Change and Development

March 31st, 2009

The new Formula 1 season blasts off today with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. There are new regulations for the cars and tyres- F1 returns to slicks this year.  I have a special interest as in my past I used to drive the stand-by ambulance for Bruce McLaren’s tyre testing sessions at Goodwood!

With the changes and developments, have come protests over the diffusers on certain cars, but the stewards have rejected the complaints.

Change disrupts!  We all know we are living in an age of rapid change.  Even gradual developments like children growing up, mean that we have to make constant adjustments to our weekly timetables, which amount to significant changes over a year.  Many are facing major changes right now because of job redundancies or financial constraints.  

So it is good to be reminded that change is often beneficial.  John Thomas reminded us last Sunday that the evening before Jesus died, he was again preparing his disciples for change. He told them that it was actually best for them that he was going away.  

In the passage this week, John 15, Jesus says that the gardener prunes the vine in order to produce even more fruit.  Some change is necessary to produce development. In order to cope with this change and development, Jesus instructs his friends to ‘remain in me’; in other words, stay close, stay connected, keep the relationship intimate and organic, keep on reflecting on my words, keep my commandments, keep in a Godly environment, don’t lose touch with God’s people, study God’s word.  

David Thatcher
 

Filed under: Thought of the Week