In our last chat, I shared with you some powerful lessons I learned in 2010 and how my life has been forever changed by unintentional consequences. Do you recall our conversation? Remember that I shared how I’ve been blessed by many of those unintentional consequences – like the birth of my son? In those major life experiences, I’ve found that if I rest my faith in God and have the hope of a child, I can navigate some of the roughest waters. Rough waters can carry you out into the deep waters of life; leaving you alone, tossing with the waves and turning to and fro. But when you reach out to the ultimate “lifesaver,” Jesus Christ, you find solid ground where you can live safe and secure from all harm. (See what I did there!?!) So after experiencing some unintentional consequences and navigating the rough waters of life, you find that you survived. And you also find that life as you once knew it has changed.

We’ve talked about change before, haven’t we? I’m confident of it. Change is something that I can promise happens and will happen on a regular basis in each of our lives. Whether change happens daily or rarely, change is one constant in our lives. Its inevitable.

For most of my life, change was a rarity. My parents did a pretty good job keeping things stable and constant for my brother and I. We didn’t experience much change. We lived simple lives, participating in various sporting activities, scouting, and church choir. As we grew up and as our responsibilities increased, the rate at which we experienced change increased as well. Over my life, I’ve realized that I can organize these experiences into two different categories of change – expected change and unexpected change. Changes like graduating high school and entering college, those were expected changes – changes I was prepared for. Unexpected changes like an employer parting ways with a major partner and thus eliminating funding for an entire department or a family member suddenly dying from an undetected issue with their heart are changes that we tend to be unprepared to deal with. Its in those unexpected life changes that we can find our strengths and more importantly can see God’s faithfulness realized. Let me explain.

Did you see the story about the Good Samaritans in the news this week? No not the story in the Bible. (Even though you should read that – Luke 10:25-37). The story about the 10 lives that were saved from a rip current at Panama City Beach in Florida – that one. Did you see or read about it? Ok – so just in case you don’t know the details, let me share a quick summary of the story here. A beach goer named Roberta Ursery’s two sons had swam out too far in the ocean and were screaming for help. She and three other family members jumped in and tried to save the kids. Unfortunately, Roberta and her family members were swept out into the ocean as well. As they screamed for help, a stranger, a good Samaritan named Jessica sprung into action. She and her husband began to petition the other beach goers for help and they formed a human chain. Realizing the tide was too strong, the group knew that they had to move with urgency and have the strength of many to fight the current. (I am now crying as I write this in Panera Bread.)

An unexpected change happened that day. Each of those involved had no idea that they were going to be a part of a life-saving experience. None of those beach goers knew that they were going to realize God’s faithfulness through his people that day. None of them knew that they were going to be a part of something that would change their lives forever. But even though the change was unexpected, they, the life-saving beach goers, were prepared. How do I know that they were prepared? I’m glad you asked. I know that they were prepared because of how they responded to the change.

I am sure that many of them were afraid – fearful for their own safety; fearful of what would happen to those tossing and turning in the sea. Think about that scene. What would you have done? Would you have linked arms with strangers and risked your life in a rip current that already had taken 5 people out to sea? Would you have pushed through your fears and trusted in people you don’t know?

I’d like to think I am prepared and would’ve responded like Jessica and/or the “angels” who joined her on the beach that day. Truth be told, if it was my son carried out to see, I probably would’ve done what Roberta did and jumped into save him. But either way, after that moment, my life would’ve been changed. Our lives would be different after that day and they should be.

Have you lived through some expected or unexpected life changes? Sure you have. Are you still the same person you were before those changes? We’ve experienced some changes at the Herald Standard recently. These changes, expected and unexpected, have had some significant unintentional consequences for many of us. I’d like to dedicate this commentary to the staff of the Herald Standard and specifically Mark O’Keefe. Mr. O’Keefe, you have mentored me, come alongside me, and carried me through this journey of writing. Thank you for your mentorship and support. You will always be a part of my story.

Don’t forget friends - God has so much for you. I pray that for every unexpected change and unintentional consequence you encounter in life, that you will make an intentional decision to make the best of every moment.

Gina Watts is a former resident of Fayette County, now living in Columbus, Ohio. She serves multiple communities as an advocate, educator, and leader. Follow Gina on Twitter @professorgmarie.