May 11. Give Me Your Wallet Or Got Any Spare Change?

Change can be a scary thing. It seems to be everywhere. But is it really? Change is a powerful agent because it can challenge us to look at ourselves, our teams, and our purpose. Just because a new technology exists does not mean that you need to change.

It can, maybe even it should, challenge us to revisit our purpose once again. But not many changes that occur really affect our purpose. Change is more likely to affect the what or the how of our value proposition. Are there significant changes occurring in your business right now?

Are they challenging you to do something new? These types of changes might be easier to adapt if we place our focus first on our purpose. People do not fear change. What people fear is loss. If something new does not change or challenge your purpose, then there is really nothing to fear.

A change to something other than purpose is just another way to have impact. There have been great inventions and applications of new ways to accomplish items. They do not have to bring fear with them. Think of communication systems and how they have changed.

Speaking was modified by writing. Writing was modified by a postal system. Postal systems were challenged by the telegraph and the telegraph by the telephone. Today the voice of mankind is challenged by the email or text of the written word! Perhaps we might consider changing our perception first with curiosity.

What is the purpose that I will choose to lead today? What is the first thing you might do this week to lead the changes you are facing?

In the Bible, John 7 is riddled with change. Jesus' brothers showed their colors of doubt which we all might battle at times. The Jewish leaders were looking for Jesus and not for good. Some in the crowds were speaking questioningly of him while others praised him.

This all affected how he went about his day, but it did not change his purpose. It did not keep him from going to the festival either. The changes of the day around him affected what and how he moved but his purpose held true.

At the end of the day I suspect that my purpose, and your purpose, will not be changed at all. I also suspect that we will be challenged as to how or what we might do and that is ok. Let us greet that for what it is. It is simply a call to us to remember how to love others and what we can be doing to be in relationship with Jesus.

Let us recall and take comfort in our purpose. Where might you have misplaced a high level of stress and anxiety on something that is not really about a change of your purpose? There are many messages that attempt to draw our attention and create fear in us.

We might think of an image of Jesus taking our fears from us and tossing them into a pit where they are destroyed. We might give them to him and be done with them. The serenity prayer speaks about change.

Nothing in the serenity prayer takes us off purpose but it brings us to Gods’ purpose. What can you do about leaving anxiety of change behind in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Father God, we pray for those today who do not know you. We know our purpose is to grow closer to Christ and to bring others to him through the Holy Spirit. Bring your comfort to us as we consider the changes of our world.

Guide us in what we give attention to and how we address it. May your Holy name be glorified with our changes and our change of heart. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen