I look out at the ocean in its infinite state and think of how life, situations, and people change over time, but the ocean remains the same. It reminds me of the verse from Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” There is great comfort in knowing that our God never changes even when we do.
It’s funny how we take time, family, friends, and little things for granted. For instance, the lame jokes that you told with friends that solicited laughter ten years ago no longer have the same reaction anymore. Bantering back and forth has become more of an annoyance, and the little idiosyncrasies that were just a part of one’s personality have now become a dominant character flaw. Rituals that were once overlooked have become a very noticeable part of life, and what was once not detectable has become an irritant. Even some people have become irritants. What does all of this mean?
It means that as life changes, so does time, family, and friends. Perhaps after being socially distant, some of us find being alone easier than being among people. Maybe some have found other friends and family members who fill empty spaces, or it just could be that interests have changed causing a distancing in relationships. In some cases, situations dictate a change in lifestyle, behavior, and perspective. These are seasons that necessitate change. Ecclesaistes 3:1-8 states,
“For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
Change does not always come easily or gently. Sometimes it just comes, catching us off-guard, unprepared, and unwelcoming. At times change brings unexpected surprises and happiness, and then there are other times when change brings turmoil and disruptions, but we have to understand that change is a necessity in an otherwise stagnant state of being. We have to be diligent and purposeful in the way that we handle or embrace change. We know that we can’t go back in time to when things were different; we can’t change circumstances, and we definitely can’t change people. We can change ourselves!
Pause and take a look at the “you” today versus the “you” of 10-15 years ago. How have you changed? Have you slowed down a bit, reevaluated your life perspective, developed new interests, connected with new friends, become a creature of habit, or exhibited a little less patience and tolerance? What has become more important to you? We notice the change in those around us, but have we stopped to look at the change within ourselves?
When I look at the “me” of 15 years ago, I found myself a little more carefree and a little less concerned about the future. Life was at a high and fairly easy. Now I am a little more serious and reflective about the next phase of life, and more than anything, I value my privacy and alone time. This year I find myself listening to the ocean’s rhythmic waves differently. I sit and absorb the beauty of God’s work and appreciate the opportunity to sit and be still, for here I find comfort in nature. Tuning out the sounds of conversations, screaming children, and traffic, I meditate on one of my favorite verses of scripture from Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” This is my place of rest and peace, and I give thanks that God does not change in the ways that we do. I know that I can’t control the change in time, circumstances, and people, but I can accept that change is a necessary plan with a process and purpose for growth.
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