How do we know when someone has become something new? When is a person "changed"? Are we considered changed if just outside things are different? What about internal things? What makes a changed man?
I have been pondering this the last couple of days. I have noticed that since it has become public that I am resigning as youth pastor to go back to school, I get treated differently by some people. I wasn't shocked by this, but have been surprised by some people's change in response. Am I still a person with worthwhile thoughts to them? Does my opinion matter anymore, or am I just on the way out? Since I am no longer "youth pastor Nate" does that make me different? Have I changed?
I don't know how to adequately answer that question. I don't feel or look much different than a month ago, but there are differences. I have spent more time thinking about writing since then. I've even spent more time thinking about money since then. I've become excited and passionate about things that I wasn't focusing on before, and have lost focus on things that were crucial to me before. Most everything that I think about is different now than it was a month ago. Can I be a changed person because of these differences?
As stated as an original question of this thought process, when do we know someone has been changed?
The Bible says we become "new creations." How do we see these things? Are they external or internal? What do you think?
Thursday, June 22, 2006
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1 comments:
I think you should be surprised if things "don't change". Life's experiences, mundane and exceptional, are part of life in this world. The only constant is change. Nothing ever is as it was, either for real, or as we remember them. The passing of time, short and long, causes change. We have new experiences, learn from old and new ideas, old and new people and old and new friends.
Change is to be expected but, attempting to anticipate individual reactions to change can be dissapointing. As well as we think we know ourselves, and our closest friends and relations, we can be upset, when the don't react the way we anticipate, and happy when we guess right (lucky guess?).
That people react to change, your change in relationship to them, should be expected. The unexpected, or unanticipated, may cause questions, hurt, happines, etc. but, that's part of life.
This is over simplifying one aspect of your question and thoughts. We seek and look for consistency in relationships, friendships, and interaction. Change may or may not visibly alter those relationships in positive or negative ways. We hope for the positive, deal with the negative and continue to live our lives as best as we can.
Reactions to change can often be an indicator of how strong an individual relationship is, or where weaknesses need to be dealt with. The fact of change should be expected, reactions to change should be expected, knowing the reactions in advance is not always possible.
Interesting topice and now I've rambled on too long.
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