Remember this sign? It's one of hundreds Jim Guida created for the benefit of those driving by Bethany. Wonder how many of us church-goers noticed it at the time ...

We sure needed reminding of this important message after last Sunday's worship service, when we gathered for another of our "focus meetings" on Bethany's future. As we discussed management of our church building, in particular, tempers started flaring ... miscommunication reached a height ... and then a few impassioned voices pointed out that we share a common purpose: ministry. And that any decisions about our church should be based on that—first and foremost.

Some of us are already accepting that Bethany's congregation is an aging one, unable to muster sufficient money and volunteers to keep our building going. Others are still trying to figure out ways we can maintain the building on our own. And some are frustrated, or past caring, and have already "checked out" of the church, no longer attending. We miss them and their part of the conversation.

Wherever each of us is on the road to acceptance—for that is the end stage of the grief process—we owe it to each other to listen with respect and try to understand what is really being meant when people open their hearts to us. It's hard to do. But as Christians, we must do our best.

Something to ponder in the week ahead:

"An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." —Proverbs 18:15

—Cathy Betts Sapunor