There used to be a time when everybody went to church. Sunday services were always packed with people, and there was plenty of church stuff to do throughout the week. Then there came a day when everything changed. Things aren’t what they used to be, and like Dorothy Gale, we’re painfully learning that “we’re not in Kansas anymore.” The culture has changed, and many of us don’t know how to be the church in this new time. On the surface, all these changes can be overwhelming. And if we’re not careful, it can become tempting to repeat Eeyore’s phrase, “Why Bother?” under our breath. 

Eeyore is the gray donkey filled with sawdust from the Winnie the Pooh stories. Eeyore has a gloomy outlook and is forever losing his tail. And like many of us, Eeyore resists change. His stance is, why bother going to the effort of finding my tail if it’s only going to come off and get lost again before lunch? Why bother fixing the house when the next gust of wind will likely blow more tiles off the roof and loosen another section of guttering? Why bother putting energy and effort into becoming a better donkey when everyone knows I’m filled with sawdust? Why bother?

We live in a time where it’s tempting to be Eeyore’s and say, “why bother?” about the changes in our community. Just as Eeyore loses his tail, we lose our perspective of God’s mission for the church and world. We are tempted to ask, why bother about changing anything? Perhaps we think, “We’ve tried inviting people to church but didn’t come. Why would this time be any different?” It might be surprising that we’re not the only people struggling with all the changes. Thousands of people in our community are struggling. They have lost their perspective on finding a work/life balance, how to positively influence their relationships with kids and grandkids, neighbors, and community, and how to find help and hope to deal with mental health. 

But what if we focused on God’s mission for the church instead of all the changes happening in the world? What if we rediscovered what it means to participate in God’s mission of bringing hope, healing, and wholeness to a broken world through Jesus? What if the four habits of doing life together (click here) with people help us to rekindle a spirit of gratitude and hope? Without gratitude, we will feel like Eeyore because hope and gratitude are closely connected. Gratitude builds hope.

During November, our attention turns from Eeyore's mentality to Gratitude and Hope. In addition to continuing to practice the
4 habits with your 3 people, please join us as we offer opportunities to show gratitude and hope this month. 

• All-Saints Service  l  November 6  l  11:00 a.m.
• A Night in Bethlehem  l  November 26  l  4:00p.m.
• Service of Hope  l  November 30  l  4:00 p.m.

At the Intersection,

Dr. Quincy D. Brown