"Behold, I make all things new." Revelation 21:5
This past summer I was the Command Chaplain on FOB Piojo during Operation Pacific Warrior at Ft. Hunter-Liggett, California. I had never been to California and probably had some misconceptions about that state. I was surprised at how dry and hot central California can be in the middle of June and just how barren the hills and mountains can be. My first impression of California, therefore, was not very positive. I wondered why anybody would want to move to Califonria. The longer that I stayed in California, though, the more that I began to appreciate the stark beauty of the land. The barren hills and mouintains revealed many sculped rills and draws. The sparce vegetation increasingly appeared in intricate patterns of green amid a sea of brown earth. The intense blue and cloudless skies and brilliant sunsets added their own dramatic beauty. I soon came to realize that my initial impressions were a simplistic reaction against that which seemed to be different from what I had experienced in Pennsylvania.
I think that we all often have negative reactions to what we see as new. We sometimes immediately reject those things that are different from those things to which we are accustomed and familiar. It often takes us a while to see the positive qualities of those things that are new. Yet, in reality, we all must come to terms with change. The truth is that we are continually experiencing change in our lives and we must constantly make adjustments to that which is new. Indeed, our Lord is continually coming into our lives in new and wonderful ways. He is constantly seeking to influence and guide our lives by offering us new insights into the way that he is touching our lives. May we be open to what our Lord is doing in our lives today and what he is going to do in our lives tomorrow and in the days to come.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Rod
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Revised Wednesday, November 24, 2004