I hate change. It’s one of the major flaws in my system; friends and family will happily testify to it. For instance, my bedroom remained the same Barbie-pink for ten years until my family migrated to a different house. And even then, I insisted on keeping my dirty, old, mauve wastebasket just because I’d had it forever. I couldn’t imagine switching to a different one – it was like an old friend. A very ugly, gross-looking friend.
During my sophomore year in high school, my parents suggested moving to Illinois for Dad’s potential job. I freaked. “Move??!! I don’t want to move half-way across the country to a private school that only has eight students in my grade! No thanks!” (I had thirty-two classmates in my current high school; that was small enough for me). Moving to Illinois became a moot point when Dad didn’t get the job.
I’ve always prided myself on being consistent. Steady. And maybe that’s one of my problems. I don’t want to go outside the box; my little cubbyhole is perfectly fine, thanks. Just writing a blog about this is stepping out of my comfort zone.
God has a funny way of wanting to take His creatures out of their comfort zones. Throughout the Bible, He constantly molded and shaped people willing to listen to Him. He even shaped people who didn’t listen to Him. He still does today. But because we’re usually oblivious, He often has to use an electric cattle prod to poke us in the right direction.
One of the questions in my Advanced Expository class asked what my life would look like for one hour if I was totally devoted to Christ. I think I would be more willing to step out of the boat, take chances. Act crazy more than just once in a while. Eat more ice cream. Talk to the scary-looking hobo on the street corner (Okay, maybe I’d do that if there were several male friends with me). The point is that I need to be willing to listen to God and let Him shape me into the person that He intends me to be. John 8: 31-32 states that “to the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (NIV). Are you willing to follow the Teacher and learn the truth? Or do you want hide in your comfort zone, holding onto a disgusting waste basket?
(In case you’re wondering, I eventually switched out my pinkish-purple garbage can for a sleeker black model that hides my pencil sharpener shavings).
