When I was just twelve years old, my Dad became the pastor at a church in South Bend, Indiana - and also the pastor of Art Whitaker.

Art was old and crusty. Difficult. Angry. He was never happy, could find something wrong with just about anything, liked to complain, you get the idea. But he was faithful; he showed up every Sunday, and every Wednesday bringing his attitude with him. He was an unpleasant man, but in all honesty I'm not sure that people paid much attention to him (and maybe that was the problem).

But then something happened. One day Art (or old Mr. Whitaker to us kids) took a turn ... for the better. At that time, our youth program did a community evangelism program on Wednesday afternoons that required adult drivers. Old Mr. Whitaker volunteered. It was a perfect match - the grouchiest guy in the church offered to drive around a car full of teenagers. What could possibly go wrong?

Actually, it all went right. Old Mr. Whitaker got to know the kids, and they got to know him. Little by little he lost his crustiness and became a more positive, joyful person. He even became a favorite of some of the teens. What happened? He changed. For the better. And for years he drove teens around every Wednesday until his health forced him to "retire."

Great story - along with some great lessons.

1. Don't write people off. You know that one person who seems so difficult? Maybe there is a reason. And if there isn't a reason, there is still hope - if someone would just show a little attention and understanding and concern. No one knew that there could be a "Happy Mr. Whitaker," but he always had that potential. It just took a few teenagers - and the Holy Spirit - to draw it out of him.

2. Old dogs can learn new tricks. Mr. Whitaker had spent a lifetime living with anger and bitterness and dumping on everyone around him. And he was set in his ways. Supposedly. Except that he wasn't. We all have the potential to change - no matter who we are, young or old, or how deep our bad habits run. It's too easy to accept some things about ourselves, and to consider change impossible (after all, we've tried before, right?), but the truth is that change is always possible.

You can become a joyful person. You can let go of the worry that dominates your life. You can be more extroverted. You can find the bright side of things. You can be more honest. Or more grateful. Or more helpful. Or less selfish. You're not locked in to who you have been or how you have acted.

So the good news is that like Old Mr. Whitaker, we can all change. And like Old Mr. Whitaker, we can have the Holy Spirit's help.

The question, then, isn't whether or not we can change, but rather what is it about us that needs to change? Go ahead, answer the question. What is one thing about you that needs to change? It's time to get started.

If old Mr. Whitaker can change, so can you!