Pocket Full of Change

Poet William Cowper said, “Variety is the spice of life” and I don’t mean to take anything from him but I like to say that CHANGE is the spice of life. Too much change and we become overwhelmed, and our life may feel like a flag caught in a windstorm. Not enough change and life becomes dull and boring.

Darlings, change is inevitable. Change can be a consequence of our choices. Change can be a consequence of other’s choices. Change can feel good and other times it can rip the tears from our tear ducts. No matter, stick around and read on. I have a pocket full of change to share with you.

My friend just lost her husband of forty years. Like many of us, she and her husband made their plans for the week and never thought to include death as part of it. But it happened. It was sudden. She is learning how to cope and embrace this new normal. Sometimes change is hard and it’s brought on by circumstances that are beyond our ability to control.

On the other hand, my niece just got married. She is in that part of the change curve that we call the honeymoon- and boy hidee, are those two love angels glowing! Just hold on to these blissful times sweetie because all marriages will ebb and flow. Today, your heart is salivating in love and your mouth is oozing with sweet nothings but tomorrow is a new day and a new day may usher in all sorts of other vowels and consonants. One change can bring joy one day and then sorrow the next – but do it anyway - because I know this…failure is impossible for two people who love each other, serve God, serve each other, and work together.

My mom retired last year. She is thrilled beyond words to give up the hassle of timecards, performance reviews and commuting woes but she must pay more attention to her expenses now that her income is less. Which means she has to say “no” to things because there is simply no room in the budget now. Sometimes change ushers in good and bad things at the SAME time.

Friends of mine recently moved to a new home much farther away from the city. Their new home is delightfully beautiful and situated in the country away from the city lights and close to the sounds of nature. They endured the long hours of loading and unloading many truckloads of belongings. And probably a lot of vowels and consonants. But now they are unpacked and settled once again. Change for them was a conscience choice and it came with long laborious days, but they had an end goal and achieved it.

Covid has certainly been an unwelcomed change to all of us, but I bet there are those who decided to endure it and make some good of it. Take for example my friend Steve. At the beginning of the pandemic, he purchased a weight bench and weights. Being quarantined and locked indoors, he traded his newfound free time for indoor training time. He has dropped a lot of weight and gained a lot of muscles. He rolled with it…he made lemonade from lemons. He transformed into a better version of himself brought about by change he didn’t ask for.

Recently, another young lady decided to quit her job because she couldn’t get along with her co-workers. Or her co-workers couldn’t get along with her. Or maybe some other dynamic I am unaware of. But none the less…quit her job…just like that. No job and no plan but plenty of bills to pay. I am sure she has a heap of worry, but she made the choice to walk away instead of enduring this rough season. And I am not judging that. I hope to someday report a happy ending for her but now all we can do is hope for the best. I’ve seen this similar story work out well for others. Sometimes change is a choice.

Have you ever stuck your hand in your pocket to pull out some change and snagged a handful of other unexpected things? Like pocket lint? Or a surprise dollar bill? Change is a lot like this. It can surprise you. Change can be shocking. Your resilience can be amazing. So next time you think about change, remember to hope for the unexpected surprises amid the coins.

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