Jan 15th, 2021: Building on the New and not Fighting the Old

 How to build an economy for the 99% — Co-operative Enterprise Council of New Brunswick

We are now just a few days away from the change of presidency in the US. The house, with the leadership of Nancy Pelosi, has voted to impeach President Trump. The country has never this divided, and we can sense the sentiment of another civil war is in the air. It is not a good time for America and the world. 


I remember these words of Socrates:


"The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new"


There is some wisdom in this statement for this present time. Now is the time we need to ask ourselves: "what would be the new and hopeful things for life?". There is no hope that we are now witnessing Pelosism taking over Trumpism. Their conducts tell us that they might as well be cut from the same cloth despite their political differences. There is nothing new here. 


As I listen to the news, I hear words like "right", "left", "liberal", "conservative"...I become uncertain about what they mean. Some Americans are now afraid that the country is heading toward socialism. What do they mean by that? I am not sure either. Does that mean the death of Capitalism in America? I don't know. 


So what is the American Dream these days? Do we dream about destroying one another? The dream that takes away the true freedom of expression when we disagree? Do we dream about a new dictatorial state or system to control the flow of information? Do we dream about fighting for human rights and equal rights of all people while showing no regard for fetal rights? Do we insist on taking away others' academic achievements because we disagree with their political leaning and their views of morality?


There is nothing new in this. Are we really looking for this? I certainly hope not. Let us consider Isaiah 43: 18-19


"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."


Let us pray that we will see the new things that God will bring up in our nation. Let us have the courage to walk through this wilderness of life courageously with God. Leave the wasteland of conceit and deceit behind and aim for a new fruitful life ahead.

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