My friend Paula and I discuss our opinions about everything.  Today we talked about change.  This naturally led to the question, “Can people change”?  My answer, ABSOLUTELY!  The human capacity for everything; including change is boundless.  Sometimes miraculous.  Our ability to change is an important source of our collective hope.

We are created individually with certain predispositions and gifts.  Our responses to our world, our faith and circumstances all shape who we become.  Becoming is changing.  The constant change inherent in growing up is a process of incidental change.  On the other hand, our adulthood should be a process of intentional change.  Think of it this way, there were roads that led us to here; likewise there are roads that can lead us to there.  You choose the “there”.

People can change.  The question is “Why don’t they?”  I say, we just don’t think of it.  Many of us are in endless pursuit of outward things; all intended to make our lives better.  Under the circumstances, we have little time to reflect on the deeper changes necessary to make our actual selves better.  I’m not belittling the pursuit of things.  I’m just suggesting that continually doing the work to change one’s internal self is far more important and satisfying.

Environment is another reason people don’t change.  They see the concrete of their circumstances and become mired in a kind of hopelessness.  Bleak circumstances often elicit a negative response that discourages positive change.  Change is still possible, but much harder.  For me, the only light that shines brightly in these times, is the light of Jesus.  I have known others who say they have relied on music, books, positive role models, counseling etc to help them.  In other words, when faced with dismal circumstances, drawing on one’s own strength is not always enough.  The best course of action is to reach out to something or someone positive to shore up our own strength.

Habit and tradition also keep us from change.  The thinking goes something like this, “Everyone I know is this way.  I’ll suppress my reservations and continue the way I always have.”   While we are all part of a whole, we have to embrace our separateness.  This means pursuing the change that will make us who God created us to be, not necessarily who our peers expect us to be.

The most precious thing you will ever really own is yourself.  Celebrate who you are, and who you are becoming.  Start your own change process, because whether you like it or not, change is gonna come.  Make sure you are in the driver’s seat!

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