A Farewell Letter from Ron Hardman“One Day at a Time” Ron Hardman, Conference Lay Leader 2000-2006 What a journey you and I have been on these last six years as I have served as Lay Leader of the Virginia Conference. Conditions were a bit foggy for me at the beginning; the path ahead a bit uncertain. But, nevertheless, we, together, charged ahead, thanks to God’s vision for our lives and ministry here in this conference. Along the way, we’ve experienced new and exciting ways to be more intentional about welcoming all God’s children at the table. The spirit has led us to nurture and encourage those around us who seek to join us in this journey. For us, this journey must be a never ending one. Along the way, however, it is important that we take the time to pull in for a checkup, to take time for ourselves, to take time to renew our relationship with God through daily prayer and Bible study. All of this will fill our tank with the energy that is needed to serve Him among those around us. As leaders we are e expected to do so much. Sometimes we are asked to give and give and give until we have no more to give in this journey to invite and encourage others. For Martha and me, one rest stop along the way was a wonderful study based on Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life.” I highly recommend it to you especially if you take the time to prayerfully consider each chapter, one day at a time, and to journal your thoughts along the way. In the chapter, “Created to Become Like Christ,” we are challenged, through Paul’s words in Ephesians, to let go of old ways of acting, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and then to “put on” the character of Christ by developing new, Godly habits. Whatever your rest stop might look like, I encourage you to pull off the freeway in the weeks ahead to renew your body and spirit for the important journey that lies ahead of us. As we gather in This journey we are on is a journey of faith. When our vision gets a little foggy, we must trust God to guide us along the way. But, like a pitcher of lemonade on a hot summer afternoon, we, too, need to be replenished from time to time, lest we run dry, unable to satisfy the thirst of those seeking to know our Lord. And so, I encourage you to recommit yourself to a discipline of prayer and study as we prepare ourselves for the journey ahead. As my term ends and a new chapter in my life begins, I have reflected on the most basic God-given rhythm in our life—the day. The spiritual significance of this daily rhythm of human life was so beautifully expressed by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book Life Together: “Each morning is a new beginning of our life. Each day is a finished whole. The present day marks the boundary of our cares and concerns. It is enough to find God or to lose God; to keep faith or to fall into disgrace. God created day and night for us so we need not wander without boundaries, but may be able to see every morning the goal of the evening ahead. Just as the ancient sun rises anew every day, so the eternal mercy of God is new every morning. Every morning God gives us the gift of comprehending anew his faithfulness of old,” Bonheoffer reminds us. As Annual Conference concludes, it signals a new day, a new beginning, as we seek new vision for the church here in I appreciate the privilege and honor of serving as your Lay Leader. I wish God Speed to the one whom you selected to pick up the torch of leadership in the years ahead. We seek your prayers as each of us transitions to a new place of ministry in God’s name, one day at a time. “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Grace and Peace, Ron Hardman |