You have heard it said that there are only two things in life that are certain: taxes and death. We could probably spend some time arguing the truth of that statement, but I do want to add to it a third thing that is inevitable: change. I don’t believe anyone could argue with that. We may not welcome change or even agree with it, but we live with it everyday. There are some things that change that we cannot influence, but there are many more things in which we can have a voice. So it becomes a matter of whether we just let change happen or allow ourselves to be change agents and seek to direct change the way we think it should go.
We at Fountain City United Methodist Church do not have to go very far to see change. If you have been in the church building in the last four months, you have seen a great deal of change – everywhere. Sometimes we take on new challenges as we try to navigate our way around the building, and it seems you can’t “get there from here.” As we improve one of our parking areas, we might have to sacrifice a great parking space and walk farther to get to the building. New building construction would probably be easier to tolerate than having our building “sliced and diced” in just about every corner.
The changes have affected everyone, and I am incredibly impressed with and appreciative of everyone’s patience. When we get through it all, we are going to be able to reap the benefits; but it is not always fun getting there. Our building will be an ever stronger tool for ministry even though some of the new and improved facility changes will hardly be noticeable to mere passers-by.
We are beginning a liturgical season that is all about change, not of bricks and mortar but of ourselves. Actually, Christian discipleship is all about change everyday. However, during this season of Lent (40 days before Easter, exclusive of Sundays), we are encouraged to spend more time in prayer, meditation and worship in order to make ourselves better able to serve the risen Christ. The changes we make within ourselves will probably affect everyone around us. Surely they will notice and be grateful. It is a time of soul searching and renewal. As we consider our Lord’s ministry on earth and what he endured for our sakes, I hope we will more eager than ever to strengthen our relationship with God and with one another.
Some of our changes will be inconvenient for us. We might have to give up some things. We might have to take on some new challenges. We might even be called to love someone whom we do not really want to love. We might even be called to forgive someone we do not want to forgive. We might even . . . . Who knows but God?
As the world changes around us, I hope we will be more eager than ever to help affect and effect changes as Christian disciples because we ourselves have been changed by and for Christ. Our study (please see separate article about our Wednesday evening studies) and worship opportunities will focus on the life of Christ and how his life, death and resurrection can help us be better change agents for ourselves and the world.
Change? I am all for it when I am convinced it is the right thing. And I am convinced that I need to change. Let’s all work on letting God work to change us for the sake of the Kingdom so that we might help change the world for God’s sake.
- Jim
