Here is our latest element of change. We all love him already. He's quirky. He's a challenge to understand. He's very, very laid back. He's affectionate, that is, in his own way. He used to run 45 mph. Now he sleeps 4-5 hours at a time. His life has changed and so has ours.

Our family changed. We wanted this change. We planned it. We prepared, read books and blogs, went to meet and greets.

But when he arrived, we all had adjustments to make. We each had new roles to fill. We each had to be trained along with him. There were moments when it wasn't necessarily.... smooth. But we are growing, and growing isn't always easy, organized or calm.

In fact, growing can be downright scary, chaotic, and stormy.

My church is going through change. Growth. Carefully considered adjustments to the implementation of a key precept; "Taking our next step together towards Christ." My family is going through change; we wanted to rescue a retired professional athlete and give him a good home for the rest of his life.

I wish I could say that I always provide a mature response to change for my family. I would say that I get more mature with each adjustment to change. But I still slip into default mode. I'm asking God for the courage to make some adjustments to my default mode.

There are moments in our lives when we can operate with dignity, poise, and courage. But in my life, that usually happens when I am in control, not necessarily when I am responding to change. Change adds that element of uncertainty and instability that can throw my best performance a bit farther than my arm of maturity can reach.

I believe at those moments, when instability and insecurity surface, we also discover core beliefs about ourselves and those around us. When we have the courage to work through those beliefs, stare them right in the face, replace lies with truth, and respond instead of react, I believe we can decide our response to change. I believe we can repair what may be broken in our hearts and, in that brief moment between stimulus and response, choose our course.

The funny thing is, I love change when it's things like clothes, furniture, haircuts, etc. Elements of change involving family (read, "independant thinkers who aren't like me") create a spider-web of inter-reactions and default responses making multiple layers of stimulus/response triggers that can collide and over stimulate my A.D.D. brain. But I'm thankfrul for friends and family who tolerate my growth patterns.

I'm changing. I'm glad God has taught me how change can change me. for the better.