Previous Reflections
REFLECTIONS
February 19, 2012
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:5
Winds of Change
At least a little happens every day. A hair falls that is not replaced; another one turns gray. Wrinkles form; others deepen. New relationships are made, and others are broken. Fresh opportunities are presented; some are missed.
Buildings that once stood as landmarks lose their place to modern design; business institutions that once seemed invulnerable fail or become absorbed into even stronger ones. And relationships with people are changed by circumstances and the end of life. Winds of change blow through our lives. What once was is swept away and replaced by innovation, fresh looks, and advanced knowledge. Sometimes we like the new; but we still try to cling to what once was. Sometimes we cling too long.
Most of us resist change, yet it is a reality of life. Besides, memorializing the past has its benefits. Relics from times of yore remind us of moments lived, journeys walked, and of how far we have come from eras past. Photographs help us relive beauty seen, lessons learned, love held, and joy felt. But clinging too much to the past is to resist change. Resisting change is to relinquish hope for a better tomorrow. It may also signal a loss of faith.
God does not ask us to cling to the past or even extend the present. That was the lesson Jesus taught in the parable of the talents.
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ (Matthew 25:24-25)
He encourages us to build on what we have and to grow from where we are. He asks us to make discerning choices, but He doesn’t want us to stand still.
Change does not mean that we must accept it with no discernment, or that we must turn loose of cherished memories. Those carry on to relive their joy and to provide their valuable lessons. There are mistakes to learn from and there is joy to replicate. Pain we have suffered heightens awareness of dangers to avoid. Joys we have had inspire us to share them with others. But avoiding change is to deny hope.
The winds of change sweep into our lives with threats to our ways of life, but alongside the winds are beams of hope. And hope does not disappoint.
“You are the light of the world.”
RichardÌ
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