Patience and Grace Through Change

 

One of everyone’s favorite things about this time of year is the color of changing leaves. Though unlike the area in which I grew up, which was known for brilliant displays of Fall color, my neighborhood does offer some beautiful trees that brighten the streets each autumn. Yellows and oranges seem to be the “go to” colors that paint our common landscape, and after the first cold nights of the season, things are changing.

This grand tree is just beginning to change. It is going to be a brilliant red, and I am anxious to see it in full color. But there is something different about how this tree is changing. Usually the colors come in large swaths across the boughs and branches. But not this tree. Not this year. It seems to be changing in distinct spots, in spurts and sputters. The way in which the light was hitting the leaves made the red seem to be flames scattered through the canopy of leaves. It was an unusual sight.

It also reminded me that change doesn’t always come all at once to human beings either. We often hear stories of profound transformation, of the power of an event or experience that leaves a person very different than they were before the formative encounter. Sometimes the change is for the worse, leaving us defeated or bitter or numb. At other times it can be as if we truly begin a fresh new life, seeing everyone and everybody in new and uplifting ways. Sometimes change does come all at once.

But more often than not, we change over time as we reflect on our lives and decisions. As we reimagine who we want to be and where we would like our life to go, we begin to make different choices and to react in different ways. It is not always smooth and seamless. It is not always pleasant. But little by little, we change.

Change is part of a well-lived journey.

This is certainly true in our spiritual lives. As much as we may desire it, we do not spring up fully mature in faith overnight. The apostle put it this way, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” When I was young we sang a song based on this verse. The name of the song was “From Glory to Glory, He’s Changing Me”. It was a good reminder to have grace toward others who are on their journey, and a good reminder to have grace toward ourselves as make our way on our own. Like the tree, we are changing. Sometimes we just need a little grace and patience in the process.

Peace.