“In ten years, the only things that will change are the
books that you read and the people around you.”
I saw this quote on a business sign today, a business, I might
add, that regularly puts up different quotes and quips, ones I usually agree
with. But as I passed this one several
times in the last few days, I had to completely disagree – at least with the “only”
part.
I disagree mostly because I took a long look at myself and
the changes I have been through in the last 10 years. Ten years ago, I was still basically a
newlywed, no kids, enjoying carnival rides and late nights with our youth group
and the ability to pick up and go wherever we felt like on a whim. Of course, it was also about 10 years ago
that I got pregnant with our firstborn, beginning the mad descent into mommy-hood
and baby brain and all the fun years to follow.
But beyond the obvious changes (2 kids, a change of scenery
from cornfields to desert, a change in church families, getting a permanent
place that we were totally in charge of), I’d like to think there’s been a lot
of personal change. Actually, I’m pretty
sure that if I haven’t changed a lot in 10 years, there must be something
wrong.
I’m convinced that our God is living and active, and the
Spirit that we are filled with when we make Him Lord of our lives therefore
causes us to be living and
active. If we are not, then we are
stagnant, unmoving. I’ve seen lots of swamps,
having grown up in a wetter climate than the one I now reside in – they are
pretty, but only if you have a clothespin on your nose. And only if you don’t look too closely at the
decay all around you. If we are
squelching the living spirit within us to the point that we are swamps, well,
don’t stand too close if you’ve got a weak stomach.
If I haven’t changed in 10 years except for the people I
hang out with and the books I read, then I am a swamp. Completely content to remain exactly as I’ve
always been, to not ruffle the waters or try something new, or follow God’s
leading to the very important adventure, however, big or small, that He has
ready for me. I am then saturated in the
everyday cycle of keeping up the status quo, doing only just enough to get by,
never opening up myself to the cool running stream of the Spirit that will
flush out the impurities in the water.
I am not the same person I was 10 years ago, praise
God! I am stronger in my faith. I hold tighter to the truth that God has it
under control. I am less stressed (most
of the time), less busy (well, a little), less focused on myself. I don’t have it all right yet, and in the
next 10 years I’m certain I still won’t.
Funny how just when I’ve finally conquered one thing, God shows me
something else that I need to work on.
Ah, but that’s what it’s all about. Working through the rough spots, clearing out
the moss, pushing more mud and muck out of my life – some times more slowly
than others – to continue to be more like the purified pond fed by a clear
running spring; ever changing, ever improving.
And though some days I want nothing more than to wallow in the warm,
still water right up to my nose, I know that the small trickle of freshness
that tickles my senses will win over the day.
God is still working on me – and my books and people I’m around. :)
