Some months back I posted about a workshop I attended on congregational transformation.

We were talking today in the Writing Revs about people who resist change in the church, to the point that they threaten to leave the church, and/or they predict a mass exodus from the church, if XYZ takes place.

Setting aside the point that it's never really about XYZ, it's always about ABC, Now Famous Blogger reminded me of a comment made in one of the workshops--if we're really serious about transformation and change, and if we trust that we're going in a faithful direction, we have to accept that some will not want to go along. People will lash out, often motivated be fear, anxiety, or a perceived loss of power. And when they threaten to take their ball and go home, we have to be willing to say, like Westley from the Princess Bride: "As you wish."

The interesting thing about "As you wish" is, it's a euphemism in the movie. When Westley says, "As you wish" to Buttercup, what he really means is, "I love you."

I haven't had occasion to say "As you wish" to someone, but I hope that if and when it comes up, I say it with that subtext. "I love you. I see that you don't want to go where we're going, and I want you to be free to find the place where you feel that you belong." We can't be held hostage by people who are resistant to change. But we can bless them on their journey, if their path must diverge from ours.

Easier. Said. Than. Done.