I do not like it - no, I don't
I cannot like it - no, I won't
I will not like it in the car
I will not like it from afar
I shall not, cannot, will not dare
Change without a single care!
What will happen? Who can know?
With time only will it show!
...that's how I had felt for some time, I have to admit! The Firm I work for and had worked with for the past 20-something years all of a sudden decided to move. And that's just how it seemed ... all of a sudden. "HOW DARE THEM!", I remember even thinking. And then I thought, How dare them??? - how about, How dare me! It was their company! They could do whatever they wanted to do! ....and, in fact, it was a move that was, in all honesty, way long overdue. So, that particular weekend they (WE!) moved! From Downtown (where actually I had worked - up until then - almost my entire working life) to.... to..... how can I put it - TRAFFIC! - I kept thinking! I mean driving Downtown was no picnic but, man! This would be going even further and longer, and I just felt so far away from home. In fact, I never realized until then that so many people lived in this city ... and they ALL apparently thought I was driving too slow no matter that I was going past the speed limit just to avoid being rear-ended by THEM!
Anyway, CHANGE was inevitable. My Firm had already decided to make one - a change that is - so now it was up to me to CHANGE. I could either accept it and go with the flow and try to be happy about it or leave. Two options! I opted to stay and change. My first day coming to the new place (and I have to tell you that it did feel like going to a NEW job ... I was nervous even!) was just fine, in fact. There are about 10 different ways I could have come to this office and the way I choose that particular day went just fine. God had mercy on my soul and the traffic flowed right along. Then I got here! Did you know there were at least - well, there were MANY parking decks around, and I tried to park in them all that morning, and that's where the anxiety began. Once I did get parked, who knew where to go, so I just followed the people - only they weren't my people. I did finally find one of my own and we attempted to find our new office - which we finally did some 20, maybe 30, minutes later. If she had suggested that we turn around and go home, I have to tell you that away I would have gone! But we got here (Victory!), only for me to hear first thing right out of our receptionist's mouth that my boss was looking for me and to call him on his cell phone! [I was really anxious by then - maybe even to the point of tears - thinking I'm only an hour late...what could he want?!!!!!] So I FINALLY find my desk, picked up the phone and called him. He said, "Did you have any trouble getting here?" (Any trouble getting here?!!!) I told him I was having a "moment" at the moment, and I think by the sound of my tone he must have picked up on what I meant, but he bravely proceeded to ask me about the "work" - "Work?", I asked - "are you referring to something specific you left me on this new desk (...which I finally found)????" He actually was referring to the fact that he had unpacked all of my many boxes for me over the weekend and during the move. I could have crawled in a hole, and I knew right then that what needed CHANGING was me, myself and I. It was an attitude thing! My mama always said, "If you don't like it - get out." They didn't force me to come, and actually, I really, really like my job not to mention I am thankful for it. So, since I was going to stay, it was time for a change. Who said "Change is good"? Well, in fact, it can be, but, as I found out, it's all in the attitude, and mine was - had been - horrible on and off again for quite a long time. So, let's talk .....
Acrostic:
C - COURAGE! Yep, it'll definitely take that!
2 Chronicles 15 "But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work." (Hmmmmm - reward, you say?)
Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord."
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me (that's Jesus speaking) you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
H - HOW?....we might ask, do we get this courage to accept it, handle it and go with it?
It's all in the thinking. It's where it starts and how it happens.
Proverbs 23:7a "For as he thinks within himself, so he is." (WOW! Be careful little MIND what you think!)
Romans 12:1-2 "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship, and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body."
A - ATTITUDE! What is mine? Am I "better or bitter"?, as my pastor would say.
Colossians 3:7-10 & 12-15 "And in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him." * "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against any one; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you, and beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."
(See also Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 and 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22.)
N - NEXT? If we know how to handle it, that's what we'll be asking * NEXT?!
Philippians 4:11-13 & 19 "Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." *"And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
G - GREAT GRIEF or GRACE GIVEN? Which will we rely on GRIEF or GRACE?
Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world."
(See also 1 Peter 2:1-3 and 1 Peter 3:8-13.)
E - EASY & EXCITING! That's what it can be!
Start by reading Psalm 103 - it'll speak to your heart and soul!
But, you say, easy? Yes, because if it doesn't seem so easy, this is what needs to be done.
1 Peter 5:6-7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." - .
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." - and with each and every CHANGING day comes CHANGE, but we can know for certain ....
Jeremiah 29:11 " 'For I know the plans that I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.' " (....and don't we just want to know what exactly these plans are anyway?!!) And finally we are told ....
Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward (*there's that word again!) of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."
CHANGE! We will go through many - CHANGES, that is! Life is full of them all the time. And, when they come, we need to be prepared through and with God squarely in charge, through prayer and thanksgiving ("in everything" like it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) and that will produce the attitude we need to persevere (James 1:12). It's a great "adventure", so let's make the trip worthwhile!
CHANGE?
I can handle it - yes, I can
I can like it - yes, I plan
I will try to when it's here
I will try without one tear
"I shall, I can, I will", I say
Change with care from day to day
What will happen? Who can know?
Through God only let it show!
....well, I did make it through that whole first week at my NEW job, and today is Friday several years later with the weekend right around the corner. Now that is one CHANGE I am really looking forward to!
