Article October 16, 2000 Issue

DEALING WITH UNEXPECTED CHANGE

David Newbern

For many years I've been employed in the rapidly changing world of information technology. Several years ago I had to learn how to use a new computer program in my work. I was the only one in the office who would be using the program.

The new software arrived, and because of its complexity, the computer administrators took over a week to install it. The instruction manual was minimal and seemed almost to be written in a foreign language. Getting formal training on the program was out of the question, because we needed to use it immediately.

My initial reaction on opening the program was panic and confusion. Nothing made sense. Through the years, the first thought that has come to me in moments of panic is the phrase "Shepherd, show me how to go." This is the opening line of a poem entitled "'Feed My Sheep'" by Mary Baker Eddy (Poems, p. 14). Turning to God for guidance helped calm me. I set the software program aside and continued with other work.

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