Change is good. Change is necessary. Change is, after all, inevitable. But some change is tough; some change is difficult; some change is uncomfortable. Getting a new, comfortable mattress that does not squeak with the slightest movement is a change for the better. Adding a family member to a growing clan is a good change, a happy change. Buying a new car, getting braces off, adopting a puppy: these are changes that one rejoices over, these changes bring happiness.
A cousin passes away; a father must uproot his family because of a job change; divorce. These changes break hearts, bring tears, and force people down roads that they do not care to tread. But such is life. Life is a progression of changes until it ceases to be life.
A son goes off to college.
A son, a friend, a brother leaves.
A boy goes off to become a man. To grow up.
This is change, no doubt, but what kind of change? Is it the change that brings tears? breaks hearts? Yes. But is it not also the change that one rejoices over? that one finds happiness in? Yes. And is it not also necessary? inevitable? good? Yes. Change presents itself in many forms. Sometimes the changed went out to achieve change for themselves. Other times it is forced upon them, a phone call, a knock at the door. Forever would they remember that knock as the one that brought them news of change. Of hated change.
Still other times one goes out to find change, but then recoil once they do. "Please," they ask, "Let me have this opportunity. It is time for me to take this step in my life." But when they receive the letter in the mail their heart sinks when they realize what they have done. They have been accepted. Accepted into Change. University of Change.
I found change in the mailbox. It came in a small, red envelope. It read Accepted. Some change is good. Some change is bad. Some, some change, is a lot of both. This is where I found it. With my camera I captured it. I pressed that little silver button. That moment, now, remains unchanged.
