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I think churches should care more about toilet paper and porta potties.

My work career gave me experience on these matters and provided numerous life lessons. I learned managers should be supervised differently, everyone can contribute something, and volunteers perform best when tasks match both desires and abilities.  Similarities to church management, volunteer/service systems, and tithing can be seen, but what’s the deal with toilet paper?

I’m change-averse. Give me routines, patterns, and rituals and I’m a happy girl. Change is uncomfortable and forces shifts, sometimes physical, often mental or emotional, altering my heartbeats. Cause doesn’t matter. Amid its disruptive effects, I’m certain resulting impacts will be undesirable and damaging. Discomfort is palpable as upheaval mutates familiar surroundings and events, bringing turmoil to routine lovers.

My church raised the cross last week. Turns out our building, bedecked in urban palettes of black and grey, didn’t display this symbol of Christ. This building also didn’t feature graphics of people or signs of life. This beautiful, stark structure, designed to appear gritty and edgy, wore welcome like a morgue.

I’m proud to see the newly installed cross reach the heavens yet saddened and embarrassed I hadn’t noticed its absence. Crosses represent forgiveness and faith, suffering and victory, death and life.

The cross makes a tremendous difference on buildings and in lives.