I first apologize for my lapse in writing, but my life is undergoing changes. Since moving back to Baylor, I have been in meetings from sun up to well after sun down. And since I am so pressed for time, I feel no desire or need to soften what I’m about to say.
People hate change
Sure Presidents have used campaigns promoting change. Sure every commercial we watch promotes the “need” for us to change. And sure our society is the epitome of cultural evolution (the process of change). However, how many of us ever truly welcome change? How many of us have ever resisted a new school year? How many of us have thrown temper tantrums on the floor when our parents told us we were moving? How many of us cringe at the idea of breaking our status quo?
I so “daringly” make this assertion based off of a good friend of mine. You see one of my closest friends at Baylor has a mullet. I don’t mean just any old redneck, stringy mullet. I mean a mullet that has more flow than a jet stream. I mean a mullet so wild jungle animals are scared of it. I mean a mullet so trendy and new that every hipster is overridden with envy. Now you may be wondering what on earth mullets have to do with my belief that people resist change, but if you ever go anywhere with my friend then you know what I’m trying to get at. Invariably every time we are out in public, someone (or more likely every-one) gawks at his hair. Before they see him they see the mullet. Now what, you may ask, is the big deal about this?
They look because it’s different… because it’s not the norm.
We tend to not like things that are outside our “realms” of normality.
Mullets may not be the strongest example for this argument but I believe it reveals why so many of us have trouble reading the bible frequently, remembering to pray for more than just our foods, or worshiping the very God who lets us breathe.
We dislike change. And what else is a greater purpose for these three spiritual disciplines than to change our hearts, minds, and souls.
Hebrews 4:12 demonstrates this when it says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” The arts of prayer, worship, and reading the Word are more than mere topics that have been overplayed by pastors. They are alive. They exist to mold, shape, and transform. They live to change us into the “new creations” God called us to be.
I believe that a lot of us (more than we like to admit) struggle with getting to know God because deep down we struggle to welcome change. We struggle to release everything in our past. We struggle to give up our own self interest. We struggle to let someone else take control of the show. We struggle to deny our own flesh. We struggle with disciplining our selves. We struggle with having to give up some of our deeply rooted habits. We struggle to let go.
If you find yourself struggling to find God in the midst of things I want you to know that you’re not alone and it’s OK to have these feelings. And if you struggle with the arts of Word, worship, and prayer, I want you to ask yourself…
Do you truly want your life to spare some change?
Merely
Chris Gerac
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2, NIV
Yeah!
ReplyDeleteMy heart needs a mullet haircut now.. wow. thanks Chris. #moved
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