There is a source for the story I am about to tell but for the life of me I don’t know who the source is, so if it’s a good story it wasn’t mine and if it comes off less than good, blame me.
A new pastor at a church was concerned that it was too traditional. One particular peeve was a piano that seemed to take pride of place in the auditorium. As a signal of the change that he wished to usher in, he wanted to get rid of the piano immediately. Before he did so, though, a wiser person suggested that rather than get rid of it in one fell swoop, it would be better to move it inch by inch, week by week. Sure enough rather than operating on his impulsive nature, the new pastor took the advice. Week by week he would communicate in action and word where the congregation could be in the vision he outlined for the congregation. And week by week he and a group of willing volunteers moved the piano by an inch. By the end of the year more people were on board with the way forward, they agreed to replace the piano with an musical area featuring other instruments.
The way the story is told highlights the usefulness of taking time with change. Not everyone can take it in one go. It’s good to take your time so that people can see where you’re going and either commit to going with you or bless as they move on. Of course it’s not always that smooth and things don’t go that well, but apparently there’s wisdom in that approach.
I was relaying that story to a friend who heard patiently and afterwards nodded sagely stroking her chin thoughtfully before suggesting, “Why not just blow up the piano?” I laughed at the absurdity of the suggestion.
It was an absurd suggestion.
Wasn’t it?
(Photo by Gregory Hayes on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 