Installation of new pastor

Transition Poem

June 9, 2013

This poem was written as part of the service of transition from the ministry of Robert Kaufman to that of Ron Holland at Rainbow Mennonite Church

We have come​​ to​​ a​​ day

that is another point in time​​ 

this​​ time of transition from what​​ was​​ 

to what will be.

 

We​​ have come​​ to go round this​​ bend​​ in the​​ road

A road that is the life of this church.

We are paused​​ ​​ 

not yet turned​​ 

and yet

committed to the turning.

 

This is​​ a​​ time when we can see​​ 

both behind​​ and​​ in front​​ of us

our memories​​ linger yet with us

the view ahead is​​ only​​ starting​​ to present its​​ changes.

 

We have made the step into this​​ turning space

into​​ this​​ bend in our path

each one of us​​ from​​ a different view

and​​ with​​ a different memory

but we are paused together

now​​ 

waiting​​ to complete this​​ turning.


And as we​​ begin to​​ round​​ the bend

 ​​ the sun​​ suddenly​​ shifts to a new direction

our​​ own​​ shadows fall

from us

onto new​​ places

 

And​​ the​​ light and​​ shadows fall

​​ onto us

​​ from new sources

we are​​ in​​ a​​ new light.

 

In​​ our​​ rear-view memories, the path​​ behind us

is​​ suddenly​​ unfamiliar. ​​ The past has already become changed

and as we​​ peer​​ into​​ our​​ new horizon, it​​ unfolds itself to​​ us

​​  but not yet focused

and​​ not yet clear.

 

And so,

we are​​ here​​ today turning​​ this corner together

 ​​ each one’s view unique with its​​ own light​​ and​​ its own​​ shadows

in​​ each one​​ a memory

and​​ before​​ each​​ one an​​ horizon

 

Rainbow,

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ come to this​​ bend in the road

Ron,

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ come to this​​ turning point with us.

Focus our horizons.

and​​ walk with us.

We are​​ here​​ 

awaiting the turning.

 

 

.

 

You Might Also Like

No Comments

Leave a Reply