Apparently there’s something to the whole death and taxes thing. Change is inevitable I suppose. We can try our best to stop it, but it always seems to arrive one way or another. Ever nagging, excruciatingly persistent change finds us eventually, even if we have a crafty hiding spot. This morning I stood in a house full of priceless memories for the last time. It struck me like a punch to the gut that even though this particular moment will forever be embedded in my mind it’s a moment that will never happen again. Sure, I’ll experience many more moments like this, but this particular moment, in all its significance, has come and gone. When I think about it, I suppose that’s what life is composed of: Thousands upon thousands of moments that collectively contribute their beauty, sadness, pain, and elation into the work of art that is life. We can attempt to force these moments, or we can resist like a toddler resists a nap, but the stark reality is that sometimes these moments unfold in ways that are beyond our control.
I’m writing this from row 42, seat F, on a plane that just ascended into the air a moment ago. I’ve decided that it’s in my best interest that the plane continues moving. My four year old, Addy, is sound asleep in my lap snoring, which is actually quite endearing for a four year old. By some cruel twist of fate, she starts kindergarten next week. Leg shaving and car borrowing are approaching a little too quickly for my comfort. I’m coming to the realization that if I could freeze time, or even slow it down a bit, I would have much less anxiety in my life. I could sleep a little more peacefully at night knowing that change is not coming as fast as this jet I’m sitting on. Since apparently this is not an option, I guess we’ll just have to soak up each moment, and look forward to the next.
When our lives are continually flooded with change…jobs, finances, living situations, government, relationships, our age…sometimes the church becomes our one constant. It becomes the one stable entity in the midst of surrounding chaos. Maybe this is why we find change so difficult in the church. When the foundation begins to shake, we fear the entire house will soon cave in. Inevitably we become attached to those things that allow us to breathe a collective sigh of relief: A pew, a hymnal, a screen with captivating pictures and a brand new font, our favorite chair, a familiar chorus, and even our pastor. Life may be as chaotic as the running of the bulls, but at least we will always have these things. Or will we? What do we do when what we thought was the foundation begins to crumble before our very eyes? I suppose the only logical solution is that God, who is the one real constant, really is supposed to be the foundation of the church. Everything else can, and will change. In many cases it must. Where the Holy Spirit dwells there will be change. All the metaphors for the Holy Spirit we find in scripture, a dove, fire, water, wind, all contain elements of change. The Holy Spirit moves!
So when it comes right down to it, the church is not exempt from these moments: These moments of brilliance, of awe, of miraculous beauty, of anxiety, and even gut wrenching pain. These moments contribute to the collage that is the masterpiece of Christ’s church, not just in our generation, but throughout the course of human history. As my kids would say, “To infinity…and beyond”! Ah yes…the church will change in ways that we cant begin to imagine, but the church will still be the church.
Cherish each moment, because there will never be another just like it. Change is coming, so hold on tight. Actually…don’t. Maybe it’s better we just trust God’s plan and release our grasp. Rest assured. The church will change…but God wont!
