Change

I  saw Change coming and I ran so fast the other way that I didn’t even notice what she was wearing. It was pretty clear from that familiar feeling of upset that she was heading for me. I never mistaken her for someone else. I fear her because I like things the way they are, comfortable and predictable. She doesn’t have a lot of friends, but she can get some immensely powerful things done. When I decide to embrace her, it’s never as bad as I expect.

 Change is capable of brilliant innovation as life goes from “black and white” to “living color”. She is masterful at reuse, recycle and renew challenges, always creating something from nothing. She once decorated her entire bedroom with old water bottles, using them in the most unique way. She loved the conversion, but a year later decided to put things back the way they were. She is always trying something new and for her, that works, it brings out her creative side, but she doesn’t feel it’s necessary to keep even the things she changes the way they are.  

 Some people fear her prowess so much, they wave banners with slogans such as “it won’t work,” or “it isn’t supposed to be that way”.  Change came to my neighbor when his wife died. He hated Change so much that in his bitterness he threw her out the door, slamming it so tightly that no one else has ever been able to enter. He lives alone now, no one coming to call for tea or stopping by to see how he is doing. Change was not really to blame, but to him it seemed she was the cause of all his troubles.

If she visits you, especially if unexpected, try to sit calmly and let her propose her ideas. She might be able to take you to happier places, even if the road to your final destination is bumpy.

  

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
 
***This familiar prayer was written by Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.  The shorter version has been circulated widely as the sobriety prayer for AA.  I love the original…