Monday Morning Manna: Changes

In 1964 I graduated from college, got married, and enrolled in seminary. It was a year of many changes. That same year, Bob Dylan wrote what he called, “a deliberate attempt to create an anthem of change,” the last verse of which said, “As the present now will later be past, the order is rapidly fading, and the first one now will later be last, for the times they are a-changin’.” As one who preferred country music, I was not a fan of Bob Dylan, but his lyrics stuck with me through the years – years of continual change. Now, fifty-five years later, more change occurs. It seems like only a few years ago that I stood in a hospital room and looked for the first time at my beautiful, new-born, granddaughter, Whitney. A few days ago, I stood again at her hospital bed, along with her husband, Josh, and other family members, and looked at my handsome, new-born, great-grandson, Crawford Graham Kennedy. Among my many thoughts were two: I don’t have many years left to experience the changes of life, and he has a lifetime of changes ahead of him. I pray that his changes will be at least as exciting and meaningful as were mine, and that he will near the end with as much sense of fulfillment as I now enjoy. For the upcoming changes of life, I offer the little Crawford namesake, Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” And for me, I reflect on the words of Dr. Seuss, “How did it get so late, so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.