A true story.
A young pastor of a small christian church in Florida found something peculiar about his first parish. The small wooden church could seat about 150 people with two sections divided by a middle aisle.
The new pastor observed that on Sunday mornings, every church member and/or visitor would sit on the right side of the church. If anyone ventured into the pews on the left side, they would be called over to sit on the right side. For Sunday evening services, it was the opposite. Every member and/or visitor would sit in the pews on the left side of the aisle. No exceptions.
This was the first appointment for the young pastor so he didn’t question it immediately. However, after a few weeks, the young man gathered the courage to ask one of the elders about the unusual seating arrangement.
The elder explained that before the church was air-conditioned, everyone would sit on the right side of the church because that allowed them to escape the sun that would stream into the left side of the church in the mornings. In the evening, they moved to the left side to, again, escape the sun.
“When was the church air-conditioned?” asked the pastor. “Oh, I would guess about twenty years ago,” replied the elder.
This story likely resonates with most of us because 1) it’s ridiculous and 2) it’s true and 3) we might be able to recognize a bit of ourselves in those parishioners.
How long have you done what you've always done even if the reason for doing it doesn’t apply anymore? Are you willing to change? Remember Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity: doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.
Take a moment now to think about your firm’s systems, your marketing strategy and tactics, and your personal life and ask yourself “is it time to move to the other side of the church?”
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