The Blessings of Change

There's a lot about change that is terrifying. New places, new people, new everything. But I've rediscovered that there are also many blessings to be found. New friends, new places, new experiences.

This week I've been reflecting on that aspect of change. I've met some amazing people who it seems are going to become really great friends and I love that. I marvel at how my circle of friends just keeps expanding as I add new ones in and at how each new person adds a new level of richness to my life. I'm happy to be getting a social life again finally!

My change in location has also brought about changes in my lifestyle. Hopefully lasting ones. Something about being a new place has made it easier to make big changes all around. I feel like it's a good and healthy thing and hopefully there's more big change coming.

Tonight, I've been reflecting on one particular change. My church attendance. I went to church in Colorado Springs. But it had been quite awhile since I'd been what you'd call a regular attendee. Not because I didn't believe anymore, but because I was having trouble finding a place that really fit and frankly, I'd tired of the search. But moving to a place made it necessary to start searching again. The huge blessing is that I found a great church really quickly. And not just any church, but one that truly gets it that we're human and fallible and that life is hard instead of one that makes it seem like it's all roses and abundance and good times if we're being "faithful." We just went through a 6 week sermon series about God's Economy. When is the last time you heard a sermon about money issues, much less a whole series of them. And not about how we should give all our money to the church but about how our faith applies to the economy and specifically this current economy that we all find ourselves living in. It was practical and hard-hitting and, well, changing. I am loving it. And it's been a long time since I felt that way about a church.

So, as I was sitting in a Maundy Thursday service this evening, being grateful for all that we celebrate at Easter, I was also immensely grateful for a lot more. And it feels great to be feeling really good about things. There's still a lot of challenge in my life and many things that weigh me down every day, but I'm glad for the small blessings in the midst of all of it.