“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.
