NEW MUSIC

As I was driving down the road one day earlier this year, I changed the radio station from country back to classical. I remembered what prompted me to change in the first place.

For many years, I listened happily to country music through lots of changes in personnel for the AM show. These people became part of my morning routine. About a year ago, the station was trying to attract a younger audience and changed the morning DJs to two young guys. But their humor had an edge to it that instead of making me smile, made me angry and annoyed. They were making fun of people in ways that were not funny to me.

I changed stations and sent an e-mail to register my negative reactions. Even though the station answered my e-mail, I knew the change was permanent.

I don’t like it when change comes to my life this way. With no warning, your life is disrupted, and it can’t be turned back. How do you respond to change? With a sense of fear and dread or a positive attitude that God has new and wonderful plans in store for you? More often than not, I respond with fear and not wonderful expectations.

I would like my reaction to be one of expectation that God has a plan for my life, even in the little things. I can think of examples when change brought fear, loss of control and outcomes I didn’t like. I also can think of many changes that brought so many more blessings than I could have ever imagined. So today, as I listen to the classical music and enjoy all the joy it has brought me, I am reminded that God does have wonderful plans for my life. I can choose an attitude of fear or one of great expectations. When I choose an attitude of hopeful expectation, I start to look for the good things coming into my life.

You, too, can choose your attitude when change comes into your life. Will it be fear or great expectations of the plans that God has for your life?

— Elaine Woodward

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist