Change, our lives are full of change. The world is changing from going through a pandemic. The climate is changing, and our church is changing. Who would have ever thought that we would be doing church services online? As we prepare to say farewell to Donna and welcome Bethany and her wife Kelsee, I think many of us may be feeling sad. I have heard a couple of people say, “couldn’t Donna just stay?”. We all feel comforted being surrounded by familiar people and things. Change can be hard, particularly in times of crisis. Our nation and the world are certainly going through crisis right now. But we all knew that when Donna came, it was for a temporary time to help us discover ourselves and grow. We knew that we would be hiring a settled pastor to eventually come. And now that time is here.
As we prepare to move forward we have to learn to let go. I know that can be difficult , letting go of the known and familiar to move into the unknown and unfamiliar. I think Jesus’ disciples had the same problem during his ministry. They had a difficult time letting go of their old lives to live the life they were being called to. Sometimes it’s a struggle letting go. Sometimes trying to adjust to change can make us angry because we just don’t want to change. Sometimes we refuse to let go of things that we should let go of. But change will happen whether we want it to or not.
Change can be easier if we work to make it positive. It helps to adjust if we refocus our priorities. If we focus on the path ahead and where we’re going, it will help us to let go of things that might hold us back. I’m very grateful for Donna’s time with us. I think she has helped us to grow in so many ways. As she prepares to leave it’s time for us to focus on Bethany’s arrival and how we’re going to continue adjusting to the changes that come from being in the middle of a pandemic and the problems that brings. We have the opportunity to develop and become stronger in our faith journey, just as Jesus’ early disciples did.
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