Change is what we encounter each day when we get out of bed in the morning. Change is certainly better than the alternative. The profundity of this statement lies in the acceptance of the need to become flexible, adaptive, and tolerant. When we fight the ravages of aging, the shifting tides of culture, the continuous influx of the new, life becomes burdensome and stressful. Instead of lamenting the losses, change-ready individuals learn to focus on the experience gained over the years, the rich diversity of building a future based on the cultural tides of the past, and the wealth of knowledge and wisdom gained by continuously adding to previous knowledge.
Living is about growing, learning, giving, serving, and sharing.
So is change. As people move through change, the first and most important response is grace. Resistance to change is normal and should not be feared or fought. People have a right to feel the way they do, and leaders in the church are most helpful when they realize how stressful change can be. Change is best brought about by patience, not persuasion.