I have lived long enough to know that the only change that has any kind of reality is the change in my pocket.
When people tell me that this is a New Year and there will be a lot of changes this year, I search my pocket because that's the only change I want to know about. Looking back over my life, the most significant change that ever came to me was the day I said “I do” to the future Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. At the time, and it’s good for me that I didn’t know, I didn’t know what “I do” really meant. When I said, "I do," my life changed like I never expected it to change. And mostly, I must admit, for the better. I have no complaints. Knowing a young lady and then living with that young lady for 50 years was quite a change in my life. I will never know how she put up with me, and believe me, I will never ask. That is the only change that had any real significance in my life. Of course, when the children came along, there was some aspect of change but not so much. As we start a New Year, everybody is anticipating change. Sure, there will be a few modifications, but as far as change is concerned, I don't believe it's going to happen. When we began last year, everybody was excited about the New Year. Then certain things happen that brought all of that to the floor. Who would've expected what had happened? As we were thinking about the New Year, my wife said, "What change do you see in the coming year?" I explained to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, “The only change I can see for me this year is I’m going to get older.” She looked at me with one of her penetrating stares and said, “I don’t think getting older is going to make any change in your life.” Of course, she was right. No matter how old I get, nothing is really going to change in my life. Oh yes, I walk a little slower, and there are pains in my body in areas I didn't know I had. I forget a lot of things that I once could remember. I remember things that never happened. To me, that's a good thing. To show that I'm not going to be changing this year, I said to my wife, "What change do you see in the coming year?" It wasn't long before I realized that her idea of change and my idea of change had no connection whatsoever. She had a list of things she was going to change in the house. While she was describing all the changes she's going to see accomplished this year, I happened to think of what old Solomon said. “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). When my wife changes her craft room, it will still be "her craft room." Sometimes changing things makes us feel good about ourselves and our life. In the end, everything is the same. [Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives with his wife in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.] |
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