Some Things Change

Some things never change.

My mom’s stomach always growls in church. It always has; probably always will. It’s not that she doesn’t eat breakfast —she does, and usually a big one. (Once I took her to a Chiefs game, and after she’d detailed the linebacker-sized breakfast she’d eaten that morning, I had to ask if she realized that we were just going to watch the game; not actually play in it.)

She has a fast metabolism, and that, in addition to her daily five-mile power walks, results in her always being hungry. About the time we’re finishing communion, the growl kicks in. As a teenager, I was horribly embarrassed and certain the entire congregation could hear the rumblings from mom’s tummy. Going to church while home from college, I remember laughing out loud upon hearing the familiar growl, realizing I’d actually missed that moment with mom each week. Today we exchange amused looks and try not to giggle too loudly. Once in a while I lean over and write “some things never change” on her bulletin, and she rolls her eyes at me.

And while some things never change, others do, and significantly. The child in the pew today is not my little brother but my daughter, Caroline. The world around us is different—we’ve lost loved ones; gained new family members through marriage, birth and adoption…some of us have retired, some have begun careers; age has weathered our appearances. Now, we’re worshipping here in Kansas City and not in small-town Macon, MO, where my mom spent nearly 40 years of her life. And yet, the message from the church is still the same: God loves and welcomes everyone; love your neighbor; help those in need.

By the time you read this, I will have been employed at Country Club Christian Church for just more than a year. In that time, many things have changed. You may not have noticed them all, but from where I sit, we are steadily making improvements in our ability to communicate with you and share our story with the community outside our walls. And while we may be doing things a bit differently, the goal is still the same. The church’s message—that grace extends to all of God’s children—sustains in all we do.

Change can be hard, but when it helps us spread the good news of God’s love to those hungry for hope and peace, it is important and necessary. I look forward to continuing to grow and change in pursuit of this grace-full goal.

-Lara

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