The third day of Lent: facing up to change

Some people just can’t do change. When something that’s been a certainty suddenly is no more, what follows it can be a challenge. I’m a Radio 2 listener and no more Ken Bruce after next Friday will be hard. I might listen to Popmaster on Greatest Hits Radio maybe. It’s been announced today that Vernon Kay has the 9.30 slot from May. Already the nastiness on social media has started. Some people just can’t do change. 

Life never stands still. Some of us met earlier tonight to continue to prepare for our new colleague arriving with us next Thursday. We will face changes as things won’t be as they were. She may well get “but Ian didn’t do it that way.” Local folk if you are reading this please don’t say that to her. She isn’t me and brings a unique ministry to you. Change can be exciting. I’ve just read that the Rev Claire Renshaw is to be the new canon pastor at the cathedral. This is fabulous news as I know Claire as she has been my spiritual director for the last few years and so we might work well together here ecumenically.

Today the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been marked. Consider tonight how that brave nation and their courageous President quickly had to adapt to change. Many lives were suddenly brutally disrupted as they became refugees, while others were called up to serve in the military, many without training. A year on, we cannot see an end to Russian bombs but the Ukrainian people remain resilient and hopeful this might soon pass. 

This Sunday we will remember Jesus driven into the wilderness. He faced brutal change. One minute he is called beloved then he has no choice but to ensure physical and mental anguish. I like to remember in Matthew’s version of the desert experience angels waited on him.

So what changes do you face you are fearful of or you can’t wait to come? Where do you get help to work through them? Jesus came through the desert challenge to minister; President Zelensky continues to inspire his nation; Claire and her family will need support leaving her current parish to move to Ripon and you know what —- we can cope with Vernon Kay! Actually I think he’s a warm and engaging broadcaster. It’s a change but it will be okay. 

And maybe continuing to think about Lenten discipline, we may be the ones who need to change. Remember these words of President Obama:

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”