“… But you remain the same.”

— Midweek Meditations:
thoughts, inspiration and encouragement
from ACF community members —

About 500 years before Christ was born, lived a philosopher named Heraclitus. A quote that has survived 2500 years is the following – “The only thing constant is change”. Like all of us today he recognised that there is very little in our lives that is stable. Even the very mountains that many look to for strength are also gradually changing. Mountains are changed by erosion from melting glaciers and also by something as simple as a seed that grows roots that split rocks apart.

Change is something we all desire. The older I get the more I am amused at New Years Resolutions. These promises we make ourselves are the things we want to change in our lives. Some of us pledge to get rid of negative things (smoking/drinking/staying up too late) and some to add positive things (prayer/Bible reading/fitness training). The first weeks of January Fitness Studios are crowded, but by the beginning of February they are back to normal capacity.

As a parent we seek and welcome change in our children’s lives. In the beginning children are totally dependent on their parents but each day they grow more independent. In just a few short years they are feeding, dressing and showering themselves. One day they are walking to school alone and one day they are moving out and taking over the responsibilities for their lives. This is desirable and a change that every parent welcomes.

Unfortunately not all changes are desired and are seen as a disruption in our lives.

• One day our nation is at peace and the next day a new ruler comes whose priority is not the citizens
• One day our finances are stable and then you can loose your job or are suddenly confronted with unplanned debt.
• One day you are training for a marathon and the next day you visit the doctor and learn your body is not as healthy as you trained it to be.
• One day you wake up next to a beloved spouse who has been by your side for years. The next day the other side of the bed is empty.

Change is inevitable in every area of our lives except one. There is a God who never changes. To find true stability in this wobbly world, each of us is invited to turn to the creator and not to the creation. Change will continue to occur but “we have a God who is unchangable in his being, wisdom,power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth” (Westminster shorter Catechism)

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17)

Our relationship to God changes the more we learn to trust God that his love is the same whether we have a good or bad day. It doesn’t matter if we do something we are ashamed of or if we have given money to the poor, God’s love is the same towards us.

In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same.

Hebrews 1:10-12

---

The ACF Midweek Meditations
are written by a diverse group of our church members with the intention to seek God’s fingerprints in our lives. They range from somber to humorous and are inspired by all facets of live and faith. Written by ordinary people from all walks of life, they reflect a wide range of Christian backgrounds and spiritualities.

Each week’s text portrays the individual viewpoint of its author. They might not always resonate with everyone, and are not meant to be understood as representing the Anglican Church Freiburg as a whole. Yet, as a church that is aiming to ‘Build a Community of Grace’ we seek to practice learning from and listening to one another.

We pray that these humble ponderings add a small spark of blessing to your week.

---