Auf Wiedersehen
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Auf Wiedersehen
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Benoni Bulletin--060507 "Farewell, Goodbye, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu""GOODBYE, FAREWELL, AUF WIEDERSEHEN, ADIEU"There was an old World War 2 song that reverberated in the human heart as war-wary soldiers waved goodbye to their forlorn sweethearts on the harbors of the home front. "Now is the hour when we must say 'Goodbye.' Soon you'll be sailing far across the sea. While you're away, oh, please remember me. When you return you'll find me waiting here." Many a tear was wiped away by the broken-hearted lassies on the wharf. Of course, the brave boys in the slowly departing troopship heading for the combat zone would not dare weep. But the lump in their throats almost choked them. Parting is never pleasant. Another emotive song of a later era was "I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane, Don't know when I'll be back again!" It simply echoes the sentiment that there is pain in parting. Shakespeare is reported as having said, "Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow," but I'm wondering what planet he was living on. Sorrow? Yes. Sweet? No, sir! I have said all that to say this--we hate to leave you. We would not leave, but duty calls from afar. And we feel compelled to heed that call. There are many touching departures in the scriptures. When Lot and Abraham separated because of trying to avoid overgrazing the grasslands with their vast herds, Abraham reminded Lot, "We are brethren," (Genesis 13:8). The distance between them did not nullify their relationship. After Jacob took his family and slipped away unobtrusively into the night, his father-in-law, Laban, pursued him. Laban queried him, "Why did you run off secretly. . ? Why didn't you tell me, so that I could send you away with joy and singing...? You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye..." (Genesis 31:27-28). Who could fault Laban for desiring family-togetherness? After they resolved the impasse, Laban says, "May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other," (Genesis 31:49). Without the Lord's overshadowing providence, who could weather the vicissitudes of meeting, parting and reuniting again? Laban's blessing to Jacob is also our wish for you and for us in this sweet relationship we have forged. Though Paul is often perceived as an aloof intellectual, he had his emotional moments. When he bade a final farewell to the Ephesian elders, they prayed and wept and embraced and kissed him, (Acts 20:36-38). Then they accompanied him to the ship. In Acts 21, the brethren tried to persuade Paul not to leave them and go to the dangerous city of Jerusalem. Even though his heart was breaking because of their deep expression of love for him, he insisted that he had to answer the call of duty, (Acts 21:12-14). "The Lord's will be done," they agreed. Christians never see each other for the last time. "We part at the foot stool, we meet at the throne." And maybe even in between, if God wills. Oh, how we wish we were twins--so that we could be in both places at the same time. How often have Donna and I expressed that to each other. Both congregations, Benoni and Riverside in Kerrville, have some of the finest, most loving people. We salute both congregations. We close with the words from our title specifically borrowed from the sweet musical, "The Sound of Music" -- "Farewell, Goodbye, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu." May you all continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ while we are apart from each other. Love you all from near and from afar, Al--the Horne of Africa. |
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