Real Change - Where it all begins...

It’s winter again.  It had been winter, and then it warmed into the 60’s and rained a little and washed almost all that gave the appearance of winter away.  But I awoke this morning to a blanket of fresh white snow and temps in the low teens.  It is beautiful and I love it.  There is a quietness and serenity as a few lingering flurries ride the gentle breeze and fall gracefully to the ground.  They’re the last guests to arrive to the winter party.

The appearance of the landscape this morning stands in stark contrast to its appearance just a few short days ago when Spring was roused momentarily from sleep.  She’ll be up and at ‘em for good before you know it.  But while the appearance has changed, nothing foundational has changed about the earth itself over the course of the last week.  It’s still the same.  The hills and valleys continue undisturbed.  The sun still rises to our east and sets to our west.  The appearance changes dramatically a few times during the year but the earth itself is fundamentally the same day after day, month after month, year after year.

This causes me to consider how things change in me as a man.  My “manscape” changes constantly.  I shower regularly and change clothes.  At times my hair is longer than at other times.  Sometimes my beard is trimmed and hip, and at other times my wife is convinced that I really want to be Willie Robertson.  And there’s the fluctuation in weight from holiday to holiday… Ok.  We don’t have to go there if you’d rather not.   My attitudes and actions change too, depending on who’s watching and who needs to be impressed.  All things to all men. Right?

But here’s the truth.  If I want real change, change that is meaningful and long-lasting, it must happen in a different place altogether.  A change of clothes or a blanket of snow does not constitute real change.  The change that is necessary – the change that I long for – starts deep inside.  It starts in the recesses of my heart and mind.  It’s not about behavior modification.  It’s not about what others perceive me to be as they observe my masquerade.  It’s not about how I show up at church, at work or in public.  Don’t get me wrong, good behavior is preferable.  Showing up positively with life well put together is great.  But if it’s not the authentic outer fruit that is produced from the healthy inner tree….  Well, then it’s kind of like duct taping oranges to a grape vine.

There’s a lot to think about and journal about where authentic change is concerned.  We’ll get to some of that soon.  Today, just recognize that what appears to change outwardly may not accurately represent completely the things that need to change inwardly…

“God, would you be my guide as I venture nervously into the deep caverns of my heart and mind to consider what you might want to change as you form me into the me of my dreams?”