Today’s scripture: Philippians 3:12-21 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Linda Bernabie):
Philippians 3:12-21 is about “change.” Paul is speaking to the Philippians about his own faith journey and how he has made a goal to live a life of Christ. It has been difficult and he still has changes to make, but he knows embracing Jesus will give him true inner peace, happiness, and redemption. He is asking for Jews and Gentiles to share his goal to change. We all know that sharing can be a challenge.
Years ago I worked for a small regional company that was soon to be bought out by a Forbes 100 company. In preparation for this “change” (paradigm shift), we were given a small, paperback book called Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson. This small book gave me a completely different perspective on change. It taught me not to fear change, but to embrace it. Following is a summary of this little book that “changed” my life:
There are four characters: two mice, “Sniff” and “Scurry,” and two little people, “Hem” and “Haw.” They lived in a maze and their favorite activity was looking for cheese. It made them so happy that each morning they would scamper through the maze looking for cheese. One morning, as they were running around the maze, they found “Cheese Station C.” It was FULL of cheese . . . enough cheese to satisfy them for a lifetime!
With a lifetime of cheese, Hem and Haw began lazily getting up every morning and slowly walking to Cheese Station C. Life was good, and they were very content! Sniff and Scurry eagerly woke up every morning and continued to scamper around the maze and go to Cheese Station C.
One morning, Hem and Haw walked to Station C, but when they arrived they discovered it was empty. They were furious! WHO MOVED MY CHEESE?? They were depending on their cheese supply to be constant. They shouted about the unfairness of the situation and they wanted justice! Haw suggested searching for a new Cheese Station, but Hem rejected his proposal. He was afraid and only wanted things to be like they used to be.
When Sniff and Scurry found Station C empty, they were not surprised. They had noticed the cheese supply was decreasing and had mentally prepared for this situation. They accepted the circumstances and moved on to search for another source of cheese. Eventually they found Cheese Station N, a new supply of cheese.
Meanwhile, Haw again suggested to Hem that they search for new cheese, but Hem rejected Haw’s idea again. Hem just didn’t want to change, he was comfortable with his old cheese and he was afraid of trying the new cheese in Station N. He just wanted his old cheese back, and he would be happy again!
Eventually Haw realized he needed to conquer his fears. So he left Hem and began looking for new cheese. Haw eventually found Cheese Station N and found it bigger, better, and tastier than Cheese Station C. Wanting to remember everything he had learned, he wrote on the walls in Cheese Station N his thoughts for the day:
- Change happens: They keep moving the cheese.
- Anticipate change: Get ready for the cheese to move.
- Monitor change: Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old.
- Adapt to change quickly: The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese.
- Change: Move with the cheese.
- Enjoy change: Savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of new cheese.
Thought for the day: Change happens. Enjoy change.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.