I’m Not the Same. Can You Blame Me?
Changes can be freeing, and changes can be cruel. I only know that changes be. They are the natural result of the passage of time. In some ways, they are like erosion and akin to deterioration, but, in others, they are more like a correction of errors, sometimes, even an opportunity to start again. Al Green crooned, “I think it’s funny, funny, funny how time slips away.” We don’t have the option of slowing time in the best moments or speeding it through the bad, but we must manage the changes in any event. I am not what I was yesterday and am headed toward tomorrow. It may be bitter, but it may be a brighter day.
Change is good. That bold statement should not be taken to mean that there are not changes for the worse, rather, that change brings the opportunity for growth. The absence of growth is loss and decay, so don’t waste the chance to expand your horizons. In my life, there have been many painful events that, actually, brought profitable change. When all was said and done, the discomfort of dislocation led to a desirable destination. Change is not always easy, but it is always in the making. And, remember, change is not the end. We fear the inevitable loss in change as if nothing else acceptable exists. There is more to life than you know.
There is a universal need for change because no one knows everything or has done everything right. And there’s no reason to respect the status quo. The current state is no more perfect than the former, and the future will have flaws, as well. Everything is peccable. On your way to revolution, however, be careful not to destroy the good in the name of the cause. The motivation of change agents should not be assumed as pure, and even the best among us lacks enviable discretion. Perhaps, you are one who can bring change to things, but, surely, things will change you. You’ll be better for it though you buy it with great pain.
Generally, change is a result of loss. Conversely, it could be seen as a desire for gain. Those are the only two motivators in life. Take these factors from the equation, and we’re all stock-still. We make the changes we have to. In accepting Christ, the old folks used to say, “I made the change.” They were talking about repentance- the change of mind that leads to a change in motivation and the resulting change in lifestyle. Folks don’t just repent because they think it’s a good idea. They do so in response to the dealing of the Holy Spirit and consequences in life. Anyone who found Jesus through trial and conviction also found joy.
It’s not too late to change. Overwhelming loss can lead to a “what’s the use” attitude. I’ve seen people give up when faced with long-odds in the change department. Truthfully, we box ourselves in, accept the current state and fear to step outside the lines. Change, for many, is like a step into the void. Something is there, but we can’t see it, and we’re afraid of the dark. Me, too. It may help to realize that others have been where you are. The fact is, most return to the crossroads time and again. There will be a day when change is no longer needed. That state will not be reached by reformation but by redemption.
Sterl
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