An Inkling
Years ago someone shared with me a bit of wisdom: you can never accomplish as much as you plan
to in a year, but you can accomplish much more than you knew to plan in five
years. That has certainly proven to be
true in the church.
I was reminded of this Monday evening when some of our Elders
gave their “Last Will and Testament” as they retired from their term of
service. As they spoke we were amazed to
hear what all the Lord had done in us and through us, only not in five years,
but in just the last three years.
Three years ago when these Elders began their service, we
were only halfway through our two year process of exiting our previous
denomination. We still had the hardest
part ahead of us – negotiating an exit payment, and then figuring out how to pay
for it. When we were finally released in
June, 2013, we all collapsed in fatigue for two or three months. But then we began in earnest the transition into
our new denomination, figuring out the best ways to fit our congregational
contours into those of our new denominational wineskin – and really that is
still in process. Along with that challenge
came some staff changes, the implementation of a complex new worship strategy, a
capital campaign to pay for our exit and other big projects, and several other
endeavors. When we thought back to how
far we had come in just three years, we were all amazed.
The Good Shepherd knows how to pace his sheep. Of course, those completing their three years
may sleep for the next month – and deservedly so!
But then they will start thinking about what they might
accomplish in the next year. It won’t be
as much as they plan. But in another few
years they will look back again and see that the Lord has brought them farther
than they even knew how to plan.
Sound familiar? May
the Lord be praised for the course he chooses and the pace he sets. And I am thanking him for such good Elder
companions.
Blessings,
Keith
