My Son Just Moved Away…And I Couldn’t Be Happier

I’ve often said that life is a series of goodbyes. Maybe that’s a depressing idea for some, but one that rings true for me, especially today. We just said goodbye to our son who moved to Vancouver to start a new job. 

The past 3 years Alex has served with a mission organization called YWAM  (Youth With A Mission) which took him to many parts of the world including Nepal, South Africa, Costa Rica and Brazil, all while being based in Los Angeles.   

He came home after completing his commitment and was ready to move on to the next stage of life. Not surprisingly, he was here for only 3 weeks before moving on. As Alex has always been drawn to city life, we knew that this time was going to be more of a layover than a stop. 

No Surprises

Alex has always been wired to seek out adventure and try new things. Growing up he played a variety of sports including soccer, basketball, baseball and football. He also learned magic tricks and competed in the Canadian Rubics Cube Championship at age 10. I think his best time is just under 20 seconds. He parasailed at age 16 and since graduating high school has wanted to see the world from even greater heights. YWAM gave him not only an opportunity to do that but to explore more of what God wanted for him long term.

So Alex just moved to Vancouver yesterday in spite of the fact that it’s a part of the world he’s never been. And he starts a job today in a location he’s never seen, and is apartment hunting in neighbourhoods he’s never walked.

But that’s Alex.

Empty Nest Is Real Now

When we celebrated our daughter’s wedding last Fall we began our next season as empty nesters which we have done our best to embrace. But I’ve realized that these past few months were simply a dress rehearsal for yesterday’s goodbye…another goodbye. Yes, life seems like a series of them.

When I got home and saw his empty room my heart ached. This is real, I thought. He’s gone now. Not just on another mission trip but to begin his next adventure…and I hurt.

But I’m also thrilled for him. I’m excited that he has followed his heart and more importantly followed where he believes God is leading him. As I’m sitting here I just got a text from Alex as he begins his first shift at his new job;

“Just got here. Came in early so they gave me a coffee and told me to chill…it’s such a nice shop and it’s in a very busy part of the city…I’m living my dream.” 

So while my heart hurts I celebrate what Alex is doing and I’m so glad he’s gone. Why?

• As his parents, we believed our role was to help him discover who he is and how God created him and his place in the world; and he’s continuing to discover that today
• It would be so much easier on us to have him close to home; but it would be devastating for him; three weeks home and he was getting antsy. It was time for him to go.
• Alex loves city life and being around lots of people; Vancouver offers that for him
• He loves great coffee and hopes to own his own cafe someday; the coffee industry is thriving in Vancouver.
• He’d be miserable here. We live in a town of 30,000 and our cafe is in a town of thousand. It was great to have him here these past few weeks hanging out with us, but we knew it wasn’t for him. And we’re okay with that.
• Saying goodbye never gets easier, but Alex not pursuing his goals and dreams would be worse…so much so.

Yes, my son is gone, and I couldn’t be happier. But he’ll always have a room with us for his next layover.