November 1st

My physiotherapist discovered I had fallen arches and a little lumbar oddity. Seems like those two conditions he identified meant things weren’t quite lined up and that was putting extra strain where extra strain wasn’t helpful. As a result, he prescribed orthotics for me so now I have a pair of appliances that will take some strain off my feet and my back.
When my physiotherapist had me try the orthotics, he noticed that my shoes had worn oddly as a result of my fallen arches and lumbar oddity. In fact, they were completely reshaped by my odd gait, which meant that they were actually working against the orthotics. In other words, while the orthotics pushed one way, my well worn shoes pushed the other. So now I have to buy new footwear so that my orthotics can do their job without anything undermining their efforts.
That happens quite often. Quite often one change leads to another because that first change is never in isolation. You can’t change the colour of your hair without people noticing. You can’t get a different car without adjusting your driving style to explore and exploit its full potential. You can’t change your diet without expecting your body to react to that change. Change is not a singular event. It is very much like a pebble being dropped in a river, a happening that moves the water in ever widening circles.
This ripple effect, this flowing out that causes subtle changes beyond the original movement, this impact upon impact that is inevitable yet not unpredictable is natural. It is to be expected that something different, even if it is only slightly so, will make a bigger difference than first seemed possible. The trick is being able not just to change, but to accept or deal with the resultant changes. My orthotics are a new thing, something I’ve never done before, and now they have caused me to get new shoes. I can deal with it. My wallet might not like it, but I will enjoy the benefits physically and mentally.
God works with us within our ever-changing lives. His biggest concern is our tendency to try to change the rules and to try to get away with as much as possible while still staying on His good side. God, however, does not change to accommodate us. God does not let His standards slip when we do. God, instead, helps change us back to what we should be. He restores us to wholeness when we realize we’ve changed too much. He shows us the way home when we’ve changed direction too much. He helps us make room for Him in our hearts when we’ve changed our priorities too much. Change is never a singular event. It’s ripples are often farther reaching than we first imagine. Yet no change is ever so great that God can’t restore us to what we should be. At least that’s the way I see it.