Three Little

It's another far reach, but I'm feeling a little bit like one of the Three Little Pigs, but instead of having houses built of straw and sticks, I've got one built of whale skin and one built of onion skin. The whale skin is rubbery, thick and insulated. The onion skin is translucent, thin and breaks away easily. As we live through the hard work and energy involved in addressing and implementing changes, it seems like we have to choose between either the house built of seemingly non-penetrable insistence on change, or the house built on a seemingly endless peeling away of comfort for the sake of change. It's just hard to know when to have a little bit thinner skin, being sensitive to the needs and truths of an established community and when to have a thicker skin, being sensitive to the needs and truths of a changing world. In truth, no one wants to live in either house. We want to live in a house built on a cornerstone of God's will. We want to live in a home built reforming to God's will, not conforming to culture. I believe we are actively seeking God's will for our congregation through study, conversation, and prayerful intention. At our own home, we try not to leave without saying the three little words - "I love you." Wouldn't that be a wonderful way to leave our church home as well?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You provide a dwelling for us built firmly on a rock of foundation; one built to withstand winds of change and outlast piers of weathered wood. We are honored guests in your dwelling, invited to stay as long as we like. We are not present in your dwelling to rearrange the furniture to our liking, but to keep the lights of invitation burning and the door wide open for others seeking a place to call home. We don't always get to choose our family, but you have provided an amazing church family. Let us appreciate and affirm our love as often as possible. O God, never let us leave doubt that your home is a dwelling based on, and filled with, God's love. Amen.