Out With The Old And In With the New

Why do we as people cling to the old way of doing things? Why are we so resistant to change? Are we afraid? Do we believe that we will remain secure if we just hold on and keep doing what we’ve always done –  we will be safe? Over the years, several TV programs have attempted to introduce change – a different way – sometimes a better way. Whether it’s a Wife Swap to switch up the home life, a Super Nanny to reign in the kids, but more often the parents, or a Marie Kondo who comes to simplify home and life – these programs all seem to focus on the same thing. There is chaos or disfunction here, and change needs to occur to make things easier. But, often, those having to do the changing resist. Out with the old and in with the new is easier said than done.

All That Glitters Ain’t Glass.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think everything old is bad and everything new is good. Actually, I’ve often longed for an older version of something. I read a news article today about Coca-Cola being sued for ruining the oceans with their single-use plastics. It made me think about recycling when I was a child. Mom used to keep a brown paper bag in the closet. Each time we used the last of something, we would carefully place the glass jar into the bag for our next trip to the recycling center. There were very few plastic containers that I remember. Milk cartons were paper; bags were paper; jars were glass. Now we realize what we sacrificed for convenience.

Change Means A Loss Of Power

Other times we realize we should change but don’t want to. It’s usually because we will lose some aspect of our power if we change. It seems that this is what convinces the Pharisees to plot Jesus’ death after raising Lazarus from the dead. We will lose our temple, or following, our country they worried. They didn’t realize that Jesus was there to give them far more than they had already. His desire was not to take their power. Instead, he wanted to open the door to a whole new world to them. All they had to do was knock.

40-Day Challenge: Day 21 Reading

John 11

Revelations 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.