As I write today’s post I am sitting in Bellingham’s newest Starbucks, opening only a few days ago. Like many of the Starbucks in our area, this location is not a new building, but rather the transformation of a former Taco Bell. The renovation was very well done, IMHO, with the inside looking nothing like a former fast food restaurant. They could have done better with the exterior but even Starbucks has to work within budgets. When I first heard Starbucks was taking over the location of Taco Bell I was surprised. As far as I could tell Taco Bell was doing very well in the location. When I’d drive by or occasionally stop in, they were always busy. So it wasn’t like Taco Bell was struggling. I know a few people who are mourning the loss of their favorite fast food place.
Change happens. Have you noticed? Change is one of those inevitable facts of life and yet it seems like many people struggle when change happens to them. It’s almost as if people live with the illusion [delusion?] they can achieve a place in life where everything is “perfect”, exactly according to all of their personal preferences, and then they’ll be able to settle in that perfect place. The other illusion delusion is people who seem to think they can stop change by resisting it. Good luck with that!
I came across this quote recently which includes the line: “Growing things change, Changing things challenge us.” Here’s the whole quote:
“Healthy things grow; Growing things change; Changing things challenge us; Challenges cause us to trust God; Trusting leads to obedience; Obedience leads us to health; Healthy things grow.”
Did you notice that the beginning and the ending are the same: “Healthy things grow.” GROWTH and CHANGE are inescapably connected. If we want to grow, we’re going to change. This is true on every level of life.
“If we are to achieve results never before accomplished,
we must expect to employ methods never before attempted.” – Sir Francis Bacon
So, here’s my question for the day, as I focus on CHANGE in my next several posts: Why do people treat change as the enemy rather than embrace it? (Feel free to comment on this question)
To be continued next time…
Change takes people out of their comfort zone. I think a lot of our dread of change is rooted in fear. Even though the change could be for the good, we are more afraid that our lives will become worse than we are excited that life may become better. That's just my quick thought. Thanks for the blog post.
ReplyDeleteSteve ... Husband of a friend of Ramona's.