whatever — for me, and preferably also for those I know and care about. Then it's easier to let go of some, although I'm still inclined to keep some — enough — for me. It's one thing to share my excess, but something entirely else to give up what I do, or might, need.

That's why it's easier to buy new towels for my house, and give the old, worn-out ones to the mission for use by the homeless persons who stay there. That's why it's easier to bring the spinach we are never going to eat anyway to the food collection boxes. That's why it's easier to choose adversity than prosperity, if — no, when — I take my eyes off the prize. The prize of following Jesus. The prize of becoming more like Jesus, learning to love and be loved, learning to serve in the name of the God who saves me.

Saves me. Not just SAVED, but saves, is saving, will save, me, and you. Saves me from my poor choices. Saves me from my tendency to rush right in where angels fear to tread. Saves me from thinking that my rights come before those of another of the little ones that God so loves. Saves me from thinking either that my ministry here has had no effect on your lives, or that my ministry here has had such an effect that without me you will not choose well. Jesus helps me to remember, to know deep in my bones, that our time together was designed, and was carried out, to the glory of God — not to my glory, not to your or even our glory, but to the glory of God.

Because I do know that. I KNOW that what we have done together over the last decade has been done, overall and for the most part, for the purpose of serving, of worshiping, of learning about the God who shows us how to love. We love at all because God in Christ has first loved us — and continues to love us, whatever our choices.

The men in the Gospel of Luke were selfish — more interested in their own fortunes than in anyone else. They forgot, if they ever knew, that they were given an inheritance, that good crops and financial success, come to each of us for a purpose — a God-designed, God-given purpose. And that purpose is not to put what we have beyond our needs into a closet, a bigger barn, or even a better investment — if the purpose of setting something aside is to take care of ourselves only. The purpose for our successes in life, the result of our choices or otherwise, is like everything else in our life — as the Westminster Catechism puts it, translated into modern inclusive language — our chief end, our purpose, is to glorify and enjoy our God forever.

In order to glorify and enjoy our God forever requires that we grow, and learn, and take risks. I know that you will continue to do this, and do it well. My confidence is based on a decade of observing the way decisions are made in this congregation, and in my absolute conviction that God called Jim Bell here to be the pastor and head of staff. The reasons for that calling are more clear — to Jim and to me and to the session and quite possibly to you — more clear some days than others, but nonetheless God-given, God issued, God empowered.

Jim Bell was called here to serve God — not this congregation — to serve GOD in this community alongside you, and to lead this particular group of God's people into places that perhaps we haven't been in a while, places that look a bit scary sometimes, places that require us to think in new ways, to stretch our resources as far as they will go and then to trust that God will help us to meet tomorrow's needs with tomorrow's resources. In order to glorify and enjoy God forever, you will need strong leadership. By God's grace, you have it. By God's grace, Jim and the Session and you will be led into new/old ministries, new ways of taking the love of Jesus Christ to those who do not yet know that they are loved. By God's grace, you will discard some ways that we have done things in the last decade — and even some things that precede my time here — BY GOD'S GRACE, you will find the courage and the strength and the wisdom to seek new ways to love and serve and enjoy our God in this place and beyond. I am confident that this is so, for I have experienced your love and care and concern, your risk-taking and your finding and trying new ways.

The theme song from a television serial called "Providence" is based on a Beatles song, and refers to "places I'll remember all my life." Truly, I will remember so many things about my time here for all my life. I know that I will do well to be able to read this list, and that it is both too long and too short. These are a few of my "favorite things" about First Presbyterian Church in Normal, Illinois:

