23rd Spiritual Birthday

In the midst of the presidential election madness that grips our nation (although I doubt that most folks are terribly gripped at the moment), we hear a lot of talk about "change." Of course the change of which most politicians speak is nothing more than a lame attempt to get them elected to the office they seek. True change just doesn't happen in the political world. I once was naive enough to believe that change could occur through the political process. Then I grew up.

I placed my vote for true change 23 years ago, when I was buried in the watery grave of baptism, and raised up into a new life in Christ. Yes, I am celebrating my 23rd birthday today. The change in my life is real, and Jesus is the reason for that change. Before I surrendered my thoughts, my will, and my very life to Christ, I was a hot-tempered, angry, ego-driven, self-centered narcissist. While I still struggle with many of those traits from time-to-time, people who know me now would be surprised to hear my description of Scott Blount in the preceding sentence. The change in my life is 100 percent attributable to Jesus.

If we want true change in our personal lives, we need to look to Jesus. If we want true change in this nation, we need to do the same.