The Constant
It has been said that the only constant is change. That statement in itself seems wrong to many. Consistency can never come from change, but it is a truth that we cannot deny nor ignore. If change is inevitable, then why do we respond so harshly to it? Could it be that we do not have an aversion to change, but to change that is out of our control? Maybe it is change we are forced to accept or that seems counter to what we deem is right?
Transformation
Ever watched a caterpillar go into chrysalis, and weeks later emerge a beautiful butterfly? Most refer to it as transformation, but change at its core is exactly that, transformation. I once heard someone say that time is the calibration of change, which I thought was an awesome statement. Think about the sun setting on the horizon as light fades to darkness, and the glory of the heavens shine forth. The rising again of the same sun, basking the earth in it’s glorious light.
The seasons bring flowers and rain then heat and fun. Fall brings the bountiful color of creation shedding its foliage and preparing for the cold of winter. Once again bearing new blooms and growth when spring rolls around again. All examples of transformation set in place by our creator, managed by the calibrating characteristics of time.
Transformation Aversion
If you have lived on this earth any time at all, you know that change is a painful part of life, whether we are talking about our kids growing up and moving off on their own, or parents and loved ones passing on to the next phase of life, it is all change, and our response is that we want it to STOP!
Here is a truth, life and growth cannot spring forth, unless something first dies. The dawn cannot occur without a night. The beautiful display of spring will not show up without the bone chilling cold of winter. We cannot grow and mature without the painful learnings of life!
Transformation vs Evolution
As I sit here writing this post, I feel it necessary to touch on the burning question of the day. In our culture today there are many who would point to the gender reclassification and the wokeness movement as being simply a part of the evolution of society, and thus a part of the “constant” that is change. We must remind ourselves that we were created with a free will and with that free will comes a challenge to the truth, and what God, society, or man calls normal. We must remember that we too challenged what was normal and what society called truth as we were growing in maturity.
In my line of work, a key component to success is the understanding of what truth or the normal environment looks like. We have tools that can help us understand what is driving changes that are part of the normal process and changes that are what we call special cause. Something that drove change in the data that is outside the norm. Sure, you have variation even in the normal, but you have the knowledge and understanding to discern when the change is “special cause”.
Understanding
The understanding of “truth” is so important in being able to identify when special cause variation is occurring, and whether it is something we need to address. If you don’t have a good understanding of truth and what the creator deems normal, you will never be able to recognize the abnormal. All that said, the above-mentioned conditions in our culture today are real change in our society. The questions you and I have to answer are, how does each condition align with truth and how do I react or address it in my own life? What is the appropriate response?
If truth is that God loves humanity, and has called us to love one another regardless of race, creed or belief, then what is the proper response? Ignoring it is not an option, nor is developing hatred or violence toward those enveloped in the conditions.
The focus of this post is change and our response to it. It is not to get into discussions around either the gender reclassification or the wokeness movement. I will only state that my belief in the fundamental truth of scripture and my understanding of our “self” or “me” focus. I will refrain from judgement, but will state that my stance on these or any topics is, and will always be defined through the lens of the truth of scripture and the natural laws created by God.
My Calling
I am a change agent and continuous improvement professional. My job is to help people see the importance of change, and the need for transformation. I have found that it applies to us individually and to organizations, and humanity as a whole. We are constantly transforming, our world and surroundings are constantly transforming, this is a truth that we have to understand.
In the scriptures we have many examples of God’s transformative power, from creation to redemption, and the new age to come. It is all about transformation and if I am doing it right, the end of my transformation, (death), I will resemble Jesus much more closely than the former shell of man I was.
Summary
I have lived fifty seven years on this earth and there has not been a day that I have not lived through some sort of change, and there will never be a day that I nor you will either. I/we can’t control change, but what we can control is how we respond to it.
For those of us that are followers of Christ, we are constantly undergoing change. We are challenged to renew our minds, to trust in His having us and our circumstances. He even calls us to remember not the former things of old, because He is doing something new! (Isaiah 43:18)
He is making us into His image and when we come out the other side of it, we will be better than we were before. It will likely involve pain, and we probably will not like it. But’ oh the joy and stress release of understanding that change is in the design. He planned it that way, and as Romans 8:28 says, He is working all things for our good.
Remember all of life is ministry!
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