Time doesn’t ask for permission. It moves, rushes, swirls like the wind, carrying us from one place to another before we’ve had time to gather our thoughts.
Nineteen years ago, Orlando faded in my rearview mirror, and Royston rose ahead. A transition wrapped in uncertainty. A new town. A different rhythm. A shift in scenery from theme parks and traffic to fields and cows, from the hum of a city to the hush of small-town streets.
The change wasn’t easy.
Leaving never is.
Starting over never is.
But then, time—always in a hurry—ushered in almost two decades of work and life, of conversations and meals, of church and prayer. A new home took shape, not just in geography but in relationships.
Life happened in the waiting. Laughter echoed in new friendships. Tears fell in seasons of grief. Joy arrived in celebrations. Lessons unfolded in unexpected ways.
Time sprinted forward, as it always does—a marathon disguised as a sprint. And we adapted. We adjusted. We kept going.
There were ball games under bright lights, voices cheering into the night. There were classroom moments, faces eager, minds stretching. There were long meals with friends, pausing between words, stories weaving across the table. There were hospital visits and graveside goodbyes, reminders of love and loss. There were quiet mornings and hurried afternoons, days that felt like a blur and nights that whispered prayers.
New books. New ideas. New stories written in the ink of everyday moments.
Time keeps moving, but so do we.
Nineteen years ago, I moved.
Today, I’m still moving—still learning, still growing, still grateful.
With hands open. With hearts willing. With faith steady.
I can’t believe it’s been that long. We still miss you over here, you know that.
Hi Chris love you brother
The romance of life and gratitude for how time moves is so appropriate. The words reflect a sobriety that can only come from being close to death and closer to the life of Jesus. I am thankful for the poetry of this article, because it is intent to reflect truth.
This is so good. Bless you, my friend.
Time is such an unforgiving yet gracious thing, it brings hardships but it always provides us with comfort, we have no control over it, and that is the hardest thing.
This is a good reminder that time does not slow down. It is hard to remember that sometimes
This is a great reminder and blog post!
This is a great reminder that change is not always bad. In fact, if it is in God’s hands, it is never bad. Change is often hard for me, but through change I have learned and grew into the person I am today. As I reflect on the change that has occurred in my own life in the past, I am reminded as you were that time does not slow down, but also change can represent new, fresh, and revitalizing things.
Thank you for sharing this, Pastor Chris!
I loved reading and reflecting on this blog. This reminds me of not only how precious time is, but how important every second of every day of every season is. With the realization that I am already finishing my senior year of college, I think it’s important to stop for one moment– to be appreciative and grateful for where I am and who I’ve become. It’s definitely bittersweet. Thanks for sharing!
I like it so much because it feels real and personal. It talks about something many people go through—leaving, starting over, and growing with time. Even though it’s short, it says a lot about life, change, and faith. It has a peaceful and hopeful tone that makes you stop and think. It’s the kind of message that stays with you.
This was a great post and reminder! I feel as if even though I am young, I can feel the time slipping away! My four years here have gone by in the blink of an eye, but the end of these four years are much different than the end of high schools four years. Now you get to grow up, start moving into real jobs, real apartments, real finances. Sometimes I wish I could go back, but yet, time keeps moving!
Wow, this really hit me. It’s crazy how time moves so fast, and yet somehow we grow into each season without even realizing it. Love how you captured the ups and downs of change—honest, heartfelt, and so relatable. Thanks for sharing this journey.