It is my job to bring about change. To open hearts and minds to commit to a new way of following Christ. It is a struggle to change the way we have always done things, to move out of our comfort zone, to reach out to those who do not yet know "the Story". It is especially difficult when you ask someone of several decades of faithful living to move out of pew, in order to sit in a chair; let go of the traditional worship look of paraments and staid altars in exchange for a stage with instruments, (yes, more than one) microphones and funky lighting. How do you give up the "family friendly" style of celebrating birthdays and anniversaries in order to be more welcoming to a generation who would rather listen to a relevant message akin to their everyday experience of technology and sound bytes. A generation who wants to live out loud by faith in action and listen to music which rocks the very foundation of a building. This is the task set before me as a pastor, this is my commitment to bring new souls into the kingdom.
In the midst of leading change, my own home life suddenly made some things very clear. You see my mom decided to uproot 27 years of living in her home and completely change directions. She is making one gigantic U Turn! She is showing all of her family how to be grace-filled when it comes to giving up the "things" she loved and move into a new way of doing life. First went the car and now the house. She decided her "driving days" were over for the safety of others. And she is tired of being in charge of all the dealings of a house and lawn, so the house is on the market. The family has been called in to claim anything we want or need. Hundreds of sacks of papers, books, and things are being thrown away, given away or sold for a pittance in a garage sale. Every time a special memory is handed to her to decide what to do she looks at it and says, "now that was a wonderful time," kisses it and throws it away. She is letting go so she can move forward. She is hoping another family will enjoy and love her home in "their way". She is ready to move into a retirement home where she can form new relationships and never have to eat alone again. And she is 90!
This has made me take a close look at what holds me back from moving forward. How can I be a faithful servant of Christ and stay clutching to what is comfortable, a good memory or is just the way I like to do it? Where would we be if the disciples had simply gone back to Galilee with broken hearts and returned to their former lives? Where would we be if Paul had stayed in only one town? Where would we be if Wesley had never ventured out into the fields? No where I think.
Oh my, I see a U Turn coming.
