Amidst all the change, there is a constant

When I was 8 years old, our family vacationed in California where we visited relatives. We were eager to see our cousins but really more excited about the new attraction in Los Angeles: Disneyland. We struck out early one June morning from New Mexico in our 1956 blue Ford Fairlane en route to California.

I was eager to finally experience Disneyland. But something else fanned my zeal for California. I was sure I would see Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. They were my heroes. My naiveté kept my imagination running and my anticipation high.

After three days, we arrived in Los Angeles. On the third day, we spotted a new hamburger drive-in place that we had seen advertised. They boasted 29-cent hamburgers and “ready in five minutes.”

We all went up to the window to order. We gave our order to the attendant and then we watched the flurry of activity. Before the five minutes was up, we got our food. We sat down to eat on some outside benches with tables.

We all just sat amazed at the steady procession of customers. Our family conversation centered on this new phenomenon in drive-ins. Daddy shook his head in amazement and asked: “Do you think places like this will ever catch on?”

The name of that place was McDonald’s — and yes, it has caught on.

The world has changed. With the passing of time circumstances, events and situations in life do change. Nothing stays the same. Families change. New babies are born, son-in-laws, daughters-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins are added to the clan. Children grow up and parents grow older. A mother’s children are gone and to her it only seems like yesterday that she was finishing cupcakes on an early school morning to take to class third grade Christmas party.

Everything changes. The economy “shifts,” the stock market rises and falls, and earthquakes alter the surface of the land. Cities are transformed into different places over time, vacant lots in town are developed, old buildings are demolished, and churches are rebuilt on the distant edge of town to accommodate “the way the city is moving.”

Governments change. Civil wars, revolutions, and elections bring new presidents or rulers. Students are required to memorize the founders of the country so those founding fathers will not be forgotten with the passing of time.

Life is fluctuating and life moves on and we advance with it. We have no choice and many times because we are in a constant state of change, nothing in life seems dependable. Change in this life is inevitable. Yet, through all of life’s changes, I can always count on one area of my life to me consistent: Jesus. He is the same whether society is changing or not, and no matter what circumstances I face.

The Bible declares this: “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8.) The Christ we have today is the same Christ that fed the five thousand, calmed the sea, walked on the water, healed diseases and conquered death. Christ can sustain us through the swelling tide of change, no matter what season of our lives or condition of the world.

Judy Brandon is an instructor at Clovis Community College. Contact her at:

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