“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Thinking about change today has brought several things to mind: changing diapers, changing the sheets on the bed, changing appointments, changing the toilet paper roll….none of these are things I love. I’m not surprised though, because my relationship with change has always been a little challenging, ok, maybe a lot challenging!
I like an even keel, status quo, comfort zone kind of life! The familiar is my safety net. And then out of nowhere, along comes change. It pulls back my net , lets go, and flings me kicking and screaming into the unknown!
Have you ever watched a caterpillar become a butterfly? Every year my Second Graders and I would collect Monarch Caterpillars, put them in a large pickle jar I kept in the classroom, filled it with Milkweed, and then waited. Each day we’d watch for any sign that would signal a change. Then sure enough, a brave caterpillar would climb up the ruler in the jar, attach itself, and hang upside down. I spent many evenings sitting with my lesson plans and papers to grade in front of that jar observing the process. When it’s close to the time for the caterpillar to become a chrysalis, it begins writhing to and fro. It flings itself back and forth just as if it’s kicking and screaming against the unknown! And then, in a blink of an eye it is encased in a green tomb.
I so feel that those caterpillars and I have been kindred spirits. Change has turned my world upside down, too. My mind has twisted and squirmed until I’ve wrapped myself in worry and felt enveloped with fear.
“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly.” (Richard Bach)
I’ve written other blog posts on change and now this one today, it’s becoming clear that God is teaching me something. I don’t know about you but maybe you’re with me and it’s time for us to change how we view change! Yes, it can be painful and it can be scary but instead of seeing it as an ending, I’m learning we need to embrace change as a beginning. Regret creeps in when I think about all I might have missed because I was attached to status quo. You too? What if leaving our comfort zone and being flung into change is what it takes to teach us to fly?
So, to end I’m going to bravely test my wings and begin to transform my thinking about change. “That brings several things to mind:” changing from working to being retired, changing into “MiMi”, changing from old house to new, and changing to become what the Master calls me to be! All of these are things I love! Now that’s a change!!!!
How about you? Will you too, share a few changes you love in the comments below? I can’t wait to see you soar!!!
Change used to frighten me, but now exhilarates me. However, the old me is still there on occasion. At those moments when I’m feeling weak (overly hungry, tired, rushed). When I get my focus off my surroundings and back on Christ, I realize there is a waaayyyy bigger picture happening. God IS the Master and He is making His masterpiece. When we catch a glimpse of that, it changes everything – especially us! It makes me think of the song by Sanctus Real, called, “Whatever You’re Doing.” Here are the lyrics to the chorus. May it bless all who read these words!
“Whatever you’re doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there’s peace
It’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see
but I’m giving in to something heavenly”
Oh Carol, you give me hope! I am definitely more accepting of change than I once was but not to exhilarated yet……I will try to always look for the Masterpiece! Thank you so much for taking your time to comment. And I love that song too! I will have to go listen to it now! God Bless!
Changes, I have so many thoughts in my head right now. So many great opportunities I have had, and continue to get. More changes to come, I feel sure.
Change is a big one for me too, but I have a lot of changes that I love: The transition into Spring when you start to hear the peep frogs in the evening, that mixed feeling of having to pull the covers a little tighter around me on the cooler nights in the Fall, and going to a new place because there’s always a couple people and moments you don’t forget. I also love each time that I become an Aunt all over again, the excitement each school year brings for my niece & nephew and the opportunity to help them grow. Also, I hate switching jobs but I love when I eventually feel like I’ve succeeded after all my doubts. Lastly, learning how to make it through each day just making it the best that I can. Life has thrown some huge changes my way, God has shown me that when I thought life was certain, it certainly was not! I tell all my friends to please never ever think that something can’t or wouldn’t happen to them, it can all be gone in a moment. Life is full of little changes and also those “knock you off your feet changes”, but even amidst my grieving, deep inside I know that it is still precious and beautiful all the while!
You are awfully wise, young lady! You are very right and I have found in my life that those knock you off your feet changes cause you to grow the most and that somewhere down the road you’ll use those to help someone else. I love your good changes and I am so proud of you!
Changes I love…from a tiny seed to a juicy ripe tomato; from the hot,stickiness of summer to the cool, crispness of fall; from blank sheets of paper to the beginning pages of a book; from a pile of scrap material to a cozy quilt; and…of course…from a drop of water to a beautiful snowflake!
Those are wonderful changes….you’re flying high! Thank you for sharing them with me!
I continue to pray, asking the Lord to work within my ❤️️ & make the kind of change within me, that I might be a better servent for him. A spiritual change can b quite challenging as not everyone will b as comfortable around you.
Oh, me too Lisa! And it is challenging (thus my kicking and screaming) but the Lord’s plan for us is perfect and He’s with us even when others aren’t . Thank you so much for taking your time to comment. It means a lot to me!