Changes

Have you ever noticed how trees don’t freak out when it’s time to change seasons? In the fall, the trees accept that their leaves will change colors. As we go deeper into the season and shift to winter, the trees let go of their leaves without defiance, even though it means unbecoming nakedness and vulnerability for the trees themselves. Perhaps trees hope in the knowledge of spring and regrowth, and that is why they release their leaves so easily. And perhaps spring is the blessing for being faithful. The trees experience renewal and growth throughout the spring and into the summer, as their leaves bud and blossom. But before they know it, it’s time to let go of their leaves (their beauty, their identity) again.

Or, think about the way trees react to wind: When the wind blows, the trees allow their leaves to rustle. And when the wind gets really strong and their branches are swaying back and forth, almost to the point of snapping, they remain calm. Their roots are firmly planted. Trees don’t get all up in arms when the wind blows.

Maybe trees are a parallel for how we should live our lives. Accepting change as part of the process. Trusting that even though things don’t look too good at the present moment, God will work things out and make us whole and beautiful again. We must keep our roots firmly planted. And not hold on to God’s gifts too tightly, because they can be taken away at any moment. Our identity should reflect Christ, not the leaves we wear so proudly.

“...that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3b

 In the changes and in the wind, God is working. And as He is working, our roots are getting deeper and stronger. Eventually we will grow into “oaks of righteousness.” Beautiful, strong trees. For the Lord.

But, I struggle with change. Who doesn’t? Yes, there are those of us out there that thrive on change and get restless when they are in one place for too long, but that is not true for me.

However, I do like to liven things up every once and a while. I don’t order the same thing at the restaurants I frequent and don’t like to park in the same parking spot. And I even enjoy changing my clothes.

I’ve learned it’s not necessarily change itself that I have a problem with. It’s the transition. Going through the change. Feeling comfortable before the change and freaking out while I’m trying to figure out how to settle into life after the change.

I’m learning that change is healthy. It’s a necessary part of life. If the trees didn’t go with the flow and accept the change, think how strange that would be! We wouldn’t have seasons! If trees crumbled at the faintest breeze, we would laugh, wouldn’t we? When wind (change) comes our way it is an opportunity to develop stronger roots and enjoy the ride.

I’ve been through a lot of change in the past six months. Actually, I’ve been through a lot of change in the past two and a half years. Change that I didn’t know how to handle because my roots were but thin little twigs.

In all of these months of too-much-change-not-handled-well, my roots have started to spread deeper in to the ground. And change is still coming at me. The wind is blowing. The seasons are changing. It’s time to rid myself of the old and embrace the new. Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.

Don’t we all go through a time in our life where we have to discover who we really are? Who we want to be, where we want to go? For some people, this process is more intense and difficult than others. But we all have to search and make decisions for ourselves and about ourselves. So it’s not like my story is all that strange and unheard of. Everyone has gone through this time of self-discovery. God just threw a couple extra twists and sped the wind up a little more for me. But I’m grateful He did, because it means that my roots are getting stronger and I’m slowly becoming an oak of righteousness. And in time, I’ll be ready for the wind to blow and the seasons to change.