Change. Transformation. Newness.
Just barely over 15 months ago, stirred by a desire to bring about change, transformation, and newness we kicked off this weblog, “the fishbowl”. What did we hope to accomplish? May we be quite frank and honest? We hoped to change – even if only at a small level – the way that so many congregations increasingly mistreat their pastors and families. We hoped to transform – even if only at a small level – the strained relationships between pastors’ families and laity from one of resistance and enmity to one of togetherness and camaraderie. We hoped to watch newness – even if only at a small level – blossom revealing a rightness that pastors’ families share between themselves and laity. How would we make this happen? We would speak up on behalf of those living the fishbowl life bringing attention to their struggle. We would tell the truth about the frustration, unfairness, and ugliness of life inside the fishbowl. We would be a voice for so many who didn’t feel the freedom to speak on their own behalf.
So, this begs the question: Did we make any difference? To tell you the truth, when we created this blog, we found ourselves in the most tumultuous waters of a fishbowl in all our years of experience in the pastorate. Never before had we felt more closely watched than we felt at that time in our pastorate experience. Never before had we become more acutely aware of the judgment faced by so many pastors and their families, ridicule we had heard of or read about but had never lived until then. To be honest, having had enough we decided to speak out. The truth is, even then we never really felt the freedom necessary to speak openly and honestly about life in the fishbowl – for fear of further scrutiny, criticism, or worse … irrelevance in ministry. What if we got too open and honest? What if we revealed the ugliness we were witnessing between pastors and laity or spoke of the meanness we ourselves had experienced? What might happen? What we’ve found is that there seems to be an epidemic of congregations and pastors working against one another. Instead of finding congregations and pastors whose purpose is to love God and one another, it seems that more and more are working to tear each other down. “the fishbowl” was our attempt to shed light on that sad state and to work at bringing about change, transformation, and newness. Perhaps it accomplished some of that – even if only at a small level.
Something more significant, something greater, something much more lasting has happened during these past 15 months, though. Change. Transformation. Newness. While “the fishbowl” was created with good intentions and high hopes – mixed in with a bit of frustration – we can’t seriously justify continuing with it. It has certainly brought about a worthwhile discussion but we don’t believe it’s one that warrants so much of our attention and energy. God has taken hold of our hearts in a way we never expected – in that way that only He can do – and everything has changed! We’re eager to tell you more about this change, transformation, and newness with our new blog, “kainos” and we hope you’ll join us over there (www.beholdingkainos.blogspot.com).
Today, we sign off “the fishbowl” with a song written and inspired by two preacher’s kids and performed by the group NeedToBreathe called “Washed by the Water”. It also happens to be one of daughter’s favorite songs. Thanks for diving in with us as you have over the past year! We hope for you change…transformation…newness!
kt
Lyrics below video…
Washed By the Water – NeedToBreathe
Daddy was a preacher, She was his wife, Just tryin to make the world a little better,
You know, Shine a light
People started talking, Just to hear their own voice, Those people tried to accuse my father, Said he made the wrong choice
Though it might be painful, You know that time will always tell, Those people have long since gone, My father never failed
Even when the rain falls, Even when the flood starts rising, Even when the storm comes, I am washed by the water
Even if the Earth crumbles under my feet, Even if the ones I love turn around and crucify me, I won’t never ever let you down
I won’t fall
I won’t fall
I won’t fall as long as you’re around me