This past week, I found myself thinking about milestones.

At our staff meeting last week, we paused to recognise Wendy Ballard's 25 years of working for Community of Christ in Australia. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this significant milestone and the countless ways she has served the church. Later, as I read the many comments on Wendy's own reflection about the anniversary, I was struck by the heartfelt messages. They weren't simply celebrating 25 years—they were expressing gratitude for the person she is. Again and again, people spoke of her generous spirit, her genuine care for others, and the many ways she has poured herself into the lives of those around her.

A few days later, our family attended Roger McLaughlin's 100th birthday celebration. As friends and family shared stories, I noticed a similar theme. They spoke of the time he had generously given, the wisdom he had shared, and the way he had listened with genuine interest and care. They all painted the same picture: a man of deep faith and unwavering kindness whose life had left a lasting mark on people of every generation. Looking around the room, surrounded by so many whose lives he had touched, it became clear that the significance of Roger's life wasn't found in reaching 100 years, but in the countless ordinary moments that made those years so meaningful.

It made me realise that milestones are really just signposts. They give us a reason to pause and celebrate, but what we're truly celebrating is everything that happened in the years between: the relationships that were built, the lives that were touched, and the people who shaped us along the way.

Each week as I gather stories for this newsletter, I see those "between the milestones" moments everywhere. Behind every event, ministry, or announcement are people choosing to share their time, offer encouragement, extend welcome, and care for one another. Those moments may not always seem significant on their own, but together they tell the story of Christ's mission unfolding through ordinary people who simply choose to love others well.

Perhaps that's something worth celebrating, too.