Cheese

A 1998 book by Spencer Johnson, entitled “Who Moved My Cheese,” is a whimsical look at how its four characters, two mice and two humans, handle change.  The agency I worked for used the book as a warning for changes it was about to make.  Thus the bit of a bad taste it left in my mouth.  “Here it comes and you’re gonna LIKE it.”

We as a congregation are beginning a search for our cheese in all too many ways.  Our two pastors left to retirement.  We have an excellent interim pastor, but he is that, interim.  A story is told, about us, the congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Michigan, and a previous Minister of Music, a Mr. John Ourensma.  I don’t know for sure if the story is true, but knowing John, and considering this congregation, I believe it to be.  Apparently, John wanted to move the Organ from one side of the chancel to the other.  He was told that he couldn’t do it, because the congregation wouldn’t stand for the change.  Soooo, he moved the organ anyway, one inch each Sunday, until the organ was on the other side.  We don’t have the luxury of spreading out our upcoming changes over that many Sundays.

And, on top of all that, a pandemic has made our attendance numbers dwindle.

Proverbs 3: 5-6:

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Our God will guide us, we must listen.