As the world continues to, to varying degrees, hold its collective breath, awaiting some kind of resolution to the drawn out election process in the USA, the sun rises on another Saturday morning in France.
I didn’t do a post yesterday and in previous ‘daily series’ runs, I’ve tried silly to ensure there was one every day. Yesterday came & went and no post. I’m not going to stress about … Not sure about you, but I’m quite convinced that, in some areas, I have higher expectations of myself and extend lesser grace than is really healthy.
Let get on with today’s quick look…
Châtellerault…
… is often described, by some locals, as a city in decline. They say this when they compare it to the humming industrial hub it was prior to the 1970s. It certainly is not that today, but it has a lot going for it.
The city has undertaken a great deal of work and spent a great deal of money on urban renewal. Perhaps most visible is the work done down along the river. One little ‘micro-block’ of 8 buildings, that was in sever disrepair, has been completely redone and is now pristine. Sidewalks have more than doubled in width, making pre-COVID, evening, riverside strolls a delight, and within months, similar work will be undertken along the opposite bank.
Little by little, changes made last year, piggy back onto changes made five years ago, or more again just two years ago.
Bit by bit, a very harmonious new face of Châtellerault is emerging and this complements other qualities like the lovely & peaceful quality of life that we enjoy here. Small-town quiet, within a 45min drive of big-town amenities when necessary (hint… not often).
Personal (vs. urban) Renewal
Like this blog, sometimes I put too much pressure on getting it done just so and just yesterday. We want to see change in our personal lives happen overnight with, let’s face it, often minimal effort.
But true, lasting change takes time. Whether for the person coming to Christ for the first time, or for those who have known the LORD for some time. We all need to undergo change (that lifelong process is called … growth), and the most reliable change I’ve seen is the change that takes some time to be put in place… not rushed into, but weighed, considered and eventually… chosen.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12.2
Paul urged the Roman believers to focus their efforts elsewhere than on the daily stuff of the world. I can almost hear him say “Look elsewhere, aim higher”.
That’s something I need to do better at. Lord help us to experience a bit of ‘urban renewal’ in our personal lives.
God bless you today & … be renewed!
AIM Long 