Last week Sunday we were read the letter from the stake president about a special meeting that means ward boundary changes are going to happen. Knowing that this is going to be a major change, much of what was said in church yesterday was about how to go forward with a good attitude and embrace the changes that are inevitable. The gospel is, of course, true no matter what ward we are in or how the boundary lines are drawn. Having change does not change the truthfulness of the message, but it can often be hard to accept the changes, especially when they take us out of our comfort zone or separate us from friends. Our gospel doctrine teacher, who is a former bishop, put it all into words that I really liked. He compared the gospel to a ham and eggs breakfast. Random, I know, but stick with me. To produce a ham and eggs breakfast, the chicken lays an egg and takes off. The pig, however, lays down his life for that ham and eggs breakfast. He then posed a question: are you chicken committed or pig committed? Do we do our small part for the gospel and then take off when the going gets tough or do we give it our all and lay down our lives for the gospel? He then reminded us that if we lay down our lives for the gospel, we will be blessed.
I really like this particular analogy. I think it can be applied to many different aspects of our lives. So when the going gets tough, ask yourself, “Am I chicken committed or pig committed?” And I would surely hope that when it comes right down to it I can proudly say that I am a porker. :-)
As for the results of our major boundary adjustments, the nine wards in our stake were re-organized into twelve wards. Half our ward plus a street or two is still considered the same ward. The other half plus a street or two is a brand new ward. And a small section (our house included) is now part of another existing ward. We still have the same bishop, but our next door neighbors are no longer in our ward. Nathan lost a couple of friends to other wards, but gained a few school friends that he is excited about being in the same ward with. Matthew’s two best little friends from preschool and primary are no longer in our ward, but I’m not really sure he will be affected much. I’m still friends with their mothers and playing with them necessitates arranging a play date anyway so I really don’t think that he will find it much different. Kev and I both find ourselves with many friends gone to other wards but a sprinkling of pals still with us. Poor Daniel is the one who got hit the hardest. Unlike Nathan, he doesn’t make friends easily and I have written more than once about how grateful I am that he has made a couple of really good friends here. Unfortunately, his little trio now finds themselves in three different wards. I cried for him. And then when Kev and I came home and told him, Daniel cried and I cried some more.
I remember how hard it was being in this situation when a similar change happened before we moved out here. While I really struggled for awhile over being separated from friends (I was pregnant with Matthew at the time which did not help my emotional stability), the changes presented new opportunities for many people and I ended up meeting many more wonderful gals (several of whom are probably reading this) who will have places in my heart forever. I hope, for Daniel even more than for myself, that there are friends waiting to be made in this new ward. And I’ll try all the harder to kick Daniel (who is a bit of a homebody) out the door to go find his buddies.
