Change

Ringing through the ages is a truth that cannot be denied: change is a given and time marches forward deafly, our cries to stop it, futile. Movements and directions shifting sounds like gentle wind chimes on a summer’s evening to some. To others, transition brings the imminent terror of a tornado alarm. The clock steadily and slowly ticks as life moves forward. The familiar rhythm of the mundane is deceiving. Time somehow moves with precision and yet takes us off guard with its speed. Time’s march resounds with sounds that come and dance into the new and sounds meant to be left in the old. 

It is a marvel to me that as naturally as the winter gives way to spring is as unnaturally as we as humans step into the next rhythm of life. Creation spoken into existence and humanity formed by God’s hand both bear the Creator’s signature. Yet, creation lives and dies and does not fight. Humans tend to struggle, worry, and anticipate the next with dread. Instead of remembering with joy the things that have past, we cling to them and in turn, do not nourish but instead suffocate the new thing. As we try to revive the things of the past that were meant to stay in the past, we allow the new to die, choosing to focus on the winter in what is meant to be a spring. And we hate change instead of hating our lack of trust and our inability to be mobile in the ushering in of seasonal crushing, glorious coloring, planting, dying, and renewing in our lives. 

C.S. Lewis said that “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” What seems familiar is comfortable. The unfamiliar requires faith. As uncertain as we may feel we can cling to the promise that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17, ESV).

God’s perfect nature is the only thing we can count on never changing. So let the winds blow, let the seed be buried and die, let the new life spring up, and let time march its march. The brilliant composer, the master choreographer, the resplendent artist, the One who made it all stands firm, unchanging in the change, resolute in goodness and faithfulness.