Spiritual Journey First Thursday: Meandering Thoughts about Change

It's the first Thursday of the month 
and time to show up with my friends 
for Spiritual Journey First Thursday. 
Margaret at Reflections on the Teche 

is hosting and our theme is change. 

Change is inevitable. I see it daily as I watch my grandsons change before my very eyes. Facebook reminds me of this inevitability with pictures that pop up on my feed of posts from the past. When I taught sixth grade, I loved sharing a story (I can't remember the title now) based in ancient China with these sage words, "Change is the law that binds us all."

So if change is one of the immutable laws of the universe, why I am so resistant to change? I'm not a person who makes new year's resolutions. Mostly, because I finally realized that they are the same ones year after year after year. Lose weight, exercise more, plan meals, have daily devotional time, and get organized. 

When you read about habit change, one of the truths that emerges is that it's easiest to change bit by bit, not leap by leap. Another one is that you change what you monitor. So I'm trying (ohhh, there's my OLW for this year) again to keep track of how often I hit my 10,000 steps goal for the day. And how am I keeping track? With stars on the monthly calendar in my planner. And how am I doing? Well, a quick look at July shows 13 stars. I only reached my weekly goal (4 days out of 7) one time. But I'll continue to monitor and I'm hopeful that next month will be better. 

And there's a key word that propels my spiritual journey, hope. I love these words from Hebrews 6 that speak of hope:

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, ... 

And that consolation and refuge and anchor to my soul comes from my Savior Jesus Christ. During the troubled times that we live in, I must make time to seek for His guidance. 

I like these words about change from Wendy Watson Nelson, a speaker and author I've enjoyed for many years:

"The ultimate and only true and living change agent is the Savior. He is the source of all change. He changed water into wine—bringing the very best liquid refreshment to the celebration. As you turn to him, he will bring the very best out of you. He will indeed rescue all that is finest down deep inside of you. And what a celebration that will be!

Ask him. Asking for the Savior’s help is another way to come closer unto him.

The Savior changed eyes. And he can give you the eyes to see what you need to see in order to change your life. He will open the eyes of your understanding. Just ask him.

The Savior changed ears. And he can help you hear his voice, and that will add strength to your own voice. Ask him.

He changed limbs that were weak. And he can change your mobility and direction to help you move to the next level of your life and help you in your efforts to shore up the feeble knees that are around you. Ask him.

He changed a few fishes and a couple of loaves of bread into enough to feed 5,000 people. And he will take your widow’s mite of time, energy, and ability and magnify them, multiply them, so that there is enough and to spare. You just need to ask him.

The Savior changed names: he turned Saul into Paul. And he can help you become his son or daughter. You can thus take upon you his name in a whole new way.

Although our Lord Jesus Christ never changes, he is the quintessential change agent—the only true change agent. Don’t you love that seeming irony: the only true change agent never changes! There is only one true and living change agent—and he changes not. And he loves you. And he loves your desire and your efforts to change."  ("Change: It's Always a Possibility" by Wendy Watson, BYU Devotional, April 7, 1998)

I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to reflect each month with this community on my spiritual journey. And thankful for Margaret's chosen word for this month, change. I feel hopeful as I change the calendar page each month, reflect with this community about our spiritual journeys, and know that someone loves us in spite of our failings and is beside us in our efforts to change.