“When the winds of change blow, I trust that God’s got my back. He’s got me covered. Even though I may not know the plan, God-Emmanuel, ever-present and all-knowing, certainly does. And I know that I, and all of my concerns, no matter how small, are dear to God.” [1]

Change.

The very thought of it sends shudders down one’s spine. It is almost cliché to say that human beings are inherently resistant to change. It is ultimately one of the most challenging things that we do.

In her article “Ten Reasons People Resist Change,” Rosabeth Moss Kanter of the Harvard Business Review postulates reasons for our reticence.[2]  According to Kanter, change can represent a loss of control over familiar things in one’s life. It can represent significant uncertainty, unplanned surprises, and a deviation from one’s comfortable routine, among others. Indeed, change by its very nature can bring a profound sense of loss of the things familiar to us.

But think about this: for as difficult as change is, we interact with it on a daily basis. We change our clothes, our shoes, our computers, our cars, and our cell phones.  We change our lawn service, our hairdressers (although, admittedly, that is painful), our pool service, our physicians, our Internet/TV service (yet even more painful!)  We are constantly evolving from one new thing to the next — fluidly, seamlessly, easily. Change can even bring with it some real sense of excitement of the new thing to come.

As Pinnacle’s recently appointed Director of Music and Arts, I have been reflecting on what the role of “Interim” means to me during this transition year, a year which, by its very nature, will certainly be one full of change. As Interim, I honor the past and lead toward the future, all the while endeavoring to smooth feelings of loss as the church bids adieu to Brent and Marilyn Hylton and their many years of devoted music ministry. As Interim, I focus my attention on the complex business of managing the varied music offerings Pinnacle congregants have come to expect. As interim, I support worship at the highest level possible. And, perhaps most importantly, as Interim I serve as a bridge in preparation for the full-time Director of Music to come. The good news is that I bring a rich set of experiences from my past professional life that allows me to understand very well the challenges and concerns one can expect during this time of transition. And I bring an independent and objective eye, asking important questions and assessing challenges without fear of prejudice.

And all of that work means being resilient and adaptable to change.

As a musician and professor, resilience and change have been constants in my career work over the past forty years. By necessity of my calling, I have had to embrace change; indeed, the rhythm of my life has been motivated by change. Music constantly unfolds and surprises with its changes of rhythm, melodic patterns, instruments, and harmonies. With each new measure of music, there is new opportunity for change. Throughout the centuries, every musician strove to honor voices of the past while at once forging a new musical identity for his or her own voice.  Music is change. Change is life. Life is change.

But let me tell you what will not or does not change.

Our job of finding God in the moments we share, in the people we meet, and especially for us in the Music we make will not change. Through our sharing of our gifts and talents, we will share the love that Christ Jesus has for us and we have for each other.

So as we journey together in these changing times, I ask for your blessings, grace, and prayers. Please know that you are most welcome to join the Pinnacle Music Ministry in whatever capacity you are able, as singer, ringer, special instrumentalist, or children’s choir volunteer.

Together, we are blessed and strong.

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." (Psalm 92:1-2; 95: 1-2)

 

[1] Rebecca Ruiz, “When the Winds of Change Blow.” In Ignatian Spirituality, a Service of Loyola Press. <http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/22395/when-the-winds-of-change-blow>, accessed July 20, 2016.

[2] Rosabeth Moss Kanter, “Ten Reasons People Resist Change.” Harvard Business Review. <https://hbr.org/2012/09/ten-reasons-people-resist-chang>, accessed July 24, 2016.

Bad things happen. People do unthinkable, horrible things. We see earthquakes, floods, droughts, and other natural disasters all of the time. Our families face sicknesses, hardships, depression, and death. If we allow ourselves to focus on the bad for long enough, it starts to feel like not much good happens in the world anymore. It seems as if God is nowhere to be found in the time we most need His presence.

In these trying times we often, and unfairly, blame God. We can question God. It is even understandable to get mad at God. But, we shouldn’t blame Him. Tragedies are not a product of God’s absence or apathy. In fact the opposite is true. Tragedy is a function of God’s amazing love for us. When God created us we are offered the choice to love. This choice, however, opens the door for darkness. But, without our free will, we could never feel true love. If we were simply programmed to love without choice, then it would not be the kind of unconditional and overflowing love we know in Christ. We would be robotic beings, going through motions, but never coming as close to God as He intended. To love (or not to love) is a choice we make freely. That’s just the way it works.

The world, if we allow it, can evoke anxiety, fear and desperation. These feelings offer us choices. We can choose to run to God or to run from Him. There really is no middle ground for those of us with faith. If we choose to run from God, we lead ourselves into despair and loneliness. However, if we lean on faith and run to God we see the opposite. Yes, the suffering and pain may still exist, but God promises peace to help us deal with the present; strength to lead us into the future; and, an eternal life shared with Him. Where we see tragedy and disaster, God sees opportunities for us to know a deeper kind of love. When we want to hide in fear from the world, God calls us to go into the world and spread the message of love and hope. In good times, or in bad, God tells us to trust in Him and share His love and grace.

In John 16:33 Jesus reminds his followers of the big picture. “I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” Jesus already won the battle. He experienced the worst the world has to offer and is victorious. He suffered so we don’t have to. So why would we choose to go it alone, to live in fear, or even to doubt God’s very presence in times of trouble? As Christ followers, we believe there is something more. Keep that faith in the darkest hours because we know a new dawn is always just on the horizon. God will fulfill His promises, if not in this life, then in eternity.