Change

     Birth is a shock to the system -for both the mother, the infant, and even the father. There is physical pain and effort in the delivery for the mother. The infant goes from being all cozy and protected to bright lights, loud noises, cold air, and coping with everything involved in being alive on his own. The father and the mother both will be struggling for years to get to know this new human in their life and how to guide, care for, and eventually let go of him/her.
     Puberty is a challenge, too. No child is prepared for the shock of hormones running through their mind and body causing feelings they haven't felt before. There is a struggle to understand a new body. Familiar objects and activities no longer bring the comfort they might have when a young child. There are pleasant aspects, but there are rules and limits and consequences yet to fully grasp.
     Menopause brings freedom from menstruation and the concern of possible pregnancy. However, it also brings hot flashes and other discomforts. Mature age, in general, brings all sort of unexpected problems. Arthritis, prostate difficulties, loss of hearing and vision, and more- all causing anyone to wonder when to see a medical professional and when to just deal with an aging body.
     Moving to a new place involves hassles with sorting, packing, lifting, choosing, deciding, risking, and wondering how to dispose of things. Then there's the losing familiar people and places and getting acquainted with new ones. The same thing happens with a new job, too.
     All these things are examples of major changes that occur in our lives. There are lots more, of course. Changes are just plain hard. Changes can cause anxiety, sleeplessness therefore exhaustion, conflict in relationships, and countless problems. However, change can also bring advantages. I have never regretted bearing children despite the pain and turmoil. They bring great joy into my life. All the changes naturally occurring in the body can bring good experiences as well as uncomfortable ones. New places and jobs can be exciting and enriching. Although we won't see the familiar faces so often, there are marvelous ways available to communicate as well as transportation to make visits.
     Repentance is change. "Repentance is not optional for salvation; it is a commandment of God." How many times has anyone heard or said something like, "Why can't you just accept or love me or let me be the way I am?" There is always a concern for judging or criticizing. Staying the way we naturally are is certainly the easiest. Nobody can really be a legitimate judge of what we need to change in ourselves but God and our own conscience. Nobody else knows what we have already accomplished in growth toward perfection. Nobody else knows how hard change is for us. But change we must. It's not an option.