Seasons of Change
Change is on the way. I see signs of it all around me as I go for my morning walks with my husband. The trees show it first, of course, their green leaves morphing to flaming shades of yellow, orange, gold and rust.
The park that overflowed with activity all summer is closed and shuttered for the season. 
Nearly all of the boats have been hauled inland for the winter, leaving the docks deserted. 
The boats look out of place standing forlornly on shore, sheathed in plastic blankets to weather the coming storms. 
Even the beach is braced for what’s coming with snow-fences lined up against the winter snowdrifts.
As beautiful as fall is, there’s something in me that panics a little at all these signs, longing for everything to stay the same. In my book Pilgrimage I wrote:
“Change is such a huge part of life that we should be used to it by now. Instead, we resist. We’re tearful on the first day of kindergarten, fearful on the first day of high school, overwhelmed as we start college. A new job, a new spouse, a new baby—all of these changes are regular parts of a normal life, yet each of these milestones inaugurates enormous changes.” 
Is it part of my human nature to resist, longing for everything to stay the same? I know it can’t. Pilgrimage tells about a season in my life when I experienced too many upheavals. But after traveling to Israel and walking in the footsteps of the heroes of my faith—Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, and Jesus and His disciples—I realized that change is God’s template for our lives, not an anomaly. It’s how we grow in our spiritual walk, and how our faith grows. I returned home from my pilgrimage with these thoughts:
“Change will be good for me, not something to fear. It will strip away my self-sufficiency and self-reliance and force me to lean on God, to pray more, to trust Him, and to walk in faith with the One who invented change.”
The world around me is bracing for change, and I know that I must, too. Maybe God created the vivid changes of fall so we won’t be so surprised when it comes into our own lives but we’ll embrace it with joy, knowing that we serve an unchanging God.
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I love this Lynn. My pastor has said often of late that this brief life is the only time in all eternity that we have the opportunity to walk by faith, not by sight. Change is a huge part of helping us learn how to do this.
I love what your pastor said, Lori. That’s so true–yet so hard to do.
No matter what we may be going through, Joy Cometh In The Morning. I hold fast to that. I too resist change, kicking and screaming all the way. But I’m so glad that we serve a God that never changes!
That’s one of my favorite verses, Gail. I’ve been in some dark valleys, but the joy has always followed. Thanks for the reminder.
This sounds really familiar–though I absolutely love the wide range of colors during this season, I’m also scared of change. I’m in my junior year of college now, studying music therapy, and I’m an intern three days a week. I had to set goals and I’m so nervous about it all–I know I’ll change. Yes, it will probably be so I can become more and more like the woman God intended me to be, but it’s scary. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks so, though… =)
You aren’t alone, Henrike! I haven’t met anyone yet who enjoys unwelcome change. I tell my children that if they are sincerely seeking God’s will for their lives, they can relax, knowing that He’s not going to let them wander in the wrong direction. Of course, he has interesting ways of getting us back on track when we go astray (Jonah & the huge fish, for instance). But He will faithfully lead you.
Thank you. =) I think it all comes down to trusting Him, again and again. I’m so happy He’s willing to help us find Him, though. And like you said–if we’re genuinely trying to listen to Him, it’ll be alright. There’s just still a lot to learn before I’ll be able to do that. It helps reading about your experiences and stories. Thank you. =)
I really enjoyed your post on Seasons of Change. Your pictures were great as well! When I was a child; change was extremely difficult for me; but as an adult, it has been easier for the most part. The exception would be when I lost my husband; but that is somewhat different: that is really more about grief. Thanks for sharing those thoughts with us. I, too, am thankful that we have a God who Never changes!