Always Something

There is always something isn’t there? Just when we got used to not having to mow every week, now it is time to start raking and mulching leaves every week. Just when we got used to school schedules, now it is time to get used to fall sports, scouts, ballet, or something else.

Your turn! Fill in the blanks: “Just when we got used to ________________________, now it is time to ________________________.” There is always something.

This seems to be a simple reality which is common the world over. The pace might be different depending where you live, but we know there is always “something.” Usually we think our “something” is “something worse.” I remember the comedian Bill Cosby warning his audiences “don’t ever say…it couldn’t get any…worse! That is the guarantee of BOOM…WORSE!” Often times this is how we think of those “something” times.

When my son started selling popcorn for his Cub Scout pack a couple years ago, you can probably guess that my first thought was, “There is always “something” isn’t there?” But I discovered a few things on our afternoon journeys together. Sometimes the “something” is not worse after all. You see, walking the streets of my neighborhood, I got to spend time with my son. I was reminded how blessed I was to have such neat kid.


The other “something” was found when we knocked on the doors. I imagine some of you might have been just ready to take a nap when we knocked on the door and you may have thought, “It's always something.” What we discovered was our neighbors. Neat folks from all over the country and world surround us here in Acworth. Some people have lived here a while, others were new just like us. Sometimes the “something” is not worse after all.

We are surrounded today by changes. There is always “something” around Acworth. Some of our more established communities have well developed infrastructure while others are still in the process of developing it. Having infrastructures, systems, and policies however does not prevent the unexpected from happening. If they did, we would not call them unexpected.

It is kind of like the t-shirt: "Change is good -- You start." Many approaches to handling change are not much more useful than a t-shirt slogan. To date, I have yet to meet anyone who said, “I read a t-shirt today that changed my life!” We live in a beautiful, historic community and “somethings” are always coming up on us.

It is always “something” but that “something” is not always bad. Change is often powered by people. When we say “It's always something” that “something” often has someone behind it. The many “somethings” in our community – traffic issues, school overcrowding, construction delays – all have a human face. A face we can meet. A face we can get to know.

For me, I am starting to think about what I learned selling popcorn with my son. All around us are people. Not just people, but neighbors. These neighbors have a potential to be something even more: friends. We miss so much when we live in our neighborhoods and just nod.

There is also the second thing I learned, you remember, I have neat kids. It is hard to see it ,though, when we do not hang out. These neighbors you and I have are neat people. They come from different places with different experiences. Together, each of us brings a different set of skills and talents.

It would make sense then, we might find in our neighbor and in ourselves, responses and answers to many of these “somethings” we are facing. One writer describes a church like a body and reminds the people, “…the body does not consist of one member but of many.” (1 Corinthians 12:14) It is not real hard to see how this applies to you and me living here around Acworth or where ever you call home. It is not just one but all of us, neighbors, living and working together, taking on each of these “somethings” and turning them into something great for all.




May I Ask: When was the last time you were neighborly (and not with who you know but who you don't know)?

May I Suggest: Go out of your way to do another something for a new someone. I know, I know, it is always something...but try to make this something special for someone.