Moving but not going anywhere

Twenty-four years is a long time to live in one place. For me, that's been Abilene, Abilene Christian University, Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, our church home, the Highland Church of Christ, and our private practice group, Big Country Family Therapy Associates. According to the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, God is the author of change, and that seasons come and seasons go.

This particular season in Abilene will come to an end mid-August. Another season of my professional life will begin September 1 when I begin work with the Chickasaw Nation. That work, curiously enough, will be similar to what we've written about, and what we've done, as reflected in these pages. I will serve as Director, Office of Strong Family Development, and I will work in conjunction with faculty from the University of Oklahoma in developing both an "idea and a location," the Family Resource Center.

While the Chickasaw Nation quietly but relentlessly pursued me, I put several "obstacles" in their way, that if the answer was otherwise, it would be "no deal." Hopefully that does not come across as arrogant, but just the statement of a man who is passionate about these matters. The first was the statement, "I want to continue advocacy efforts on behalf of the Black farmers of our country," to which my administrator replied, "Not a problem. That work is at the heart of what we do in this division."

There were others. One that cuts to the very heart of what I want to do with my life is to develop the next generation of advocates. So, how could that be done if I move away from ACU? Moving away from ACU was not an option unless the work and relationships could continue. Many ideas and possibilities are there: stay in touch with ACU/MFT students, develop similar relationships at East Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Baptist, create connections with various departments on the OU campus, and connect with college students at the various churches in Ada and the surrounding community. Above all, figure out ways to stay connected via this blog and facebook and other means. Then, when various opportunities come up for advocacy or research, we can meet at points betwixt and between.

So, while I'm moving from Abilene, Texas to Ada, Oklahoma, the work can and will continue.

In terms of what I'll be doing in Oklahoma, it'll mean advocating for families within the Chickasaw Nation, bridging the gap between behavioral health and the medical community, writing policy and creating programs designed to strengthen individuals, couples, and families within the Nation. It'll mean collaborating with OU to create the Family Resource Center, to establish policy as to what will happen there in terms of best practices and programs that will enrich those who will in turn engage the Chickasaw community. It'll mean developing resources and hiring people who will staff regional centers that will deliver services to the people.

Transitions are torturous because there's no reason to leave the work here. These are good people, faculty, staff, and students. These folks are busy changing the world, one client hour, one family system at a time.

No, there's no reason to leave here, but there's every reason to go to Oklahoma. There I'll be able to put into practice what I've preached for several years now, that of engaging institutions of power and privilege and creating change so that the needs of the people are met, so that voices of the people can be heard, so that the Kingdom will come in both small and substantial ways.

There is much to be done: music projects, a photojournalism project, articles, books, consults with farmers entering litigation, speaking out on matters of policy, informing our readership, developing new teams, and others. The work must go on.

So, yes, I'm moving come August, but I'm not going anywhere. This work that we write about on these pages and these people are home. In the words of a dear friend, these are "my people."