Isn't it funny that we are born not knowing anything, and have to learn everything from walking to talking, even eating! Our journey in this world begins with learning, but the learning never ends. Once you have mastered one thing, rest assured, the next new thing is on its way! If you ask me, therein lies the beauty of life, knowing that no condition is permanent except change. Look around you, all creation is constantly evolving, the trees alter/adapt their appearance based on seasons, the wild animals change locations based on weather, the firmaments change their appearance based on the time of day, our interests change based on current trends, news channels go with the wind of “credible news”; this gets me thinking where can I look for stability? What is it in this world that remains unwavered, unchanged, immutable?

While that lingers in the air, I myself am in a state of transition and change in many areas of my life. I recently started a new job, I am planning a wedding (mine ;-)) and I am taking on more roles at my church; all of which require a lot of me. While on this journey, I have realized that we as human beings do not give ourselves enough credit, sometimes we are too hard on ourselves, always thinking and rethinking, always looking ahead, always searching for the next best thing, but never really taking time to stop and appreciate what we have achieved. Why do we always focus on what has not been done at the expense of what has? Why are we always inclined to the negative? Why do we self hate when we make mistakes?

Back to our changing world, sometimes I like to picture myself as a character in a slow-motion film, standing still and watching the world take its twists and turns, but this is seldom possible. How can you take in the change without being changed? Do we ever afford ourselves the luxury of standing still? Do we ever stop to think if there is more to life than what we are experiencing now?

You know what surprises me, in as much as all the change in my life has the potential to overwhelm me, there is a part of me that is thrilled by it, there is part of me that looks forward to the stresses of planning the wedding, a part of me that is excited by the new heights and skills my new job requires of me and the impact of serving at church. This is the part that inspired the writing of this piece. Let’s not kid ourselves, we are constantly checking and rechecking, thinking and rethinking, always looking ahead, always reaching for the next best thing because we enjoy the thrill that comes with it. My plea is that we never forget the peace that also comes with standing still.