Unrecognizable Change


It has been said that, besides the Lord, the only one who "knows us best" is ourselves. After all, what human being could possibly know what we are experiencing, feeling and understand our likes and dislikes, better then...ourselves? But what happens when the varying dynamics of life kick into high gear, and, just like a caterpillar in a cocoon, a metamorphosis takes place within us; changing our thoughts, feelings, ideas, opinions and appearance? What used to be so familiar to us, in us, about us...is now stranger material? What then?
  
A few weeks ago I was at work stocking shelves with some co-workers and became involved in a conversation about a former employee who had been working there for many years, and recently decided to take a different employment opportunity. I innocently made the comment about how at times it's important to get out of our comfort zone, try something different and not stay stagnant. This hit a cord with one of my co-workers, to which she stated that she has been working at the same place for over 13 years. "Well, I guess that makes me stagnant." she replied with a rather rattled, snotty undertone to her comment. Realizing that I was having a "foot in the mouth" moment, I assured her that there is nothing "wrong" with staying in one place for awhile, but that that some endings make room for positive change and growth in a persons life. She softened a bit, but I know that my comment held a lot more weight then what I had expected it to.

One of the principles of the Alanon program is that as we grow and develop as human beings, so also do we  "grow out of " things that used to "fit". This can range anywhere from specific personal habits, views, opinions,  and even people and relationships. When you really take the time to think about it, it is a very "common sense" concept. We don't keep wearing the same clothes we did when we were 10 because not only would they not fit, but we would look extremely stupid. Why does this principle get lost or misconstrued in the other areas of our lives? Why do we feel that we must always fit into and hang onto the same things throughout the entirety of our time on this earth?

Life changes so quickly. The old time related comment "Where have the years gone?" is beginning to make more sense to me. However, we tend to focus on the physical representation of weeks, months and years, and fail to see how things within us fly right along with everything else. And, just like the brackets of time in life, we never get them back. I am learning that not only is that all right, but it is in fact, right.

As part of the process of embracing unrecognizable change within us, there is the element of the fact that what was once unrecognizable and strange will soon become comfortable and familiar. What we must not miss is the fact that even though we live in an evolving world where our souls are not exempt from such a reality, we must lean on and trust the only thing that will never change and yet is even more active then the change we experience. Jesus Christ. It is within our relationship with Him and our knowledge of His manner and ways that we will be able to embrace the unrecognizable and freely let go of the familiar.

The familiar and the unrecognizable. Let it go, and let it be all God's. 

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