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The Challenge and Promise of
Change
By: Susan K. Rowland
Researchers report that the more we welcome change into our lives,
the healthier our brains remain and the younger we feel. That's not
surprising. Enthusiasm about new things is a characteristic of the
young and the young-at-heart. So we're encouraged to take up a new
hobby, learn a language, take a class, travel-anything to keep those
brain cells active. New activities challenge us and keep us alert
and open to life.
How do you feel about change? Do you resist, especially when change
involves old and dear rituals, customs and practices? Sometimes we
love change. Sometimes we don't. But whether it's welcome and
expected, or sudden and unasked-for, change is a reality of life. In
fact, it's the one thing we can count on.
We might adopt either of two extreme attitudes about change. One is
a demand for constant change and novelty. The other is the rejection
of change-the settling in and stagnation that refuse all challenges
and insist that things stay the way they are. The first-the demand
for novelty-is often seen in young people. As life goes on, we may
resist change and try to hold on to what's familiar. We might even
become angry when changes are forced upon us.
These different reactions to change are natural-but not solely
defined by one's age or life experience. Young people, just starting
out in the world, are often curious and open to new challenges. It
helps for them to be enamored of change, for they're going through
the biggest changes of their lives. But later in life, many people
are attracted to stability, not change.
Many of the changes we experience as we age are not all that
welcome. Where did those wrinkles come from? Why don't I have the
energy I used to have? Why do I have these health problems? What is
my purpose in life now that my kids are grown and I'm retired? It's
no wonder we wish we could stop the clock and settle into a
comfortable place in life where there are no unpleasant changes.
God and change
Author Matthew Kelly writes: "Change is one of the laws of the
natural universe. Nature teaches us that everything in this world is
constantly changing. Everything God created is constantly in the
process of either growing or dying." Still, Kelly writes, there are
certain things that never change: "Truth does not change; the
supernatural realities of faith, hope, and love do not change; and
God does not change" (Rediscover Catholicism).
Change is essential to life. Our physical bodies are in a constant
state of repair and renewal. Our minds need to be challenged to stay
healthy. And our spiritual journeys are characterized by conversion
and growth.
Change is so essential, but too much change can result in chaos. We
won't grow properly or deepen our commitments if we rush from one
thing to another. So God has built into us both a desire for change
and a desire for stability and regularity. Thus our lives swing
between change and sameness. Nature gives us distinct seasons. Each
in its turn feels new and refreshing, yet each season is the same,
year after year |
