It has been said the only sure things are death and taxes. I
would add a third category. Change at
this time in history is a guaranteed reality!
Predicting change is
another matter. It rivals crystal ball gazing in accuracy. Today change is
occurring at an even faster rate. No wonder people everywhere are panicky and
angry. They struggle to find political voice. Believing they then can control
their future.
Where I live, we joke about weather predictions. Yes, it
will snow in the winter and there will be some hot summer days. But those
generalities are not too useful for planning an rain-free outdoor wedding in
June or when there will be sufficient snow for cross-country skiing.
Likewise, predicting changes in the future, in terms of the
employment market or technological advances, is more of an art than a science. If
you can say you are paid for what you love to do, you will have a wonderful and
productive life. But there if there is little or no market for what you love to
do, you may end up with an unsatisfying life and mark time until retirement.
When I think of major changes occurring during my lifetime,
most of them were beyond anyone’s imagination at the time. I remember the first
computer I encountered. This humungous creation occupied an entire temperature
and humidity-controlled room. If you
squinted your eyes, you almost could imagine approaching an ancient Greek
oracle for an answer to some grave concern.
Attendants in white coats cared for this mysterious being.
If a person wanted to run something on this computer, the program was handed to
the attendant. Of course, the program had to be written in the computer’s
language.
Today, I carry my cell phone in my pocket. When I have a
question about something, the answer is immediate. Who could ever have imagined
such a handy little device while standing at the doorway of that room-sized
machine!
Further, my little device connects me with others all around
the world. Decades ago, when I traveled out of the country, calling home was
complicated and required advanced planning. Today, it doesn’t matter if I am
halfway around the world -calling home only requires calculating the difference
in time zones so as not to wake family or friends in the middle of the night.
When we go back in time, change occurred more slowly. Before
my time, people traveled by horse and buggy. A buggy whip was an essential
piece of equipment. Those buggy whips were manufactured somewhere and provided
an income for some hardworking men (the women were busy keeping house and
raising the children). When people begun driving the first auto-cars, buggy
whips were no longer needed. And people who prided themselves with making those
fine buggy whips found themselves without jobs.
The same kinds of changes are occurring today. Jobs are lost
dure to technology and global production. But people want their old jobs to continue – which won’t
happen. The reality is that cars could be produced via computers long distance
away - rather than on assembly lines manned by people. Hence, the pain and
disconcerting footing beneath them that so many people are experiencing.
Social media is such a wonderful way to connect people. But the same media can fan anger over change,
creating political unrest. Populism is seen as a solution world-wise. Until it
becomes like the clamor of many people shouting in a room, so loud that you
can’t hear yourself think. And the uncertainty of living in a world with so
many autocratic rulers casts a additional dark shadow over all of us.
When I was young, people did not question whether the news
was true or not. As if truth were some kind of objective absolute and
verifiable reality. Now intentional fake
news confounds our confusion. What do we dare to believe is actually accurate? I
am reminded of cattle guards. You can drive into the pasture or range land. But
try to back up to gain a wider perspective and your tires will be shredded.
There are many problems confronting us that need solving,
making the loss of buggy whips almost laughable. Never forget there are solutions to be created for so much
that we face.
There a number of constructive ways to live in all this
uncertainty and unpredictability. My
suggestions are to work for constructive political changes. Travel – to other
countries. Engage in conversations with people whose cultures differ from
yours. Challenge yourself. Imagine what
you cannot possibly imagine.
