June 20, 2020
If anything in life is certain is that the longer you live the more change you will see and experience. Change is something that is a given with life, in other words it is a package deal. You can’t have one without the other. I get tickled and sometimes perplexed at the reactions that we hold towards change. I have learned that this topic can quickly become polarized.
Not too long ago I was sitting across from a couple that had a decision to make. One choice would create a significant change for the family, while the other would have them do more of the same. This was one of those life moments in which a decision had to be made, and this couple was holding firm to their individual and opposite of each other's decision. They had reached a stalemate, neither was open to their spouse's decision. I asked them a question: “What are your thoughts on change”.
“Change is freeing, it is exciting”! - Wife
“Change scares me...it means things are going to be different” - Husband
This difference of perspective on change was not helping them. One member of this relationship approached this decision with a sense of eagerness, while the other was approaching it with caution and concern. I’m sure you can see how these two opposing views clashed.
Which camp do you think you most often side with?
Camp A: Change is AMAZING, we should always be open to it!
Camp B: Change is HORRIBLE, we should stay the same!
What if we viewed change differently? What if we did not place change into a position of being right or wrong, and viewed it as an essential part of life? We could create a third camp:
Camp C: Change, it is what it is.
Change happens. Could you imagine if it didn’t? For one you wouldn’t be reading this, because technology is ever changing, and we don’t seem to mind that too much.
Clothes would stay the same and never change. We could be wearing bell bottoms and platform shoes!
We would never leave our parent’s homes because that would require change.
We would never have our spouses, children, pets, homes, etc.
What about the laws? They change as well
The constitution? That changes with amendments
What about the expectations of society and cultural norms? At what point in time would we be “stuck”?
Change is inevitable, and I am happy for it. That does not mean that I am eager for all change, or that I view that all change is good. I do have trust. Trust in my fellow man, trust in the Lord, and trust in society that even when change occurs, in time that too will change. Life is a lot like a pendulum, it swings equally to the left and equally to the right. It creates a sense of balance, and that is the goal of change….to try and create a balance.
In 1963 Bob Dylan recorded a song that captures our reaction to change. If you aren’t familiar with the song Blowin' in the Wind click here: https://youtu.be/vWwgrjjIMXA
Join me in Camp C, we know that change is inevitable, we know that change will always be present in life. We don’t label things as being right or wrong, or at least try not to. We view change as an opportunity for things to get better with life. After all, isn't that one of the things that life is about? Helping each other, our fellow man (and woman), obtain a better life?