Change means survival. Some who see changes around them that they do not approve of become bitter, angry, disgusted or unhappy. They want "change" to go away. Does this also mean they would prefer to still be riding in a horse and buggy or storing their foods in an icebox? Probably not, but they are just not comfortable with change, even though it happens through a series of progressive events. Change usually doesn't happen overnight.
What we must decide is how we are going to respond to changes. How do we stay positive? Through transformation, which can only be accomplished through the Holy Spirit. We must be reconciled to God. We must accept His love without reservation and be willing to accept and to do His will for us.
Change, or transformation, is a painful, demanding process, and it takes time and perseverance. First, we must be reconciled not only to God (2 Corinthians 5:20) but also to our brothers (Matthew 5:24). Second, we must be willing to change our attitude, following the "advice" found in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). Third, we must count our blessings--all those things that God has given us. God cares so much for us that He knows us, inside and out. (Luke 12:7)
There is a great little book called, Who Moved My Cheese?, written by Spencer Johnson, M.D. The story is about four mice--Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw--and how they respond to change and how their lives were affected by changes (or refusing to change). Someone kept moving their cheese, and they either had to deal with the changes....or die. It's a very quick-read, only 96 pages, and each person who reads the book will find themselves revealed in the attitudes of one of the four mice.
How often have you heard someone say, "We've always done it this way. Why do we need to change?" We, too, are stuck in our traditions. We are unable to "think outside the box" because we are bogged down with our traditionalistic views of how things should be done. We are not able to see the "joy in Jesus" because of the anchor of tradition that is weighing us down. If we are stuck "inside the box", we can't reach out to others. We cannot show them joy when we do not see it (or have it) ourselves.
In today's economy, we will see more and more changes: more and more people either losing their jobs or having their hours reduced. Businesses are trying to find ways to cut costs without cutting quality. Change is inevitable, and it is how we react to those changes that determines how we will survive.
Change: it's all about attitude!
Excerpted from a sermon entitled, "Change or Die", written by this author but never preached.
3 comments:
I've heard of that book but haven't had a chance to read it yet. We've talked about having someone come do a staff development even based on that book, too.
And as far as people being annoyed with change...TELL ME ABOUT IT. I hear this every single day at work. We spend our hours at the office trying to improve the things they've spent their hours in the office complaining about, but instead of them realizing the work we've put into it and the fantastic abilities these changes have offered them, they complain about how nothing's how it used to be and nothing works the same.
DUH!!! You didn't like it the old way, so shouldn't this be an improvement? Sigh...people will always be like that.
Yeah, I agree... and yet, change is difficult for me - I admit it! Like moving to Montana, away from my church family and friends in Pullman. But I was also apprehensive about moving from Boise to Pullman. It's just how it is. We are afraid of what we don't know. But we have what some others don't: The knowledge that God's will is ever-present in our lives and that He is leading us through any change we might encounter. Amen to that!
Oh - I'll have to read that book sometimes. It sounds quite interesting and enlightening.
Amidst all this change, though, isn't it great to know that God and His love are never changing. He is always the same.
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