Due to my brain injury, I don’t do well with change. My brain is less pliable and conducive to new information. 

Prior to the summer, the pews were taken out of the sanctuary at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and replaced with chairs.  I like it with a couple of caveats. The choir loft area in the front is still the same with stairs leading up to it.  I’ve always disliked those stairs because it means people with disabilities cannot access that area.  It also means folks with walking challenges have difficulty managing them.

I’m not sure why they didn’t just tear all that out and make the usable space larger.  They have used it a couple of times for a stage, but the set-up of the chairs makes seeing the area problematic. Perhaps they want to utilize the space for concerts and presentations which would make a stage useful. I’m sure they had a reason because GCPC’s leadership is always thoughtful.

The other difficult thing is how vulnerable the new set-up makes me feel.  Instead of everyone facing the front and not looking into people’s faces, the circle like arrangement forces a person to look at the people across the way.  Sometimes it is uncomfortable.

On another subject but related to worship -I’ve chosen to sing in the choir again.  It’s been several years but I think I’m ready to go back. My first rehearsal was this past Wednesday and it felt good singing. The choir sits in the congregation during worship and then comes up to the front and stands on the stairs which are like risers. 

Singing in the choir means a lot of challenges for me which have nothing to do with singing.  I become overstimulated so easily and I worry that a two-hour rehearsal is going to be too much for me. I probably will have to leave the room sometimes and “rest -my-brain.” This means leaving rehearsal for a few minutes and putting in earplugs .Choir is going to push all my vulnerability buttons. I’ll write more about choir as time goes on.   

For the time being, what are some vulnerable places in your life?  I’ve shared a couple and I would like to hear from you.  Put your answers in the comment section or share on Facebook.