A Change is Gonna Come

Dressed and ready for next steps!

I woke this morning hearing strange, somewhat melodic sounds from my insides. Gurgle, whine, purrrr, gurgle whine purrr. Michael had warned me this would happen, that as my body began to recover it would get noisy reacting to the anesthetic and to the fact that even in a simple procedure, things had been moved, and everything had to readjust. When my mind became more alert, I realized another important change, I was almost pain free lying there in my morning haze.. There had been a significant change over night. It felt so good to experience the change.. the healing. It was such a hopeful feeling to have this very concrete feeling of change. My mind could not help but drift to wondering if I could keep going with the flow of change and experience the healing of my heart.

For some strange reason the song, A Change is Gonna Come, by Sam Cook as performed my Adam Lambert on American Idol came to mind. I had to sort through the DVR list to find it and listen again.

I was born by the river in a little tent
And just like that river I've been running ever since
It's been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
Cos I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

And then I go to see my brother
And I ask him to help me please
And he just winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees

There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

One thing in life is certain - change. With every second we are changing; the people around us are changing; the circumstance of our existence is changing. This morning was confirmation that I am changing towards strength and healing, recovering from surgery. It gave me hope that positive changes are happening in other aspects of my life. But, not everyone can say that the daily, momentary changes are towards healing and wholeness. What about those who are on a course of deterioration, who’s bodies are diseased and dying. What about those who are stuck in destructive patterns, of addiction or denial and avoidance?

I have come to know myself professionally as a “change agent.” Multiple vocational assessments have identified that I am one who is excited by change, help others to accept it and welcome new circumstances. I have changed jobs fairly often and been a part of restructuring within those jobs. It doesn’t always translate to proficiency in working with change in my personal life.

But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will