Charles Dickens told a story of a man who had been imprisoned for a significant number of years. While he was in prison, he wished to be free. He dreamed about the day he would walk out of that prison cell into the sunshine of the morning. One day, his wish came true. He was set free from prison. Guided by a guard, he was led out of his prison cell, down the hall, and outside the huge prison doors into the brightness of the morning. After only a few minutes of freedom, however, the man turned around and went back into his prison cell.
What happened to this man? I know you're saying, "That was a ridiculous move. Who would want to go back to prison willingly after being set free?" The problem with this man is that he had become so comfortable with his environment that the thought of being free scared him. He felt safe and secure in his imprisonment. He was in prison and he allowed the prison to slowly get into him. Not only was he physically confined, but he was mentally confined as well. In his mind, he could not see himself handling life as a free man. It was too overwhelming. The very thing he wished for and hoped for, scared him. And when his wish came to pass, he ran away from it because of the uncertainty of change.
Many people today have a wish to do many different things. Some dream of not just doing anything, but of doing great things. Some people wish to start a business. Others wish to go back to college. Many more dream about writing a book or getting married, and having children. Some want more money or a new house or car. All of these things are good and wonderful, but these things will never happen if we keep turning from the sunshine of freedom and going back to the darkness of prison.
Change is scary. It takes us out of our comfort zone. When we launch off into the unknown world of change, we are often not as in control as we want to be. Change challenges us to try new things, to think about new ideas, to do things in a new way, and to be a new person. When we've been doing something one way for so long, we will find it extremely hard to do it in another way, even if the new way is better. Change is not attractive, it is not comfortable; it does not greet us with a big sunny smile when it arrives. It can come slowly or rapidly. Change will force us to accept it and be free or it will force us back into our old prison where we are bound by the familiar. When we refuse to accept change over comfort, we forfeit our freedom.
We are responsible for how we deal with change. Will you fear it and go back to prison as Charles Dickens' character did? Or, will you face it and keep walking out of the prison without looking back? The children of Israel were like this man. Their change was God bringing them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. However, when things got tough in the desert, just before they reached the Promised Land, do you know what they did? They wanted to go back to prison in Egypt.
Change is difficult. You may have to go through a desert before you get to your Promised Land. But, whatever you do, don't go back to prison. Don't turn away from the sunshine, from the opportunities and possibilities that are in front of you. Don't let change scare you. Don't let your comfort zone, your safety net, your secure spot, keep you from greatness. Let go of the familiar and embrace the freedom of change.