Thought for Today
Proverbs 16:1 The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Proverbs 19:21 The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established.
Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
2 Corinthians 1:17 Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards, ready to say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" at the same time?
At some point in our lives, the word ‘change’ becomes anathema for many of us. It has more than 4 letters, but it does seem more like a curse word than a blessing. When I was younger, I did not loathe changes or disruptions in my life. My life did not seem to be particularly variable. I went to school 9 months each year and took a 3 month vacation from school. My daily routine 5 days each week was the same. I woke up at the same time; I left for school at the same time; I came home at the same time. Then, as life progressed from elementary to junior high to high school, change reared its ugly head. Outside activities like sports were available. Sports were seasonal, so life varied, sometimes month by month. There were other activities, dancing lessons, music lessons, scout meetings and other variables introduced into the equation of my life, causing disruption and variation in my regular routine.
During those early years of my life, I was able to adapt to all the changes and disruptions in life more easily than I now am able. Truthfully, I was not even aware of those changes as disruptions. In my youth, I was not as fixed into routines as I am now. Certainly, during my first career as an engineer, change was much more a factor in my life than it is today. I worked on defined projects for various clients. Each project had a defined starting point and a defined finishing point. Following the finish, I moved on to another project. Change was not threatening; in fact, at times it was welcomed.
In a very real sense, our lives involve a series of changes. Transitioning from a youth being raised by parents, supported by parents and directed by parents to a self-reliant adult responsible for my own support and direction was a change. Marrying and forming our own family was definitely a change. And, anyone who tells you that having children of your own does not introduce change into your life will also lie to you about believable things.
Eventually, for some of us, life does settle down into a routine. For me, retirement from that first career did mitigate much of the variability in my life. At least until we decided to move 1854 miles from home. Admittedly, being called by God to ministry before my retirement had already injected some change into my life and Greta’s life. Finishing seminary, moving and then being called to serve a congregation injected even more change.
This is all on my mind this morning because a late, greater than anticipated snowfall last night caused a change in our regular Wednesday routine. Wednesday mornings are supposed to consist of our son coming by for coffee on his way to work, midday socially gathering with friends and then a quiet evening together at home. Our son did make it through the icy streets to our snow-covered driveway. However, given the icy driveway and the even icier streets, none of us are comfortable with meeting this afternoon.
Are humans programmed to prefer steady state, regular routines? Or, do we inherently desire variability and change in our lives? Is the proclivity for one or the other variable? Is one state more natural at one age than another? And is our ability to accept change, to adapt to change itself variable based on our age? This morning, I’m sure that I am not sure about any of the answers to those questions. I am sure however, that I will miss being with our friends today. I am even more sure that there is one thing in my life in which there is no change, “Malachi 3:6 For I the LORD do not change.” I agree with James, “1:17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
Stay safe, anchor your life in God, trust God,
Pastor Ray