“I, the Lord, do not change…”                                                                        Malachi 3:6

Swiftly walking with my mind drifting around from one thing to another, I looked up and locked eyes with a kind-looking stranger. I hoped my half smile and generic “Hi, how are you?” would be the only exchange so I could hurry to my destination. As soon as I glanced again, the lady began to share a big smile and an excited, “Hi, I know you. You may not remember me…” 

Scrolling through the rolodex in my brain nothing was clicking… no recognition. She continued, “I would have recognized you anywhere! You haven’t changed a bit! We went to high school together…” Wow – over 25 years ago and this person said she would have known me no matter what. She is good. Much better than me. I stopped and we chatted a little. Catching up on familiar friends and places from the past. Then, we parted ways.

Exchanges like this happen every day to a lot of different people. Nothing unusual. Nothing except I couldn’t quit thinking about the “you haven’t changed a bit” comment. The more it weighed on my mind the more I thought nothing could be farther from the truth. At least that is what I hope. 

I hope I have improved with age. Changed for the better. 

(That 80s hair really was a mistake in many ways… and those leg warmers, yikes!)

But more than the vain, superficial ways in which I hope I have improved, I know my heart has changed.

When you think of your life and the changes you have experienced, have all of those changes been good or positive? Probably not. 

As I reflect on my life and the changes I have experienced, it is more like a roller coaster than a steady incline. I have certainly experienced personal highs and lows. There have been many bright spots (probably more than I deserve) and dark moments as well. 

There are some points in my life of which I am not too proud – down right ashamed. But as I have learned those hard life lessons, I think I have figured it out – finally. 

I know I have changed for the better. 

I have learned the secret of contentment, happiness, and fulfillment. The secret to these things is the one thing that hasn’t changed over the years – and it really isn’t a secret: the Lord. He is the one constant. The catalyst for all that is good in my life.

The Lord does not change. No matter how many changes we go through in our life – fads, fashions, relationships, jobs – He is always the same. What a comfort to know!

I know the person I recently reunited with meant well in saying “you haven’t changed a bit” but I didn’t consider it much of a compliment. Through my life I’ve changed hair color. Gained weight – lost weight – gained it again. But more importantly, my selfish heart was replaced with a heart for helping others; and the biggest change of all are my priorities which I think are finally in order. 

The positive changes of a lifetime have all been through the One who never changes.

So, to my old acquaintance, I would say look again… I have changed in so many ways, my friend. 

I am in a great place personally and spiritually. 

We all change over the years. Whether on the outside or on the inside or both. 

With the Lord by our side we can make sure that those changes are for the better.