Stability Amidst Rapid Change

By Adam Messenger (Head of Middle School)

Things change.

The weather, your outfit, relationships, cultural trends. Some of these are within our power to control, but many are not.

Things are also changing at such a rapid pace - and not in a linear way, but exponentially - and it's not looking like the rate of change is about to plateau any time soon. Some of this change has been great, and many innovations have brought much positive contributions to our world.

It really wasn't long ago when 'swipe' referred to stealing something, 'Twitter' was an actual bird noise, car phones (with a cord) were cool, and we would never have believed that the three words "pinch to zoom" could ever go together!

Believe it or not, 300 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube every minute. (Feel free to read that again to make sure you read correctly!)

If my calculations are correct it would take roughly 50 years of your life - viewing YouTube day and night - to get through the amount of video that is uploaded in one single day!

This is just one fact out of many that highlights the rate of change that is occurring in this information age.

But it's not just the technological area that's in a state of flux. Political parties and their promises change, educational curriculum passes through processes of reform, the exchange rate rises and falls. In fact, the very ground we walk upon doesn't offer us any particular stability either. Everything seems to be in a state of upheaval.

There is often a fear, or at the least a nagging uneasiness, that comes when considering the speed of change or the lack of many stable forces in this world.

So where do we find a firm footing in this world? Can we find a peace for our soul in the midst of all this rapid change?

In the book of Malachi, a declaration is made that offers, I believe, the only reliable and sure stable force in our universe. "I am the Lord, and I do not change."

In Psalm 136, a phrase is spoken (or sung!) over and over again: "His faithful love endures forever."

It's God and his unchanging character, it's the knowledge that His love and His truth are everlasting that speaks of things unwavering and steadfast - a haven and strong fortress to reside amongst the tumult that life brings.

In my pocket is a rock. A flat, smooth river stone that accompanies me to school every single day.

This rock comes with me as a simple reminder of God: His relentless love and His everlasting presence. In the middle of a busy, hectic day I can grab hold of this rock, acknowledge that He is with me, thank Him for who He is, and  rest in the knowledge that, while all around can be like 'shifting sands', there is One that does not change.

While some might find the notion that an unchanging God and the contents of an ancient book irrelevant in a world of a rapidly growing information base and change on every side - there are many others that consider these things a source of comfort, hope and strength.

So what are you standing on?