Change (and choice) is necessary.

Why is it that many people are so resistant to change or find it so difficult to choose between alternatives? Possibly change, and the consequences that will inevitably arise, may give rise to anxiety or worry and denial with some people. This is strange but understandable and may be a possible reason why we form habits – a predictable pattern of behaviour in a particular circumstance. Habits have the “benefit” of saving one from choosing or having to make decisions and, in addition, from past experience, the results are known to be generally “safe” and non-threatening.

For whatever reason, however, some worriers or anxious people have need to keep at least some semblance of control over events in their life. Change or choosing some alternative is something that cannot be contemplated. Such people like things to be “just so”. Any change takes them out of their comfort zone and introduces new and possibly uncontrollable factors which they cannot abide. Hence the anxiety.

Some cannot abide the thought of changing where they live; want to stay employed for all their working life in the same job – or at least with the same employer; always buy the same make of motor vehicle; always holiday in the same hotel, in the same town or beach resort; always insist on the same “Sunday roast” that they have always had every Sunday and so on and so on - the list is endless.

But reason suggests that this is a fruitless exercise. Nothing remains static – everything changes over time. Sometimes very quickly and sometimes over many years but change is inevitable. Change is not an option – it happens regardless.

Life, at least as we experience it on this Earth, needs change. Without change there would be no learning, no increase in knowledge. Without change there is no growth. Certainly there would be no personal growth without change and the choices we make, good, bad or indifferent.

We change in our lives – from children to adults to old age. Thereafter the greatest change of all and this is not a choice but an inevitability, and is accordingly feared by many – that death comes to us all at some time.

The word "Help"

The word ‘help’ is a short four letter word with a wide range of meanings – it can be a verb or a noun. Its meanings range from a scream for assistance, or offering succour to those in need, to being a servant (a ‘help’ around the house). The word comes from Old English, Old Frisian (helpe), Old Saxon (helpa), Old High German (Helfa) and Old Norse (hjalp), so the word has obviously been around for quite a while.

What brought this to my attention is the crying need for more help (in the sense of succour) for many people in all walks of life and in many countries. What particularly bothers me is the plight of so many children – on the streets (any city you care to name), malnourishment (Sudan, Ethiopia and even in Australia and the USA), abused (any society anywhere), injured in wars (ie Tamil Tigers 27 year insurgency - and now the terrible aftermath of the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Myanmar) – these are the most defenceless and vulnerable in our society.

Regarding this subject (which is actually about injustice) I remembered reading something which took me quite a while to find. It is a little story written by someone who has faded from view in recent years – Sir Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941). He was a Bengali and the first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize – in his case for Literature. He was also Knighted by the King in 1914 (I think). He was what is called a polymath (a man of knowledge) - a poet, visual artist, playwright, novelist, educationist, social reformer, nationalist, business-manager and composer whose works reshaped Bengali literature and music. He was also fluent in English.

In a little book he wrote called “Fruit Gathering” is a short piece titled ‘XXXI’. This piece shows how even the most humble of us, given the will, can change society by helping, one small piece at a time:

“Who among you will take up the duty of feeding the hungry?” Lord Buddha asked his followers when famine raged at Shravastri.

Ratnakar, the banker, hung his head and said, “Much more is needed than all my wealth to feed the hungry.”

Jaysen, the chief of the King’s army, said, “I would gladly give all my life’s blood, but there is not enough food in my house.”

Dharmapal, who owned broad acres of land, said with a sigh, “The drought demon has sucked my fields dry. I know not how to pay King’s dues.”

Then rose Supriya, the mendicant’s daughter. She bowed to all and meekly said, “I will feed the hungry.”

“How!” they cried in surprise. “How can you hope to fulfil that vow?”
“I am the poorest of you all,” said Supriya, “that is my strength. I have my coffer and my store at each of your houses.”

Such is the will and power to help that even just one can offer!