Change
I Was Thinking…
Do any of us enjoy change? Perhaps you’ve encountered the quote, “The Only thing in life that doesn’t change is that there will be change in life”. As United Methodist people we know the process of change. Clergy are appointed one year at a time with hopes that one year will lead to two and two will lead to three and so on. This time of year is the season of ‘appointment making’ in North Georgia. Bishop Sue and the Cabinet have met for several weeks praying, discussing, dreaming and trusting the Holy Spirit to guide as clergy are deployed to the places their gifts/graces and call can best serve the Kingdom of God on earth. As United Methodist Ordained Elders we covenant through our Ordination vows that “we will go where we are sent”. It is the itinerancy way of Methodism.
I was humbled and bit intimidated when Bishop Watson appointed me to serve as a District Superintendent. It has been an honor to serve the Atlanta-Marietta District these four years. I now find myself at another place of intimidation and humility as Bishop Sue appoints me to be the Assistant to the Bishop of the Atlanta Episcopal Area also known as the North Georgia Conference. I follow the very capable and excellent leader, Jane Brooks. She promises me to be only a phone call away in her retirement. However, I do consider it a privilege to serve alongside Bishop Sue. Your prayers are greatly appreciated as I seek to serve as, what she calls, her ‘Chief of Staff’. I desire to make her life a little easier and to be helpful to what God is doing in these changing yet exciting days in North Georgia.
C.S. Lewis wrote, “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” It is hard for me to imagine Mr. Lewis is correct. I have been blessed in serving some great churches and serving with many, many great people. Yet I know C.S. Lewis must be correct because it has been true in so much of life. And because, as Easter people, we know that because of the resurrection of Jesus we have hope of our ultimate resurrection, which is the ‘better thing’ ahead for all of us.
Thank you for who you are and for how confidently you lean into ‘whose’ you are. In my last four months as District Superintendent of this wonderful Atlanta-Marietta District, we will serve together for the good of the Kingdom. Then on July 1, my role changes. But never does it change that you and I serve a great God who loves the people of this world.
One of my favorite quotes is by Rachael Hollis. Perhaps I love it because I have done my share of moving in life. She writes, “Moving doesn’t change who you are. It only changes the view outside your window.” While I hope to continue to grow and mature in Christ, I hope I will always be the same person seeking to bear the fruit of the Spirit in everything I’m appointed to do. May God’s blessings empower all of us to greater days of Holy Spirit fruit bearing.
Always Thinking…
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