Change

Journal for Christa—

John Knowles in A Separate Peace turns a common quotation on end: “The more things remain the same, the more they change after all.” It amazes me how life changes—slowly over the course of a year (or several), in a month, a week, a moment— Such was this week for me—and many others.

Sometimes we can sense change in the air, sometimes not. Sometimes the anticipation of change comes with a paradoxical sense of excitement and fear—or just one or the other. I’ve experienced all three this week.

Then, ironically, or perhaps Providentially, Mark’s Sunday sermon centered much on change. These are a few points that seemed pertinent:

“God doesn’t always move in pleasant ways.”

“We aren’t the victims of circumstances.”

“We don’t move into apathy, but into new areas of ministry.”

“The one place to find help is Jesus.”

Some weeks I could swear that man has looked into the crystal ball of my life.

And what of that? If allowed to gaze into my future, would I look? No, I really don’t think I would. Though there would be joys to anticipate, they would be overshadowed by the pain to dread.

John Knowles was right: “The more things remain the same, the more they change.” Yet, it’s still just as true that “the more things change, the more they remain the same.” So either way, today I choose to look toward the One who does not change—ever.