Pondering Change…

We all know that change is happening all the time, all around us, and also directly to us. We know we can’t stop it. But, how we relate to change is up to us. We can be passive, and just let things happen, go with the flow. We can actively resist change, but it seems to me that we’d just end up in a never ending loop of frustration and even destruction. Or, we can engage in change, shape it, be curious about, and approach it with courage.

Our 7th Principle reminds us of the connectedness and the interdependence of all things. Certainly, this web of life is not static. Change is the connecting force, the energy which fuels life, makes this world a dynamic thing of infinite beauty and possibilities.

The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order. – Alfred North Whitehead

Indeed, order and change need to be in balance. But it seems to me that preserving order tends to be valued over making change, even amongst those who identify as progressive. Think of our own church community and whether or not you advocate for homeostasis or for trying new things. How much are you willing to change and how much do you want things to stay the same? What about in your personal life? How does order serve you? Might change be beneficial in some instances?

Why are we so resistant to change? Do we have a hard time trusting change? Do we so fear losing control that we put our energy into keeping things the same? Do we really think that we can overcome the power of change by trying to resist it?

What if we embraced change as a superpower, instead? What if we approached change with curiosity, opening ourselves up to mystery and wonder and possibility in newness? What if we engaged in what is emerging as it is emerging, relishing its newness? What if we just keep asking… WHAT IF?

Change is a BIG theme to embrace in one month! I look forward to all the ways we can approach it together this month and as we move forward down our path together!