One day, in the midst of my grumbling and having loud, mature discussions about how the minister can’t understand a thing because he’s always had a car (remember the Volkswagen?), and never lived in Eastlando, blah, blah, it hit me, in small, measurable doses – I was throwing a tantrum. An adult, all grown-up one, but a tantrum nevertheless.

I was quite surprised, because even though I say so myself, I’m the most flexible person you’ll ever meet. Well, save for Elastigirl.

As we are told time and again at those workshops, natural human reaction is resistance to change. As soon as we see something that we are not used to, or faced with a new idea, many of us gather our skirts and take off. Most of us stay and fight like hell, till we are forced to change anyway. When you think about it, the only reason those Pharisees had such a hard time accepting Christ was because He was preaching change, a break from what they knew and trusted! It’s natural human reaction, right?

Which brings me to the un-natural lifestyle that we are called to as believers. Take the words of Paul in Philippians 2: 14-15 for instance:

“Do everything without murmuring or complaining, that you may be blameless and harmless, children of God in the midst of a perverse and wicked generation among whom you are seen as lights in the world…”

Ah, the things that must distinguish us. God doesn’t like this murmuring and complaining business – it doesn’t represent Him. “Lord, you can’t wash my feet”, Peter said (because that is not how things are done). “But if I don’t, you are not mine”, Jesus replied (because this is My way, and there is a reason why things are not happening as they normally should). Accepting (difficult) change and adjusting to it shows maturity, but it also shows something more – it shows that we trust the maker of circumstances.

Look around you – the people who end up soaring are those that take advantage of every wave that comes, adjust, and utilize it to the maximum. They are those that understand God sends everything our way for a purpose, and change to help us grow. Being able to embrace change – without murmuring and complaining – is one of the habits of a healthy believer, or anyone for that matter.

As for Muthurwa and I, we’re getting there. Enough said.

About The Author: The walk and life of a Christian is the kind of stuff epic movies are made of. George Oloo picks snippets from his own life and brings home life lessons.

Email (will not be published)

Name

Title

Comment
 remaining characters

Post