Embrace Change

"Change" was a primary theme of 2008 and it looks like it will continue to be a theme in 2009 in all areas of my life. Personally, professionally, spiritually, physically and emotionally. In two days America will inaugurate Barack Obama as the 44th President, "The People's President." It's got a nice ring to it, don't you think? Today I watched as the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles to make it to the Super Bowl. The Cardinals? Seriously? What the hell is going on America? Whatever it is, I kinda like it. Whether or not we agree with all of this change, we just need to suck it up and embrace it. 

I was thinking today about how easy it is to vote for change. By that I mean, it's rather simple to pick up a blue or black pen and scribble on a ballot. What is not as easy is actually making change happen by stepping out of our comfort zone and doing something radical. Gandhi said it best, "be the change you want to see in the world". We must act now. This week like most Americans I will be celebrating MLK and Obama, but I will be also thinking or how I can be an agent of change in Portland, at Reed, for Gay Rights, etc. I want to do something radical. I have been thinking about people in history that I would call a heroes of mine. Some of them are: Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, Harvey Milk, Martin Luther and I'm sure there are others that are escaping my mind at the moment. What they all have in common is that they were/are radical and left a lasting impression on the world. 

I just needed to put my thoughts in writing because I was on introspection overload. A couple months ago I was having lunch with my friend/old college pastor who both moved from Southern California around the same time. He was moving his family up here and starting a church and I was taking the next step in my career and relocated to a quirky little college that I read about in  a nonreligious theological novel a few years ago. He said something interesting to me and that was, "I think God brought us both here for a reason". Something radical is going on in this funky little town know as The People's Republic of Portland. I've transitioned, embraced change and now I ready for something more...I just don't know what that is just yet.