Defining Change

“No man ever steps in the same river twice,
for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”

-- Heraclitus (c. 535 BC c. 475 BC)

I almost finished this post, in its first version, when I pressed the wrong keys and deleted it in its entirety.  Everything was lost except for an Albert Einstein quote which was still saved to the clipboard.  When I started this early iteration, I also used a quote from the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates and, in the process, found an article stating he was a real ass when it came to discussion and argument (Lost Socrates Dialogues).  Well, who knew?  I think things happen for a reason, and I saw losing all my work as a sign that I had, perhaps, been on the wrong path more than I had wasted any time.  An effort is never a waste of time; it is always an opportunity to learn.  I felt the loss of this work might have a hidden purpose in making me rewrite my thoughts for that first version, and the Einstein quote might have been saved as a hint to the direction for this other iteration:

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

-- Albert Einstein (1879-1955), theoretical physicist

Far be it for me to disagree with Albert but, upon further consideration, I think he was only half right or, perhaps, this quote was taken out of context.  I agree that "the world as we have created it is a process of our thinking."  However, the world as we have created it is going to change, regardless of whether we change our thinking, or not.  Our creation requires constant maintenance to slow inevitable change, but change is inevitable.  It is the only constant in the universe.  How things change, ensuring things change in a manner we want them to, does have a bearing on how we change our thinking.

Another ancient Greek, Heraclitus of Ephesus, was a pre-Socratic philosopher who died about five years after the birth of Socrates.  Heraclitus push forth this idea that change is the only constant.  There must be balance and this achieved balance is sustained through change.

“All things are in flux; the flux is subject to a unifying measure or rational principle. This principle (logos, the hidden harmony behind all change) bound opposites together in a unified tension, which is like that of a lyre, where a stable harmonious sound emerges from the tension of the opposing forces that arise from the bow bound together by the string.”

-- Heraclitus 

Change happens at a speed generally dictated by outside stimulus acting as the impetus. Change in people happens at a speed dependent on outside stimulus and the person's acceptance of the need to change. We always seem to be in a rush to change the world and we forget all about the need to change ourselves.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

-- Rumi (1207-1273), poet, Islamic scholar, theologian

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It also, usually, hurts like hell, which is why it makes you stronger providing you survive the pain and learn the lessons which arise from whatever happened. Theoretical physicist Steven Hawking wrote, "Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." If this is true, why does it seem the most intelligent of us have a harder time adapting to change than those of us who are smart?  Intelligent people seem to make more concrete statements of "fact" whereas smart people understand, what is fact today might change tomorrow.

We need to be wiser in our thinking.  One way to accomplish this is to understand that nobody is perfect.  We all have the ability to be wrong and to fail and to think you are immune to these puts everyone at risk.  Always approach life with an active and open mind.  Nobody will fault you for being humble and treating others with the same equality and respect as you would have them treat you.

I define change as inevitable.  How we deal with change is all about balance, the give and take, adapt ing to the change in order to maintain this balance and sustain harmony in our life and the lives of those around us.  It is about making good choices in order to arrive at good consequences.  And, if you should fail, owning your failure with all due humility, learning from it, and moving forward.  This is working toward constructive and sustainable change, a change for the better.

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open.”

-- C. JoyBell C., author, poet, philosopher

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.