"If the pain of your story is not transformed, it will be transmitted"
     
         -Richard Rohr

   Nobody is without a story. As human beings, we are all a part of the tremendous story of God's redemptive plan for mankind, but we are also all owners of our own individual story. With our own story, however, inevitably comes the pain associated with being part of a world marked by sin. When concerned with ecclesial issues, this pain is often made especially apparent in situations where a person is forced by some circumstances to change churches. Although sometimes this pain can be caused by the sadness of leaving a positive situation, often times it can be associated with a painful previous church experience. 
   The book AND directly addresses the need for a careful response in these situations. I can personally attest to the need for healing that is present after a confusing church-switch. After switching, I did not have the energy to invest in a new church, but that was what I was encouraged to do. Though we are called to push one another toward greater devotion, there is also a very real need for sensitivity in many church related situations. 

  Noah