It has now been five years since I moved out of my long-time study at ParkwayHills Church to my new place of study and work. Due to the church's generosity of building me new bookshelves, and the kindness of my assistant, Kristi McCallon, my library was neatly boxed, labeled and ready - so that moving into my new setting at my home on Steeplechase was
physically easy. Yet, unpacking box after box to place them on these newly hewn shelves, I remember feeling quite '
unsettled' the day this photo was taken. It was a feeling that stayed with me for some time. And, now, five years and another move later, I find myself - in many ways - still feeling the same way. Transitions can be good, even freeing, but others can be those we never fully get over.
Looking back over those many years, I so enjoyed watching West Plano grow and change through my study window. I watched our Willow Bend West neighborhood being completed, Parkwood Street being cut through to Park, and VBS children eating their sticky, multi-colored snow cones on our church's covered porch. I watched fellow pastor, friend and neighbor, Robert Hasley, as he oft times would walk from his home close by to his good church down the way. And, I watched young people from Plano West Senior High as they drove cars round the corner heading to buy 'off-campus lunches' at The Shops at Willow Bend. It was from that very same window that I remember my phone ringing once day with a call from a 'concerned' neighbor, informing me that the 'young people' now playing sand volley ball on our property might not be 'appropriately dressed for church' (which, by the way, they were dressed absolutely fine for sand and sun). When I asked where the caller happened to be, they replied they were 'in their car, across the street, and watching.' I thanked them for the call, saying, I would see to it. Then, stepping outside and rolling up my pant legs, I walked onto the sand and began playing volley ball with them. The 'good' neighbor moved on.
People sometimes ask me if I have any regrets after retiring from a long-time pastorate - then moving on, quite totally away. My reply is, there will always be a part of me remaining at 2700 Dallas Parkway. Indeed, this was a special place of marvelous memories - treasures of life that can never be taken away. But, truth be told, the same feelings also serve me now as a reminder that even cherished places and times are but a preview, a reflection of something better yet to come. A 'pre-taste' of what we really pine for. A pining given us by God. For one day, on THAT Day, the Imago-Dei inside us will be fully realized as we move on to a place where we finally feel really quite at home.
There is a song sung by BJ Thomas, with lyrics that read:
They say that heaven's pretty - and living here is too. But if they said that I would have to choose between the two. I'd go home. Going home. Where I belong.
So, yes, when I drive by 2700 Dallas Parkway I recall it all. The placing of the dome, the burial of the time capsule and mounds of dirt my kids climbed and played on as each foundation was poured. But this is naught but a reflection, a 'glass' only 'darkly' to peer through, as Paul says; and my move away a reminder that - for the believer - 'home' is not a place but in a person, the only begotten of God - who chose to take on flesh and to live, die and raise again so that He might redeem us by grace - Jesus Christ.
Pastor Sam
