A Week of Mourning

This week has been a week of loss. A week of mourning. A week of a broken heart.

As I write, this could come across as light-hearted and maybe a little sarcastic - but know my heart is truly sad.

Monday, Shady the Tree fell. The beloved, HUMONGOUS oak tree that stood tall and proud outside CCF came to her death. There are many many memories of sitting in her shade while holding small groups, having amazing conversations, laughing, and just enjoying life as Christ's love was shared. There are those bitter memories too - those beautiful fall days while holding a small group, Shady would pelt acorns at those under her branches. It was all you could do not to get stung by those massive, fast as lightening acorns. She was beautiful. She gave CCF character.

Shady was strong though. And she fell when she wanted. She wouldn't have this "being put down" business. See, Tuesday she was scheduled to be brought down by skilled tree men, a giant crane, and $7,000+. No way would she have it. So she fell Monday. Granted, a bit of golf-sized hail, high winds and a hard rain helped Shady out a bit - but still - she would not have "being put down."

You can see Shady here. But beware. The images you are about to view are graphic and may not be suitable for children or people with weak stomaches.

As if losing Shady wasn't hard enough, not more than 30 minutes ago, I received even more bad news. Mighty Joe Espresso, the best coffee shop in the world, will see his last day this Sunday. Mighty Joe Espresso is closing. MJE is not just a coffee shop. It is the modern day Cheers.

"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,

and they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see,

our troubles are all the same.

You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

You wanna go where people know,

people are all the same,

You wanna go where everybody knows your name."

It's true. If MJE had a theme song, it would be Cheers' theme song.

David, Ella, Eva, Tyler and Me the day Tyler left for Germany is May 2009.

MJE was given a verbal commitment that the next 6 months of rent would be X dollars. So Richard, the owner, sent to corporate a check for X dollars. Corporate came back and said, "We are not cashing your check. You owe us X dollars + $500 more." This came very unexpectedly. Tyler and I walked into MJE today, our second home and our Support Raising Office, to do some work when we received the news.

This week I have lost a truly magnificent tree, yummy coffee, an office, a hangout place and true friends. Sad day.