Transition Averse

For people who like a lot of new stuff, we are surprisingly resistant to change.  As we have discussed for the past few Sundays, we all like having the latest electronic gizmos and we are quick to tire of old furniture or out of date accessories.  A quick walk down the street will take us past store after store with lovely items that could be ours if we just lay down a few dollars.  Very often, we are convinced to do it.  How strange is it then, that we are so “transition averse?”  We just don’t like change.

Last Sunday, we talked about the complaining Israelites.  They were in the wilderness, in the middle of nowhere, and were rather unhappy about the new circumstances in which they found themselves.  Now, I suppose we can’t blame them for having grown accustomed to, say, an adequate supply of food.  But we are probably more like them than we think, only without the crushing hardship.  Adjusting to new circumstances is challenging for any of us.

Still, this is a challenge that we Christians should be ready to meet.  Change is a central part of our faith, even if we don’t say so explicitly.  We speak of growing in our faith, being planted as a seed only to transform and develop into beautiful new life (see Matthew 13:1-9 or 1 Corinthians 3:6-7).  Scripture tells us about becoming a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and Christ making all things new (Revelation 21:5).  Even Resurrection, central to our faith, points to the remarkable change from death to life.

Although we live in a fast changing world – or maybe because we do – we tend to cling to the past.  We try to keep things the way they have always been, the way they are comfortable.  Maybe it is because the challenges of yesterday have already been met and conquered.  It is the future that remains uncertain.

Our fear of change, therefore, has to be met with faith; with a belief that God will be present and will keep us no matter what trials present themselves.  Our part is to keep moving forward, to plant one foot squarely in front of the other on the winding path, and to walk with God into the new.

Blessings,

Rev. Nancy