change is unavoidable
by Tanner Olson
writtentospeak.com

“Hi Tanner! How do you cope with the inevitable endings of life? Fading friendships, death, graduations, the end of childhood… it’s all just so much and so unavoidable.” 

To send in an anonymous question/writing prompt, click here.

In the 90’s we would play arcade games for 25 cents.

My favorite was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game.

Turtle Power!

As soon as the game began I was put under a spell.

The colors and sounds and challenge tuned out the world around me.

Once the game started the screen would slowly begin to move to the right.

The game was created in a way that didn’t allow you to stand still.

You kept moving whether you wanted to or not.

Even if you kept the joystick still the screen would slide you forward.

I never had a problem with being still, especially while playing this game.

I would smash and mash the buttons and move the joystick with my greasy little fingers.

I’d run and punch and kick and jump and spin and get knocked down and get up again.

I’d yell “cowabunga dudes!” just like Michelangelo.

I had know idea what I was doing, but I was doing it.

Eventually the level would become too difficult and across the screen would appear the words:

GAME OVER.

But only for a moment.

After a bite of cheese pizza and sip of Dr. Pepper, I’d pop another one of my mother’s quarters into the box and the next adventure would begin.

Life is not a video game, but it does keep moving you forward.

You cannot avoid it.

After all, life is an unavoidable gift.

We never asked to be here, but one by one we arrived.

We were welcomed into a world full of beginnings and endings, surprises and certainties.

And one of the certainties of life is that change is inevitable.

This is how God designed the world.

He didn’t create it or us to stay the same.

It is one of God’s rules for the world.

There are days when I wish I could return to what was.

I wish I could turn back time and press pause and live in it forever.

Or at least slow time down.

But we go on, learning as we go.

We learn to slow down and lean in and hold fast.

We learn to breathe deep and be still.

We learn to appreciate what is, because what is will not always be.

We learn to let go.

We learn to hold on because we know today is only today and today will not be tomorrow.

All we know about tomorrow is that it will bring mercy and change.

Let it.

Take another bite of pizza and get a sip of Dr. Pepper.

We are one day closer to eternity. 

With hope,

Tanner Olson
@writtentospeak

About the Author

Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.

He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.

You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.

His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.

You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.