Change

Change is a part of life. I don't know what happened. I used to enjoy change. It was part of that adventure we call life. I couldn't wait to get to high school. I was so excited about getting my license. Getting my first real job was exhilarating. Graduation was freedom. College was a fresh start. Marriage was exciting. The birth of our children was beyond description.

Every new thing was something to be grasped and enjoyed. I couldn't wait to see what would come next. Even as my children began to grow up I anticipated their next steps and embraced them with glee. Becky's first steps were cause for celebration. Sarah's first words were greeted with rejoicing. Rachel's first day of school was beyond description.

Suddenly everything changed. I don't know exactly when it happened. New stopped being fun. Becky graduated and went off to college. Poppa died. A friend moved away. A restaurant closed. Everything that was familiar and comforting began to change little by little. Change no longer was something to be embraced. It felt more like a threat.

The truth is that life goes on. As we get older the changes remind us that nothing lasts forever. Isaiah said it best when he wrote, "The grass withers, the flower fades..." He pointed out the fleeting nature of life. If we live 100 years we will see everything around us fade away. But Isaiah goes on to remind us that one thing never changes. "The grass withers, the flowers fade but the Word of the Lord stands forever." God is the one constant, the one companion that will be with us from the beginning of our lives all the way up to the day we give it up and go home to be him eternally.

The good news is that we can enjoy the people, the places, the opportunities that come our way in life. They are gifts from God. They make our journey that much more enjoyable. Good friends are a blessing. They remind us that God loves us. And when they are not there anymore, it is God himself who steps in to take their place.

So enjoy today. Don't worry about tomorrow. God will be there to greet you either in person or with another blessing.

Cal