Change

I have been reading Paulo Coelho's "Manuscript found in Accra" (HarperCollins, 2012).  It is the translation of a relatively ancient manuscript, dating from perhaps 1307 and offers a collection of wisdom sayings.  One section refers to the question of change and the fact that many people fear it.  The suggestion is that we are afraid to change because we know what we've got - "We are afraid to change because we think that, after so much effort and sacrifice, we know our present world." 

But change will happen, even if we are resistant - and that is needed.  Even things that we might change do, however slowly.  As this writer reminds us: "Those who think that the mountains don't change are wrong: they are born out of earthquakes, are eroded by wind and rain, and each day they are slightly different, even though we do not notice."

Change for change's sake is rarely a good idea, but let's be ready to look out for and embrace those changes that are needed and, when we should, do what we can to encourage them.