Who has never been afraid when threatened with change?
A thoughtful friend reminded me, “every time you see a butterfly, keep in mind that without change it simply wouldn’t be.”
That imagery can be applied repeatedly: when we lose a spouse, as we age, in the face of extreme weather or disaster, as children prepare to leave home.
The Hebrew slaves escaping the Egyptians knew fear. So did the ones imprisoned in Babylonia, as did the disciples on the storm-tossed sea.
Being afraid is part of being human; what we do with our fear is another thing. Some freeze to the point where their lives stagnate. Some get caught up in the “paralysis of analysis” as they tell their story over and over again.
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However, fear propels others to-ward new horizons. It is as if some unspoken trust pulls them forward. They start by meeting the challenges one day at a time.
People in many rural churches are touched by fear. Can they afford to move forward? Will they have adequate leadership?
At first there is no consensus about what to do, but insights and understandings slowly change as individuals speak and feel heard. Different ideas surface. Prayers are for the guidance of the spirit so they might discern what is best for all. One suggestion after another is tested and tried. The spirit of creativity takes over. Even the youngest can participate and offer new of looking at things.
Closing a place of gathering may be one option, but the spiritual needs of those remaining are as evident today as they were when settlers first arrived. Can our eyes be opened to opportunities not yet tried?
