All change?

Someone asked me recently if my trip to Cape Town was 'life changing'. Now, I could be pedantic (and a little philosophical) and say 'yes, of course, my life is different because I went to Cape Town rather than going somewhere else or staying at home' - in the same way that choosing to shop at Tesco's today will alter the course of my life slightly. More seriously, my trip could prove to be life-changing in the longer term - perhaps I will return there one day - who knows?

But of course the question was probing the impact my visit to Cape Town has had on me, as a person. Do I feel different? Will I look back in years to come and see this as a turning point, a time when I came to see things differently? Or perhaps my commitment to Christ has deepened?

While I know that some people have these life-changing moments, that's not really been my experience. For me, change tends to come bit by bit, slowly but surely (and sometimes, with steps forward being followed by steps backward). And perhaps that is really how people change. I've seen plenty of people who have had an experience of dramatic, sudden change ('conversion', if you like) - but it's proven to be superficial and fragile. Real change goes deep - and for most of us that takes time.

So, a life-changing experience? I think it will probably prove to be so - but time will tell.