For a Change
Now that we’re all back on Central Standard Time around here, I’ve heard at least a handful of complaints that we should not change the clocks at all… That Daylight Savings Time is bunk! …That there are just as many daylight hours either way, so what’s the difference? Why bother? I might be wrong, but I’m thinking many of these complainers grew up in a farm family where it was an early “rise and shine” every single day for morning chores. Either that or they worked several years in a bakery where they needed to start the bread and jelly doughnuts shortly after the middle of the night.
I’m sure glad I was raised a city slicker! That farm and bakery life sounds like way too much work. Because I wasn’t a farm kid, I’m not a morning person…at least not early morning. My favorite wisecrack on the subject is, “If God wanted me to see the sunrise, He would have put it later in the day.” So I don’t mind Daylight Savings Time one bit. I’ll happily exchange that hour of morning sunshine for an hour in the evening. Thank you very much.
The question is: What kind of change do you like?
What I’m really talking about here is the subject of “change.” Some folks really do not like change and will dig their heels in at the first whiff of change in the air. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The problem is there’s a whole lot of “broken” in our world today. Major wars abroad, while here at home we have mass shootings, extreme political polarization, broken homes and families, persistent racial and social inequity, a tremendous wealth gap, and a dysfunctional criminal justice system…to name a few. The idea of “change,” if it’s in a better direction, sounds very good to me! But first we need to learn how to sit down and have a calm discussion without getting ramped up and calling each other names.
God, our breath of fresh air
If you do not like change, I sure hope you find it comforting that God does not change. The Bible says that in a few places. Here are two.
“I the Lord do not change.” - Malachi 3:6
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. - James 1:17
God’s Presence never changes, goes away, or leaves you…EVER! After all, God’s name is I AM. God’s limitless and unconditional love never changes. God is Love…in ways we can only try to understand. God’s justice never changes. Sooner or later, God will put everything right and straighten everything out. In the final judgment everyone will receive the consequences they deserve. The choice of consequences is your choice and my choice… Because God never changes. God has drawn the “line of obedience/disobedience.” You decide and I decide which side of that line we choose to walk on.
Will you walk in the Land of Reward (Obedience)? Or will you walk into the Land of Punishment (Disobedience)? As you can see, the consequences are very different depending on where you and I choose to walk.
If more people would choose to walk in the Land of Reward, I bet we could begin to fix some of the brokenness in our world and make it a better place. I think it’s worth a try. I hope you do, too!