FICKLE CHANGE

        Today is Labor Day, a U.S. national holiday held the first Monday every September. Unlike most U.S. holidays, it is a celebration without rituals, except for shopping and barbecuing. For most people it simply marks the last weekend of summer and the start of the school year. The holiday’s founders in the late 1800s were looking for two things: a means of unifying union workers and a reduction in work time.
        On September 3, 1967, the people of Sweden discovered how much work it is to change an old law. It was the day they changed their law of driving on the left side of the road to driving on the right side. It resulted in chaos on a scale rarely seen.
        The day of change had been advertised as “H Day” for over a year in advance. “H” stood for “Högertrafikomläggningen” which translates to mean “The right-side traffic conversion.” That day the traffic jams were numerous and humorous. Swedish drivers snarled traffic in cities and smashed into each other on country roads. Some drivers had forgotten about the change, and others hadn’t heard of it. Still others simply resisted the unwanted change and paid the price.
        A logo had been designed that was a large “H” with an arrow inside it moving from the left to the right. The country had been attempting to implement this change for over 40 years, and some had even composed songs played on media so the people would know about it. Despite many preparations, accidents and traffic mayhem reigned in the country for several days.
        People resist change or new customs because we are accustomed to our old ways. Even the word “accustomed” tells us how important “customs” are to us. Changing worship customs can drive members to another church, and change of government leadership can cause people to be resistant to new laws or those elected to enforce them.
        The Jewish leaders in Jesus’ time resisted new things, often violently. Early Christians were punished, jailed and sometimes killed for speaking of Jesus. Jesus Himself was condemned to crucifixion by Roman and Jewish leaders because His new message undermined their old ways.
        Jesus said, “No one puts new wine into old wineskins… But new wine is for fresh wineskins.” (Mark 2:22) Citizens may struggle with change that is needed, but Christians do not change what is essential – our faith in Jesus Christ and the customs surrounding His Lordship. Change should have a useful purpose, not just be to conform to the world’s fickle impulses.
What are you often tempted to change that is essential?
Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com