Two weeks ago, I pondered a quote I found in a mosaic at the University of Arizona. Today, I’m pondering another quote from that mosaic. This one, pictured above, states that change is inevitable, but adaptation is optional. It seemed fitting to reflect on this at a time when many things are changing very quickly in our society and even in our culture.
I remember, as a young adult, hearing about a saying that was called a “Chinese curse”: “May you live in interesting times.” I now understand that the sourcing is incorrect, as with so many aphorisms that spread by word of mouth (and now through the Internet!). The expression only goes back to the 1930s and is British in origin. That makes some sense, as Brits are known for their irony.
Getting back to the quote itself, there’s no question that we live in interesting times. Change is happening at breakneck speed, and some of that can be attributed to the ubiquitous Internet. New ideas, terms, and innovations spread like wildfire along electronic highways, and we can struggle to keep up.
The inevitable changes in our lives, societies, and cultures are profound. The good news is that we are adaptable creatures. Humans would not be here if we weren’t. We are smart and capable enough to adapt—to climate change, to new terminology, to changes in systems and networks of power, and so much more.
Yet these changes do challenge us. Adaptation requires time and energy that we don’t always have in abundance. It requires a flexibility that many people resist or resent. I believe one source of the divisiveness in the US today is the rapid pace of change. People don’t want to have to be flexible and adapt. There’s a deep truth behind that joke about the most damaging six words heard at church: “We’ve always done it that way.”
Much of what’s happening in the US is a battle about adaptation. Change is happening. Who will adapt, and who will resist? How much adaptation are you willing to embrace in the face of inevitable changes?
Thanks Shirin. I agree with your observation about our difficulty with the speed of change. We all have our own pace of learning how to process emotions. Same is true for me in processing change. William Bridges, leading writer on transitions, distinguishes between change and transition. Change is the event; transition is the emotional process of letting go , going through an in between stage and then a new beginning. Too many emotions and too many transitions for most of us. Pray, act, and trust God’s desire for ultimate good? Peace, Tom
Thank you for sharing this great wisdom about transitions, Tom. I have thought of transition periods as liminal space, and yes, there’s so much more involved than just the event itself. And too much at one time can certainly overwhelm us…trust is important!
Peace,
Shirin
Speaking of change, this arrived this morning from Gratitude.org:
“Change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things”.
BARACK OBAMA
A true statement. Thank you, Mo!
Shirin
Shirin, Yesterday in our discussion group a member offered the idea that we can’t go back but must somehow create a new response to the changes or challenges of the present. My difficulty, beyond sacrificing some of the things of the past that are valuable to me, is the fear that the changes we experience today lead to a dead end. Civilizations do end, Shirin, and our run of 250 years may be the modern limit before greed, stupidity and cruelty conquer us.
I hear you, Tom. It’s so challenging to realize that something we treasure and value so deeply might fundamentally change. Yes, I think it’s an open question whether the USA as a nation will survive this. I do believe human beings will survive, and many elements of civilization may survive…but very new and different ways of being in community may have to develop on the other side of all this. And so I pray that the next generations of leaders will look at this mess and make better, wiser choices….
Peace,
Shirin