Day Seventeen - Change

 

By Jill Pelto, on PBS website

Rapid change, or dramatic change, is loaded with risk.  Loose weight (if that's what you want) but do it gently and gradually.  The same if you need the opposite.  

When the story about terrorist acts come to the fore, we often hear that some change has happened.  They have converted to a new religion, or they have changed their lifestyle in some way.

Of course lots of changes are for the considerable better, but change does involve risk.  When one party in a couple chooses to use counselling, there is a risk that they might change in some way, and this might put new stresses on their relationship.  

There are some changes which are inevitable.  All things have a beginning, middle and end.  The birth of a baby, the death of a loved one; both spell deep and impacting change.  

The Hegelian shift is when a concept of practice moves from one orientation to a significantly different one, and all things are changed and affected by the shift.  An example of this was women's (and universal) suffrage, which spread to encompass the globe.  It is difficult to conceive of a reverse.  Another was the shift from steam power to internal combustion engine. Another is upon us as we are faced with the price of excessive abuse to the planet.  

A famous example of this shift occurred when Rabbi Saul faced his demon- and gave in.  He became Paul the apostle, and his life moved from powerful and wealthy to 'living on a knife edge', eventually being murdered by a gang.  Great move?  Here is what it says in Act Chapter Nine.

Meanwhile the young man Saul was organising systematic percussion of all followers of Jesus. He went to the authorities and was given official permission to take an armed patrol and bring reprobates back to the city. As his convoy approach Damascus, Saul was blinded by a strong light.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking

“what are you doing to me?” 

“Who’s that?” He asked. 

“I am Jesus, the one you are hurting.” 

The people with Saul were speechless. They could see and hear nothing. Saul discovered that he was blind. He was taken into the city of Damascus and lodged with a friend called Judas.
There was a believer in Damascus called Ananias. The Creator spoke to him and told him to go and find Judas on Straight Street. He was to meet up with a man call Saul (from Tarsus). Ananias knew him and his fearsome reputation. 

“He’s a bad piece of work. Nothing good will come of this”, he reasoned. 

“Don’t be afraid Anaisas. This man is my chosen instrument to take the message to non-
believers and even rulers. He understands how much this will cost,” reassured the Creator.
So Ananias visited Saul and introduced himself saying, 

“I have been sent by Jesus to meet you so that you might be able to regain your sight and be filled with the Creator’s Spirit.” 

In that instant something that looked like scales fell from Saul’s eye. He could see, and was filled with the Spirit of the Creator. After this Saul ate some food and got his strength back.

PRAYER: Change me Lord, so that the people around me notice.