Life Truths

I’m not that old, but it sure seems like the Winter Olympics have changed since I first remember watching as a ten year-old. In 1984 the Sarejevo Olympic games includes the hard-as-nails men’s figure skating with Scott Hamilton. It included the men’s bobsled which the American’s politely lost over and over again. I even remember watching the ski jump which made me jump off of the couch time and again until I thought I could fly.
Now I don’t mind change once in a while. I change my mind quite often. I change the towels in the bathroom. I even change underwear from time to time. But the change in the Olympics has taken some getting used to. The short-track speed skating is interesting with it’s bumping, and shoving and passing and speed. The snowboard and ski cross has been fun with its speed and danger. The curling has taken some getting used to. It is entertaining in the way that corn-hole or horseshoes is entertaining but I’m missing the Olympian aspect to it. Let’s be honest…these aren’t the same kind of people who participate in the cross-country skiing or the Nordic combined. These people push a stone across the ice. Actually horseshoes requires more athletic prowess.
This brings me back to change. In Exodus God told Moses, “I Am” when asked to identify Himself. (Ex. 3:14). What is so important about this is that God doesn’t change. He’s everything we need and everything we ever will need. That can give you confidence to really fly in life.

I used to be a very, very outdoorsy person.  The kinda guy that loved a good 8 mile hike on a Saturday afternoon.  I was the kinda guy that loved a tent, the sound of crickets, and swimming in a hidden forest stream.  Mind you, I wasn’t a tree hugger or anything, I just really enjoyed fresh air, exercise, and enjoying God’s creation. 

Today I had to do a serious evaluation of a transformation that has taken place.  If I had to be honest, in the past 15 years I’ve truly come to appreciate hotel rooms, bug spray, and air conditioning.  Late summer is always a blessing and a bit of a curse.  Gnats the size of bees and angry bees the size of small hummingbirds.  Why is it that if I want to roll around in the grass with my kids I have to walk into the house with 18 various bug bites on my arms and lets and forehead?  That’s right, forehead.  A bite on my forehead looks like high school acne all over again! 

I don’t know if this is the kind of change I foresaw coming when I was 20 and sleeping out under the stars but it certainly aggravates me now from time to time.  How sad that I prefer a hotel room to a two-man.  But change is inevitable I guess. 

I am thankful that God doesn’t change and that He doesn’t change His mind.  He’s the same yesterday, today and forever.  In a life full of changes (some warrented and some just sad) it’s nice to know that there is a constant that you can hang your hat on!

Now, where’s the bug spray?