1. Children, and their families. I love the way we welcome little ones, as we will/have done with Kenedi Grace this morning. Being with new parents, praying a welcome for the little one, and watching all of them grow, has been a special joy. I love the way we welcome children in worship, with the activity bags that tie the "big people" words into stories and activities that recognize that children think in similar AND different ways than do adults. And yes, I know that some adults want their own worship bag — you'll have to take that up with Kelley Marion! Our 30+ year shared history with Playmates Preschool has been mutually helpful, and I pray that continues as part of our care for children and families.
2. Older adults. I had fine grandparents, and they were the first "older adults" that I had a chance to know. In this congregation, our percentage of older adults is actually lower than in some churches — somewhere around 40 percent of our people are over age 60. And we have 30+ who are over age 85 — we praise God for long life, and for faith that has stood the test of time. I pray that their wisdom will continue to be valued, and new ways of sharing and playing and praying across generational lines will be found.
3. Mission outreach into the community. Each year, the session takes seriously the amount of our "income" that is used for "us" and the amount that we share with others. The percentage of mission giving consistently goes up! Mission giving, and mission involvement, has a long and healthy history here. If there is something you have a passion for, some need in our community or beyond that you see, please contact our mission folks, or the church staff — there are funds that are presently "unallocated" for just such new mission projects.
4. Member care for members. This takes a variety of forms, depending upon the leadership of the moment, and depending on the needs that have been expressed. It is really hard for the staff to "be there" for you, or to arrange for another member to be of help, if you don't let us know you could use a hand! Remember, the hospitals no longer notify us when you are admitted — so please ask someone to contact us, or if you know ahead of time, call the office before you go in. Whether it is meals, running errands, praying together (or apart), getting together for an "Experimental Dinner" or needing a ride to a doctor's visit — we have people here who are willing to help. Actually, they are usually more willing to help than others are to ask — or even to accept the help, when offered.
   
   Please do remember to be specific in your offering, though — I can tell you from recent experience that it is easier to accept "I plan to bring you dinner on Tuesday — would you prefer vegetable soup or a ham casserole" than it is to call someone in response to the more casual if well-meaning "Let me know how I can help!"
5. Staff relations. This is a healthy staff, a strong staff. We have laughed together, planned events together, sometimes cried together, gotten frustrated and angry and discombobulated together — been there for one another when needed — and sometimes, gotten in one another's way! As I move from a staff of ten, including the part-timers, to a situation where I will BE the staff, along with a very part-time secretary — I know what I am leaving, what I will miss in the way of daily give-and-take within the church walls and beyond.
   
   Please remember that the staff of this church is under incredible stress right now, between the building remodeling and changes in staff make-up. If you think YOU are wondering about the new staffing model, multiply that several times for the way it will affect the staff interaction. I thank God for my friends and colleagues on the staff, and I pray that you will hold them in prayer, work alongside them, praise them when it is appropriate, and give them the support they need in order to function at their best — because at their best, they will in turn help you to "glorify and enjoy God" .
6. Finally, I am grateful for you — for the way you have accepted my ministry here, followed my suggestions — or not!, allowed me to make mistakes — some of them whoppers! — and to celebrate the times when by God's grace wisdom prevailed, vision was exhibited and strong ministry was evident. You took me in as a new seminary graduate, with life experience and service as both deacon and elder but without prior experience as a pastor — and life as a pastor is different in many ways from life as an elder! There have been dark days, in fact entire seasons when I was uncertain that I was called to the ministry, or at least/much less to ministry HERE — but through it all, you have loved me, carried me when necessary, allowed me to touch your lives in times of both great joy and intense pain. Now I leave you stronger for having been your pastor. I leave from love, and the call of God, and not from pain or conflict or anger.

And so, yes. Today I choose life. I choose to leave you, to move to a new place and new people and new ministry, ministry that in its own way is already giving glory to God before I arrive there. And you choose life in letting me go, to release me to serve God in new ways, as I release you from the bonds that have tied us together in a pastoral way. Friendships will remain, and contact that is not pastoral — but after this, I will not be your pastor.

We each can and must choose life and prosperity, rejecting death and adversity, if we are to love, obey and hold fast to our God, and that means life, and length of days. We reject the human tendency to hold onto what we know, what we think we need, and to refuse to share with others what God has given.

We choose life, in new ways. We trust God, the God who created all things, including you and including me, and called it ALL good. We choose life. And life means change, gradual or rapid, expected or unexpected. We choose life. We choose God. We choose to claim our commonality in God, that surpasses any pain of parting, any unresolved or uncompleted aspects of our relationships, that will carry us forward, in Illinois and in Colorado and throughout the whole created universe, will carry us forward into the future where the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow beckons, calling to us still —

This day I set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, then you shall live and the Lord will bless you.