Life Changes

Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. (James 1:17 CEV)

It was late on an overcast day at the beach. Most folks had left the sand for the day. As our group migrated back toward the pool, I sat there alone with my thoughts. I did not want to leave.

I watched the waves churning as the tide was beginning to come in. I watched the clouds rolling and boiling. I watched as one by one, vacationers came and went. I watched and I thought: "Things always change. I did not want them to change."

That quiet moment on the beach changed into a visit around the pool and packing the chairs and bags into the car. That enjoyable vacation changed into a trip back toward home through traffic and rain. Those relaxing days with family and friends changed into days in the office, bills to pay, decisions to make, and deadlines to meet.

Life is always changing.

Jack Nicklaus has waved good-bye to golfing fans all over the world. New champions will emerge. Robert Redford is looking older and playing the old man role in movies. New heart-throbs are making the blockbusters. Music does not sound like it did in the sixties, nor do the stars dress like they did "in my day." My body does not move effortlessly as it did only a short time ago — at least it seems like a short time ago.

Our children change so quickly we can almost see them growing. They learn new things every day. They are out of diapers, begin walking, and start speaking their mind in what seems to be only a few days.

Jobs change. Tasks that once required hours of manpower as well as years of study and experience can now be accomplished by pushing a button on the computer.

Opportunities change. Where we were once limited in our abilities to travel, to study, and to explore the world, we are now about to see the world and experience history from the convenience of an easy chair in our living room.

People change.

Relationships change.

Marriage relationships change.

We mature.

We age.

We develop new skills.

We acquire and learn new information.

We have mood swings.

We experience success, we have disappointments, and we fail.

Life changes as relentlessly as the tides.

Life is always changing. As life continues to change, Chuck Swindoll's words on "Attitude" continue to echo in my head:

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on my life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past ... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude ... I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our attitudes."

How will I react to the changes I will face today?

How will I react to the changes that I will face during the next seven days? How I will react to the changes I will face within the next 365 days?

I don't know what changes will come. I don't know how I will react the changes that life will bring my way. I do know that life is always changing and how I react is my choice.

Life is always changing. How will you react?