Spiritual Reflections
Will the changes be positive or negative
Pat Ozment, Jr.
There are some things that change our lives. We aren't consulted about the process. Some occurrences just change you. I've made a list of some of the things that change you. It is not a comprehensive list, that would be too long for this publication. When you start to school, your life is changed. When you go through puberty, your life is changed. When you graduate from high school, go off to college, graduate from college, get a job, get married, have children, and then grandchildren, when you retire, all of these things change you. While you can't keep these things from changing you, you can determine what shape the change will take. Will the change be positive, or will the things that happen to you have a negative effect on your life? Some will disagree, but I believe that we each have a choice about how we let things shape us. For the last three weeks Peggy and I have been in the States, because of something that happened, one of those life changing events. We lost my Dad. He was, 84 but his loss was unexpected and sudden, to me, my mother, my three sisters, and our extended family. We had no time to say a last goodbye. Right now I don't know how I will be affected. I have not yet dealt with the reality and the finality of it. I have a habit of putting unpleasant things off to the last possible moment, and perhaps that's what I am doing now. I haven't made any conscious effort to be strong or unemotional. I just have not felt any real sense of personal loss. I'm sure I will. I loved my dad, and for a long time I spent a great deal of time and energy trying to gain his approval. Then I became more interested in gaining my Father's approval. Right now I'm OK, even though I'm waiting to see what comes next.
How will I be changed. Romans 8:28 says, "God is able to work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called to His purpose." That's my choice. I'm going to ask God to use it, to make me better. You do the same, and I'll see you in Church.
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