I am facing a significant change in my spiritual life starting in June.  Rev. Ann Atkins has been pastor at Centre Street United Methodist Church in Cumberland where I have attended since moving to Cumberland in October 2010.  She and I have enjoyed a friendship as professional colleagues and as personal friends.  She and her husband Hal and son Daniel have welcomed me into their home and we have enjoyed many meals in local restaurants.  In June Ann’s tenure at Centre Street UMC will be concluding.  I am thankful she will still be in the area, but attending events at Centre Street including worship will not be the same without her.  I have to confess I have considered finding a different church once she leaves.  I have rejected that option for many reasons.  The most important reason to me is that I have other significant relationships at Centre Street and have made commitments through leadership positions I have accepted, and I don’t want lose those relationships or break the promises I have made.

Each Christian has to take responsibility for nurturing their faith.  For me part of the nurturing involves active participation in a local congregation.  I also nurture my faith through writing a journal and through study of Scripture.  This week has been a pivotal time for me because I have decided it is time for me to cease “fighting change” and start “accepting change”.  Even though losing Pastor Ann was not my choice, it is still a reality for the congregation.  I am fortunate that I will be able to remain in contact and connection with her and her family.  Even though that will be different than having her as my pastor, she can still be a confidant and someone whose opinions I respect and whom I can turn to for advice or simply to share in a confidential manner the events of the week.

As I think about this change I am processing I know that family members and patients I meet everyday are also processing change.  Part of my ministry to help them process changes in their lives as they open up to me and share their situation.  I have felt a bit like a failure the past few weeks as I have been attempting to help others process change while I was stuck being able to accept the changes in my spiritual life created by Pastor’s Ann’s leaving our church.

When I return to the hospital and to hospice following this week of vacation I feel I will be able to be more effective because of my move from fighting change to accepting change.  This recent battle with change also will help me understand why change can be a true burden to others until they are able to work through it.  I think I will be more sensitive to the emotions they feel and more likely to be able to pause with them as they sort out what they should do in response to the change they face.

How do you handle change?  Are there any changes in your life that you would like to write about for the readers of the blog to learn from?  Please post if you feel so led so we can all learn from each other.  God bless you!!