The word strange and change are no strangers to our community here at Branches. More than any other time this past Lent brought to us at Branches much change and many foreign feelings and happenings. More than ever I became aware of the great power of these types of experiences. A few weeks into my very disciplined fast a change happened that effected me in a powerful way, with that change I could no longer fast. I could not describe why at the time and I knew it was not about excuses. As I have been reflecting and praying the past few months I am coming to understand that like our bodies our spirits can only do so much. At the time I see now that all my spiritual energy needed to go to the change we were experiencing. Although my flesh and my mind were willing, my spirit was weak. I learned in a big way how essential the spiritual part is in a spiritual discipline. Change has incredible power over our spirit. Yet, as my dad's wise AA sponsor has always told me, "the only thing that is constant is change." So once again we are finding ourselves in the strange world of change and movement. For the fourth time in five years Branches UMC will be calling a new place home! Although the place is not secured yet we know it will be a school and not too far from our current location.
Some days I am exhausted by the constant change but recently in my quiet time in the mornings the Holy Spirit has turned my mind to the question, "What is God doing in the midst of this?" This question does not make me tired but inspires me as to how our congregation can continue to be creative in the challenge before us! What new people will we meet on the street our temporary space will be on? How can we invite the direct community of our new temporary space to be part of our community of faith?
The Chosen People of God from early on in scripture were no strangers to strange places or moves. In fact they were always on the move, and being displaced. In this time of transition we might be tempted to ask as the Israelites did in Babylon, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a Strange land?" Ps. 137:4. Yet, in the next chapter of the Psalms the writer makes the decision to praise God and when she does she comes to this conclusion at the end of the Psalm, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies, you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me, your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."
My prayer for us in this season of transition is that we will trust that God will not forsake the work of God's hands. God is at work fulfilling the purposes set forth for us at Branches. As we watch, wait, and work may trust in a God who goes with us and whose love endures through it all.
