Did you vote? I did. By now, we heard enough promises like "more", "better", and "change" to last until the next election. Politicians talk about change as though it were some rare precious metal, buried deep underground, waiting for the right person to come along with a shovel. Everyone promises to bring it up. Apparently, all we need is the right person in the right office, and everything will be different. But change is easy. Wait, what? Don't misunderstand me. Experiencing change isn't always easy peasy lemon squeezy. But change itself is inevitable. Seasons change, circumstances change, people change, and even our favorite restaurants occasionally change their menus. Change happens whether we invite it or not. Sometimes it even happens while we are busy complaining about it. Transformation, however, is another story. Transformation is not simply rearranging a few things. It has direction, purpose, and a destination. It means becoming something different, not merely feeling something different. And that is where things get challenging. We can change our address without changing our attitude, change our circumstances without changing our character, and change our political leadership without necessarily changing the way we treat one another. So, what kind of transformation does God have in mind for you and I? Paul gives us the answer in 2 Cor. 3:17–18. He reminds us that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom, and that as we contemplate the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into His image, with ever-increasing glory. God isn't merely interested in making us slightly nicer, more religious, or better behaved on Sabbath mornings. He wants to reshape our hearts, our priorities, our reactions, our relationships, and ultimately our entire way of living. This is not a cosmetic makeover; it is a lifelong work of grace. And unlike political promises, this transformation doesn't depend on winning an election, changing the government, or waiting for someone else to get their act together. It begins when we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us. So, Mr. and Mrs. Transformers, how is this project coming along? Are we making progress, or are we still waiting for the world around us to change first?

— Pastor Ovid Radulescu