Most of us not too keen on change. When things that we have gotten used to change -new job or new area, or the place where you grew up – familiar buildings knocked down to make way for more apartments, more roads. Once there were shops, clubs, health centres, schools, but now they have changed so dramatically that the place is unrecognisable.  Even the parks have been built on, and the landmark public houses have had their names changed.

I remember as a child, going with my family for a summer evening to a little pub out in the country, but within walking distance, called ‘The Bear.’ (They actually had a real, live black bear in a cage in the pub garden) and they had swings and rides for the kids to play on – a pub that dated back to the 1800s. When we used to visit it in the 1960s it was a very popular landmark. The bear went from there many years ago but sadly the decision was made a long time later to change the name to ‘The Deer’s Rest’ - and they don’t even have any Deer there!  All modernised and stylish, some would say, but it has lost its character.

Lots of people shop out of town shopping these days, instead of at the local shops. Mums used to know the names of the shop assistants and would stand and have a chat, at the butchers, bakers, hardware shop or sweetshop. Gone are those times. No time for friendly chats, people too busy with the time taken up with travelling here and there because the local amenities have disappeared. People too scared to go outdoors these days, so shopping online has grown. But gone with the local shops, are the walks from home to get a loaf or a pint of milk whilst enjoying that freedom of choice.  My husband and I try to do things that we used to do as kids. We go for walks, fruit picking in the summer months at a lovely local fruit farm - driving through the countryside and finding somewhere to have a cream tea. Our grandchildren do not seem to have the same freedom as we did when we were kids through the 1950s and 1960s and into the 1970s.

Before things really started to change, we had visits from the funfair to the local park and picnics in the countryside. Also left behind today - Sunday school or going to church services. I remember outside my mum and dad’s house on summer evenings and most weekends stood a horse and cart, where the owner would sell fruit, veg, and beautiful cut flowers. Daffodils were my mum’s favourite and on Mothers’ day, the horse and cart would always be there and I’d pop out to buy her some ‘daffs.’  The iced cream man - Mr Whippy or Tonibel, would also park outside our house. My favourite was a ‘Popeye’ which was an iced cream cornet with a thin iced lolly on the top. And Wally’s Newsagent/Sweets van would park just outside the park gates across the road to the house On Wednesday evenings when my mum would go to her Mother’s Club, my dad would give me some money to go across to Walley’s van and buy sweets for us to share that evening, including his favourite raspberry ruffles. Whilst my mum was out, my dad and me would sit and watch Pot Black snooker on the TV. Such fond memories despite enduring so many changes over the years.

Some changes are for the better of course - better health care for all, better schooling, and for most, better housing and general welfare. But often changes and the unknown brings fear. The greatest change of all is something which every one of us desperately needs and will bring no fear, but which only a few accept. It is not a change that is one on the outside, that people will see, but one that happens on the inside.

It is a change that God, by His Holy Spirit, does within our hearts - if we let Him!

If we repent (give up and turn away from) all the wrong things we have done, said, or thought (the Bible calls it sin) God will cleanse us from the inside and make us new creations in Christ Jesus. He will change us from lost sinners into saved children of the Living God. We will no longer be destined for a sad end in a lost eternity (hell) but we will have a new home to look forward to in heaven.

Now that is a change which we could all do with happening!

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