A Change is gonna come

I spent the weekend celebrating the life of a good friend of mine.  He was celebrating his 50^th birthday and invited 17 of his closest guy friends to get away for the weekend.  This included a fairly intense 6 mile hike and then being treated to an overnight stay in an old ski hut on top of Mt. Hood.  I had been looking forward to this weekend for a very long time and it was more than I had hoped it would be.

While sitting up on the mountain and having time to myself I was able to reflect on a few things.  1 – God is amazing, he really is and to be able to have all my senses delighted by what he has done while sitting on the mountain made the weekend even better.  I spent Sunday morning watching the sun rise on the mountain and it was indeed majestic. 2 – moments like those are never done justice by pictures, but they are a good reminder.  3 – it is in these moments where I store and treasure such great memories

As I sat there thinking I was reminded of how often things change in our lives. The one constant, dependable thing about life is change.   Growing up I despised changes.  I always felt like everyone around me changed and I remained the same, everyone around me moved away and got on with their life while mine continued in the same day-to-day patterns.  Even if I knew something was going to change it would take me a very long time to adjust to it.

The few good memories I have of growing up were spent being outside in the country exploring, fishing and building as well as time spent at my Grandparents house during the summers.  In high school it was Speech and Drama trips, plays and hanging out with my friends going to clubs and dancing.  I am sure the reason I love to take pictures is to capture these moments and have them to look back on.

I have spent years living in memories.  Times when my friends and I hung out, laughed, listened to music and enjoyed ourselves.  Times when I was engrossed in deep conversations with others and it felt like we changed the world.  Times when I really lived life to the fullest and didn’t have a care in the world.  Countless times I have spent with my wife children on trips, one on one dinner and walks holding hands.  Each of these moments is etched deep within my heart and soul.

As I finished up the weekend and was loading my van, I was reminded once again of how much I hated times like this since I was a kid.  The end of the trip was the worst.  Packing up and heading home was my least favorite.  The time going back home was usually spent smiling, crying and reminiscing about the time I just had and how I wished it never had to end.  I felt that way again.  I didn’t want this weekend to end; I had thoroughly enjoyed each moment of it and wanted it to continue.

With all the changes that have come in my life, friends and family that have come and gone.  Trips, food, and music, wine, books and moments shared.  I have learned to take in each moment.  To celebrate this moment and fully enjoy it, because it will pass.  With each passing moment, I have learned valuable lessons from life and it’s in these lessons I have changed and grown.  God has used these things to shape and mold me into the person I am today.

Change will always happen.  We will never grow, stretch or develop if change never occurs.  As painful as it is to go through from time to time, change has made me a better person.  There will always be a large part of me that hates change and wishes it didn’t occur.  The adult/wise part of me knows that it happens for a reason.  How do you deal with change?

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