We dread change. Don’t we all?
Have you ever thought about why a child is always happy?
Children embrace and welcome change without any qualms. They are so much into change that they do not even realize that they are changing every moment. Change is part of their growing-up process. No wonder children are happy most of the time.
This happiness remains till they grow up. While growing up, they start to hold on to different pieces of baggage gathered around them in bits and pieces. The more they hold on to that extra piece of baggage, the more they are afraid of losing them, and the more unhappy they become.
When they grow up to reach adulthood, they are so stuck up with doing the familiar things that they lose their original pristine self. They remain more worried about the pieces of baggage that they have acquired during their lifetime, and they forget to enjoy life as it unfolds. They forget all the happiness and joy that comes with simple things in life. They are stuck within the whirlpool of expectations, responsibilities, and commitments. The reality holds them tight in its grip and slowly squeezes out the joy of living a fulfilled life. They then live only in the physical world, without the spirit that could have given them the joy - the real juice of life.
This is the story of an everyman, as he/she grows up from being a child to become a man/woman. But this need not be such a story. The story could be different if we can shed the pieces of baggage that we acquire as we grow up. It is an effort he/she must learn to make every day for a fulfilled life.
Haven’t we seen trees shedding their leaves every winter to grow anew, rejuvenated? Why can’t men/women take the cue from nature and reinvent themselves?
Here is a beautiful imaginary conversation with God written by John Roedel that asks us to welcome and celebrate changes by shedding all the extra pieces of baggage and embracing change, to realize our true selves.
So read on.
I’M FALLING APART. CAN YOU PUT ME BACK TOGETHER?
Me: Hey God.
God: Hello…..
Me: I’m falling apart. Can you put me back together?
God: I would rather not.
Me: Why?
God: Because you aren’t a puzzle.
Me: What about all of the pieces of my life that are falling down onto the ground?
God: Let them stay there for a while. They fell off for a reason. Take some time and decide if you need any of those pieces back.
Me: You don’t understand! I’m breaking down!
God: No – you don’t understand. You are breaking through. What you are feeling are just growing pains. You are shedding the things and the people in your life that are holding you back. You aren’t falling apart. You are falling into place. Relax. Take some deep breaths and allow those things you don’t need anymore to fall off of you. Quit holding onto the pieces that don’t fit you anymore. Let them fall off. Let them go.
Me: Once I start doing that, what will be left of me?
God: Only the very best pieces of you.
Me: I’m scared of changing.
God: I keep telling you – YOU AREN’T CHANGING!! YOU ARE BECOMING!
Me: Becoming who?
God: Becoming who I created you to be! A person of light and love and charity and hope and courage and joy and mercy and grace and compassion. I made you for more than the shallow pieces you have decided to adorn yourself with that you cling to with such greed and fear. Let those things fall off of you. I love you! Don’t change! … Become! Become! Become who I made you to be. I’m going to keep telling you this until you remember it.
Me: There goes another piece.
God: Yep. Let it be.
Me: So … I’m not broken?
God: Of course Not! – but you are breaking like the dawn. It’s a new day. Become!!!
~John Roedel~
"I’M FALLING APART. CAN YOU PUT ME BACK TOGETHER?"