Change

God, give us the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,
the courage to change the things which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Change. Some of us embrace change, some of us cringe at the thought. But can any of us deny that change is a part of the rhythm of life? One reason we stayed in New England after we retired was because we enjoy the changing of the seasons. Somehow that changing reminds us we can't just slip into a comfortable rut and expect life to always be that way.

We can't really slip into a comfortable groove with our faith life either. If we are growing, we are changing, just as a flower bud slowly emerges into full flower then into a seed for another season of changing. Sometimes we would like not to have to deal with all the changing, most especially in our life of faith. It might be nice sometimes not to feel challenged by new ideas, or new insights. But can any of us forget the exhilaration, the excitement and the renewed energy when we acknowledge or make a change in our relationship with God? This month's books talk of a variety of changes. Perhaps one of the will awaken for you the passion change can bring.

LEARNING TO DANCE THE SALSA: 17 SURPRISING STEPS FOR GODLY LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY. by Leonard I. Sweet. Zondervan Publishers, 2000. 220 pages, hardcover $18.99.

Perhaps you know that the salsa is one of the first really global rhythms and most dance classes include some form of its sound and rhythms. It is said you cannot define the salsa, only dance it. In like manner, Sweet thinks we should live Christianly, not just talk Christianly.

This is the third book in Sweet's series about understanding Christianity in a post-modern age. This one is more personal, giving readers down to earth, often humorous, suggestions for living a biblical faith that comes out of everyday life. His 17 steps are designed to move us onto the "dance floor of life", to help us live lives that are faithfully and culturally relevant in these times. A little gimmicky but sound.

IMAGES OF CHANGE by Rosemary Luling Haughton. Paulist Press, 2000. 200 pages, paper $19.95.

Sometimes we need to think of our role in making structural change, not just be concerned with our own personal change. Rosemary Houghton writes of the great opportunities we have to do so right now. The church is going to change and we might as well be a part of it. She cites references from literature, art, history and science to encourage us to think constructively and hopefully about helping to make these changes.

The basis for this book comes from one of Martin Luther's more obscure statements. But it says volumes about Grace Brame's thesis of faith and trust, and the weaving together she has done of theology and spirituality, the moving she sees from intellectualizing God to the trusting response of an open heart. Mining the wealth of countless theologians over the years, adding her own fervor and passion, Grace Brame gives us a book about making a change to deepening faith and trust.

One of the questions I hear everywhere from young parents is how they can be better parents, help their children along the bumpy road of learning in this fast-paced culture of ours. This book is basically about helping 3, 4 and 5 year olds believe in themselves, one of the most important gifts we can give children. (There is a previous book for use with 6, 7 and 8 year olds.) Most books available to help children in school emphasize learning facts and various ways of doing that. Here's a book that suggests a different way, that encourages parental involvement, is easy and practical to use and helps make the connection between home and school. We CAN change the way we parent, and change a generation of tomorrow's leaders. We just need to look at learning differently. Here's your guide!

THE OUTRAGEOUS PURSUIT OF HOPE: PROPHETIC DREAMS FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY by Mary C. Grey. Crossroads 2000. 115 pages, paper $14.99.

I love it when I discover an author with whom I am totally unfamiliar. This delightful book popped up one day amid all the news of more murders, tornadoes, ice storms and more talk of war. Using the prophet Isaiah as a guide, Grey encourages us to look at our own seemingly hopeless problems: we're overworked, bombarded with consumerism, overwhelming economic differences in the world and scary ecological warnings. But like Isaiah's message to the Jews in Babylon, we can find a new way of responding to this chaos. It has been there all along, if we look, acknowledge, embrace the changes necessary.

Ruth Butler is a retired teacher, children's literature specialist and Episcopalian from Topsfield MA.