Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day of a new week, and when I met with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith early this morning, we had a long talk about change. Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t like change…at least not the kind that unsettles life as I know it…and I avoid it whenever possible. The change of the seasons is underway in Virginia, and Winter is almost here. It won’t be long before all my days will be spent inside with the God of all Creation instead of outside on the front porch. I will miss being outside just like I always do, but this change is temporary, so I’ll adapt to the change. The warm sun will soon be replaced with a warm fire, and I’ll do all that I can do to make the season that I like the least as pleasurable as I possibly can until I can find my way back onto the front porch again. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be in life?
It would be so easy to whine about change that I don’t like, but I know that my joy comes by adapting to my circumstances instead of fighting against them. Life happens to all of us, and change is imminent, and yet some people squander the best days of their lives living in the past and whining about the changes instead of embracing the present. They’ll recount painful stories over and over and over again as if there is some justice in not letting them go, and they’ll surrender the joy that is possible for them TODAY by refusing to accept the changes. Relationships come, and they go. People live, and they die. Children grow up, and they leave the nest. Money comes in, and it goes out, and sometimes there isn’t enough. Sometimes we’re healthy, and sometimes we’re not, and sometimes we have to face our mortality. Sometimes there is peace and sometimes turmoil. Sometimes we have reasons to laugh, and sometimes we have reasons to cry. All of these things are part of life for all of us, and no amount of wringing our hands or whining will change the course of life. But it sure will put the icing on the misery cake and prolong the agony when we refuse to accept what God has for us through it all. It’s not about us.
Some people suggest that they’ve learned to be content, but they’ve actually lost their luster for life instead. It’s not necessarily that they’re content as much as it is that they’ve quit trying, they’ve quit hoping, they’ve quit dreaming, and they’ve given up on the joy that is possible in this life. Things may change around them, but they’ll sit in their recliner with the remote in hand and never make a move to adapt to the changes. Their lives may lack a little drama, but they are lifeless overall. Nothing inspires them to chase after life anymore, and nothing prompts them to move beyond their own small world for fear that life might expect something from them in return. Day in and day out, they appear to be content as long as nothing big or bad happened that day…but that’s not living at all. It’s embracing the good changes and adapting through the not-so-good changes that define life and that grow our Faith. It’s not about us.
There is a familiar prayer that is a good reminder for all when it comes to change:
God, grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change
The COURAGE to change the things I can
And the WISDOM to know the difference.
I’m doing my best to adapt to the changes in my life, and I’m looking for the Joy that is promised to “cometh in the morning”. I’m living my Life with Purpose, and I’m serving my King like never before. I’ll never really be content on this side of Heaven, and I won’t quit living out the Plans He has for me while I’m here. I refuse to die before I’m dead, and I’m Living each day holding onto the Promise of those glorious days to come!
How about you?
