Changes in People - The Individual Response

The Basic Issue

There are two types of changes which a person makes when confronted with a new challenge, the type of change which is more or less predictable because of overarching factors, and the type of change which is totally unique. One of the marvelous aspects of human life is the reality of choice, and the variations on those choices which emerge in day to day life.

Take the matter of growing old, for example. I recall being called up by an elderly woman in an old folk's home who wanted to take to me. She said, "I'm not ready for this place, the people here are old. I'm only 76." I asked "what would you rather be doing?" She replied, "I want to ride a skidoo and ride a horse." When I asked why she didn't, she replied that she might get hurt or killed. I said, "can you think of a better way to go?" Then I told her of when I was learning to fly. I asked the instructor one day how high the little plane could go. He replied "as high as you want". I said, " Oh, come on, you can't go to the moon." He said, "no but if you fly by the little book in the glove compartment, you will miss most of the fun. A plane is designed to lift only until the air thins out to a given density, then it just won't lift any higher. The trouble is, there are days when that density of air is quite high up and some days when it is quite low. Push your ceiling, and sometimes you will get the thrill of a lifetime.

I said to the woman, life is a bit like flying an airplane. You are only built to operate under certain strengths and circumstances but those outside conditions vary for a lot of reasons. Push your ceiling and see how high you can fly. I then asked "do you know anybody who has a skidoo or a horse?". she replied "Yes". "Then" I said, "I guess the ball is in your court. It's your move."

Authentic and courageous living on the individual, group, or community front can be exhilarating but there comes a time for all of us when we find that the resources we have to fulfil such a life in all its interwoven complexity is simply not enough. That takes us to our final module, Christmas, a key step in God's community development project. For those of us in ministry, it also forms that place where need meets the word of God.

Aspects of The Individual Response

• Youth
• Senior Citizens
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Rural Development Institute Research Studies

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