I took off
the Tennessee plates and popped on the Ohio plates. No big deal. Well, maybe a
medium sized deal. I have trouble putting Ohio plates on my car and I have been
trying to figure out why.
For example:
“What is the number one pickup line in Indiana?” “Nice tooth.” My favorite
Ohio/Kentucky joke is: “Did you hear that a Kentucky pickup truck went off the
bridge over the Ohio River connecting Ohio and Kentucky? Four out of six of the
truck’s passengers drown. They were riding in the back and couldn’t get the
tailgate down in time.” So, it wasn’t that I didn’t like Ohio; it was just that
I had spent my younger life making fun of Ohio. So I didn’t want to drive a car that
advertized the fact that I was an Ohio resident.
I had pretty
much gotten over that problem, having lived in Ohio for over 20 years. But then
I moved to Tennessee, bought a new car and tagged it with Tennessee plates. I
ended up living in Memphis, Tennessee, for almost 3 years. And I loved living
in Memphis. I enjoyed the culture of a southern city with much musical and good
food history. Talented musicians were everywhere so I was able to hear lots of
great music. The worship teams at the church I served (Lindenwood Christian
Church) in Midtown Memphis were amazing – both traditional and contemporary.
And then there about a zillion awesome restaurants available for meals. I was
in heaven.
But the main
reason I didn’t want to change plates was because to do so would be the last
physical thing I would to sever ties with Tennessee and my friends. I knew we
would always be friends; but it would also never be the same again. The folks
at the church were some of the best ever. Intelligent, fun, kind and
interesting; they were just great to be with. For example:
Morgan
Parks: my associate minster, tour guide, lunch companion, provider of a family
on loan and my best friend.
Cindy and
Carol: support staff, constant source of entertainment, fun to be with, my best
source of information, providers of wonderful smiles.
Phil, David,
Chris and Courtney: Ministerial/program staff, good people, fun to hang with, psychotic
IN A REALLY GOOD WAY, made for great and laugh filled staff meetings, and were hard
working and loyal.
And then
there are church members too many to mention. When Bob and I met we instantly
bonded because we each spotted a kindred spirit. Harold and Sarah we the best
friends and neighbors a guy could hope for. I had three of the most wonderful
Board Chairs while I was at Lindenwood; smart, hardworking and very intelligent.
Harold and Joe are retired ministers in the congregation and two amazing guys
who were always there for me. Connie is hilarious and tended to think like me,
which I found interesting and a little disconcerting. Anna, the chair of the
Elders, who became a true spiritual sister. There were many who allowed me into
their homes and their families: Cyndy and Harold, Morgan and the girls, John, Jeri
and Megan, Bill and Ann Morris and others. And dozens of just wonderful
friends: Karlyn and Nancy, Teresa, Joe, Kevin (He’s another whole blog J) and Beth, Ryan, Davey, Carolyn, Gene,
Jonas, Ken, Charlie, Clay, Wayne, Herb and Beth, Carter, Sally, Chuck, Terry,
Mike, Michelle, Brian and Emily and Lela and Steve and more.
What a
wonderful group of people.
And they are why
it was difficult to change my car tags.
Bill McConnell is the Interim Minister
at Norwood Christian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a Church Transformation
consultant and a Christian Leadership Coach. He is a frequent speaker at Church
Transformation events. His latest book on church transformation is DEVELOPING A
SIGNIFICANT CHURCH and is available at Westbow Press.
He can be contacted @ bill45053@gmail.com. Connect
with him on Facebook @ William T. McConnell or on
Twitter @billmc45053 or visit his Amazon Author Page @ Amazon
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