Change

Hi everyone! Welcome to the inaugural post of my new personal blog! I've been meaning to start a blog for quite a while now, and I'm super stoked about finally having this new outlet for sharing my thoughts, ideas, and general inner workings with you.

For my first blog entry, I'd like to write about something pertinent to the newest chapter of my life. Something fairly heavy that I know many of you can relate to. I'd like to write about change.

By worldly standards, this is a very "big" time in my life. I've recently graduated from college (hooray!), and am now on the path of pursuing my first professional career in the working world. God has been very good to me - I'm moving to northern California, am starting an exciting new job, and am financially secure for my first foray into true independence. Life is good, and I'm very thankful.

A friend said to me a couple weeks ago, "Cooper, you're an adult now!" I thought about his statement for a second. Then I realized, I didn't like it very much. In fact, I think my subconscious might have gagged a little when he said it. His words, as playful as they were, made me realize that things were drastically changing in my life...and I became a little scared for a minute.

Over the last month or so, I've had a lot of people ask me how I feel about moving my life to California. "Are you excited? Are you nervous? Are you scared?" And my answer to all of those questions is a resounding YES. Moving my life from the east coast to the west coast is a change that is simultaneously exciting, nerve wracking, and incredibly terrifying. But what's interesting to me is that all of those answers could be classified as good things or bad things. And while thinking about those answers as being good or bad is all fine and good, I can't help but think that the good vs. bad context is missing the point.

Here's what I'm getting at. You always hear people talking about change like it's good or bad. You hear them say, "Change is good!" or "I don't like change..." or something along those lines. But you know, I've been thinking about change being good vs bad...and while it certainly can be good or bad, change in and of itself is so much more than that. Change is NECESSARY.

Certainly, A change can be good. A change can be bad. But the process of change goes beyond being good or bad. It's a tool that God uses to grow us as individuals. If we never experienced changes, then we would be stagnant. We would never mature; we would never continue in our walks of becoming the people that God wants each of us to be.

In thinking about change and how it matures us, I've also been thinking about qualities needed during changes. Specifically, there are 3 main characteristics that I keep coming back to as I go through these big changes in my own life.

First, Courage. Without courage, we wouldn't have the fortitude to take on new tasks that God places before us. Always have courage, and change won't ever scare you.

Second, Perseverance. Without perseverance, we wouldn't have the stamina or mental attitude to continue in our changes. Have perseverance and change won't ever get you down.

And third, Wisdom. Without wisdom, we wouldn't know what a change was for. If change presents itself to you and you don't learn anything from it, then it hasn't really served it's purpose. Ask God for wisdom to discern what a change is doing for you, and you'll certainly grow and mature from it.

Change is an intimidating thing, for sure. But it's also a wonderful tool that God uses to add color and excitement to our lives. It's a NECESSARY tool that God uses to GROW us. So, if change presents itself to you, keep these things in mind. Remember that change is God's tool. Be courageous enough to face it. Have a persevering attitude. And ask yourself how God is using it to grow you.

I'm really going to miss you guys back home. But I'll also be praying that you will continue to grow towards becoming the people that God wants you to be. For those of you who are about to experience big changes (and I know many of you are!!!)...don't be afraid or depressed. Be exceedingly joyful in knowing that God is speeding up your growth process. =)

FYI, I'm about a day away from being at my final destination. I'll write again very soon, and post pictures of the trip and my new apartment.