Things Come and Go

This weekend, my nieces and I saw Toy Story 3, the final installment in the trilogy that chronicles the adventures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear.  I thoroughly enjoyed the film and found myself laughing much of the time.  During the final fifteen minutes, however, my mood became much more subdued and I found myself crying because of the many changes I had observed in the lives of these treasured characters.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few months, you are probably aware of the basic premise of Toy Story 3.  Several years have passed and Andy has grown up; the movie details the events that occur as Andy prepares to leave for college.  Without giving away any major details, the film reaches its conclusion as Andy pulls away from the curb to begin the next chapter of his life.  Ask virtually any adult who has seen the movie and they will tell you that my tearful reaction is par for the course for many movie-goers.

As I processed the movie throughout the weekend, I began to think about the inevitability of change.  Try as we might to keep things as they are, it never works.  Circumstances change, things change, relationships change, attitudes change, and we change.  In a world that is so full of change, why do we struggle against it so much?  I guess the real question is why do we fear change?

Change is uncomfortable.  Many times, it is painful.  We have lived in the status quo for some time and have become familiar with it; we can predict how things are going to progress.  As soon as change arrives, our world is set on a topsy-turvy spiral and we do not know where or when we are going to land.  Quite simply, change engages our fear of the unknown.

Change results in reflection.  As circumstances change, we are forced to examine the previous situation without the aid of our rose-colored glasses.  Once we review the past in the clear light of truthfulness and personal honesty, we may begin to encounter some things that we don't like; these revelations may be personal in nature -- and sometimes not very complimentary.  No one likes to look in the mirror when forced to look at themselves honestly.  Change thrusts the mirror in front of our face, forcing us to address what we find there.

It may seem as though I am only considering change to be a negative occurrence.  In the early stages of the change, that is the common response.  As we become more comfortable with the new situation, our attitude towards change also becomes more agreeable.

Change brings opportunity for improvement.  Consider how things work in the technological world.  When a new version of an electronic gadget appears on the market, people swarm to get their hands on the latest item.  Why?  Because the designers have examined their item, identified aspects that need to be improved, and implemented the changes.  The same thing is true in the changes that occur in our personal lives.  When change comes, it is an opportunity to look at prior situations and begin again with a new start.  I have the option to change how I will approach a similar circumstance in the future and make the choice to improve what I have control over.

Change brings freshness.  In order for a tree to live, it must go through seasons of change.  Leaves become vibrant and beautiful, only to fall to the ground in a lifeless mass.  What appears to be destruction on the exterior is actually preparation for a new season of life that will come in the spring as the tree explodes with new blossoms.  As much as it saddens our hearts, our lives are also seasonal.  To remain vibrantly alive, we must experience change in many areas.  It may come as a career change, the loss of a friend or family member, relocation, or the birth of a child.  Whatever the change, it is essential that we not see it as merely the ending of a chapter of our life, but rather as an opportunity for a new, more exciting chapter to begin.  This view does not diminish the value of the past experiences; rather, it augments our appreciation of the past as we realize that those situations prepared us for the great things that are to come.

How are we to effectively deal with the challenging changes that we face on a regular basis?  Many highly-intelligent people have spent their lives pondering that basic question of humanity.  I'm not a philosopher by any means, but I can tell you how I handle life's changes;  I rely on the fact that somethings never change.  Hebrews 13:8 provides the basis for this life-altering belief:  "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."  In the midst of all life's crazy changes, I rest in the knowledge that my Savior is my stable Rock and Foundation that will NEVER change.  Now THAT'S something I can depend on in ALL situations.