Sheryl Crow boldly sings “A change will do you good…A change will do you good…I think a change will do you good” in her song, “A Change” on her self-titled album, Sheryl Crow. Ironically, I have had many changes in the past year: a new country, a new home, a new job, and am even acquiring a new accent. That’s right; I am picking up the native words of Scotland and often do so unconsciously. However, I now have my very own Dictionary of Scots, so I will now be more intentional. (Smile) Still, I cannot help but consider even further these lyrics when remember that my great aunt Frances celebrated her 100th birthday in 2006. Imagine all the changes which have happened in the world that she has experienced in her life.
Today, in worship, we heard the story of the Magi as they followed the new born star on a journey to Bethlehem. We considered how well the Magi would have known the stars in the sky to notice a subtle change: the new star being born. (This is something we now have actual photographs of thanks to the technology of the Hubble Space Telescope.) Still, I cannot help but wonder what induced these royal astrologers of an eastern land to “act on the appearance of a new star”? How was it that they knew about the “King of the Judeans” who was born in Bethlehem? And what was it in their humanity which allowed them to be open to this change? Were they too waiting for a “Messiah”?
In an attempt to apply these questions to today, I cannot help but wonder about the profession of some Christians; namely, that God—the Ancient of Days—does not change? And further still, when change is everywhere around us and within us, surely this God, who is in the business of making all things new, has the capacity to change? If God does have the capacity to change and is the one who brings change, then why do we sing lyrics like this: “change and decay in all around I see: O thou who changest not, abide with me.” These are the third & fourth lines of the second verse of the well-known hymn, “Abide with Me”.
This is especially interesting considering that numerous times in the Old Testament, God is said to have “changed His/Her mind”. I’m reminded of Jonah. Jonah, as you may or may not recall, was commissioned by God to take the good news to a city called Nineveh. But instead of going to Nineveh—because Jonah knew God was compassionate—Jonah went the opposite direction to Tarshish. He boards a boat and sets sail. An ominous storm overtakes the boat and the crew is worried. Jonah says it’s his fault; throw me overboard. So, overboard Jonah goes where he is then swallowed by a big fish. After a few days of swimming in the digestive enzymes of the fish’s stomach, Jonah remembers God and prays. (his prayer is from the psalms…it was committed to memory, cause surely any scroll or parchment of the scriptures would have deteriorated or been digested if it was on his person.) God remembers Jonah, and the big fish “vomits” (or “bokes” as they say in Scotland) Jonah on the shore. Jonah then does what he was asked to do. And indeed, God has a “change of heart” and is compassionate towards the people of Nineveh when they repent. Right, so…if God can change, surely we have the capacity…
Gandi (I think) is quoted as saying “be the change that you want to see in the world”—or something like it. So, this is my new year’s resolution: to be the change in the world that I want to see. This for me includes finding tangible ways to love my neighbours and “enemies” better, to speak out against injustice which happens in our families / communities, / world, and using the earth lightly (another nice line from a hymn which originates in New Zealand); for the sake of the Gospel, and in an attempt to make a difference in the world, may the Holy Spirit do a mighty work in and through me. Amen.
Go on then…
What are you waiting for…?
A change will do you good…
Looking for, Hoping for & Anticipating Change,
2 comments:
and she lives
Try this experiment. Fill three cups with water: one with very hot water, one with ice water, and one with lukewarm water. Put your left index finger in the hot water and your right index finger in the cold water. Wait about 30 seconds. Now put both fingers in the lukewarm water. You'll find that the lukewarm water feels cool to the left finger and warm to the right finger.
Sometimes God seems to change, too. To the unrepentant he is hard, but to the contrite and humble he is compassionate. So if someone changes from unrepentant to contrite, it will seem that God, too, has changed. Yet God has not changed. His righteousness, his justice and mercy, his compassion have remained the same. The people of Nineveh experienced God's compassion because they repented. They, not God, were the ones who changed.
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