Be the Change You Want

Be the Change You Want

“I sold my car, finally I sold my old car,” I shouted with a sense of achievement as I entered my home that evening. I explained to my son that after several unsuccessful attempts, I had finally sold my car for a reasonable price. To my surprise he reacted very emotionally. He asked me “Why did you sell the car?” I casually replied that the car was old, and I had to dispose it. Then he shocked me with the words “So when you get old, I will sell you too?” It was some time before I recovered and reminded him about the difference between cars and human beings along with an explanation of the situation, which called for a change of the car. It was important to understand his genuine feelings for the old car. Not all of us are willing to let go the old things. A look at our cupboards, lofts, shelves and drawers will reveal the truth. Seldom are we willing to let go the old ways. Change calls us to give up the old, the past and accept the new, the present. We live in a changing world. The world changes, circumstances change and we change too.

Change is difficult for any of us to accept. Malcolm Gladwell in his book The Tipping Point writes “we need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that sometimes big changes follow from small events and that some times these changes can happen very quickly.” Many events in the different stage of our normal life change us. Births, deaths, marriage and sickness are some of them. Sometimes unexpected events that take place in a distant change our lives. Remember the phrase 9/11 or September 11th. The day many say changed the world. The world changes, our circumstances change and we change too.

Change is so much part of us that the call to repentance, the born again experience, the daily renewal of our mind, the process of sanctification are all part of the whole spiritual transformation that are related to change. Our creator calls us to create new ways of living. We know that God’s mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3: 22, 23). We all hope for a new heaven and a new earth and the Lord who sits on the throne says “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21: 1, 5) The creator God wants us to be creative and reflect his image in our lives.

I can change, you can change, we all can change with God’s help so that lives and communities can be transformed through encounter with Jesus Christ. Would you join me in the roller coaster ride of change? As you read this issue of ‘In Focus’ reflect on how you can change and also become a change agent.   John Amalraj

© 2006, INFOCUS, Interserve India

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