Change Part 2 – How Many Times?
Reading: Luke 5:36-39
37 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. 38 New wine must be stored in new wineskins. 39 But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is better,’ they say.” (Luke 5:37-39 NLT)
When we were developing and directing the Bible Training Centre in Kingston, Jamaica, we occasionally had teachers from the US, Canada, and the UK visit us to assist for a week or two. Before they left, after they had stayed in our home and seen us in action, we’d always ask them for input: “What are we doing well; what could we change or improve; what is the Lord saying to you about us, our lives, and this ministry?”
As our friend Harold Harding was about to leave after helping us in the BTC, I sat with him on the veranda of our home in Kingston. As we talked, I asked Harold that question. After some thought, Harold said, “I think I’m supposed to ask you this—How many times can you start over?” We had “started over” several times in the US and Jamaica already. We would be “starting over” in the UK before too much longer. I pondered the question. I’ve given it a lot of thought in the many years since that night.
We’ve started over in different ministry assignments, in different cultures, in different nations. It’s been exciting, challenging, and fulfilling. And God used us to get good things going, and a lot of good work done. But now I’m not as keen to drop everything, to go somewhere far and new and unknown, and start over. Biggest factors? Age, energy level, family relationship priorities, health, stuff like that. It’s a new season! And it’s OK! The thing I now realize about Harold’s question is that it wasn’t a question of good or bad, right or wrong. It wasn’t even a question to be answered at that time. It was a question directing us to be aware, to be sensitive to factors that would change in time and circumstance in our lives through the years.
Do you need to ask yourself a question like that? How long should I keep doing what I’m doing now? Am I dragging my feet and resisting change? Am I considering change just to get away from a difficult situation? Is there something I should open my mind and heart to that would lead to a new season of adventure?
Prayer:
Father, Please help my friends and me to learn to grow and flow and change and adapt to the seasons of our lives! We get so busy, so focused, we sometimes forget to stop and look around and see where we are and what time it is! Help us to stay awake and aware!