Embracing change

November 16, 2018 | Peter Peeters

If you want to see the world’s strongest man quake in his boots, say the word “change”; it is a word that strikes fear in the hearts of most. We don’t like to change. We get settled into our norm and that’s the way we like it. But, that’s not how the world works. We are constantly surrounded by change and the world around us is evolving. Canadian agriculture is facing unprecedented changes as a result of trade negotiations, technology, and land use priorities as a result of new crops, including cannabis. We will need to ride the wave of change or face drowning.

Humans are genetically pre-disposed to dislike change because change can be dangerous.

Charlie Brown once said, “I welcome change as long as nothing is altered or different.” I think we all have some Charlie Brown in us. We like the same, comfortable life; we don’t want to be forced to change but change is what keeps the world moving.

Over the past months we have faced the change of a provincial government and more recently, municipal government. Definitely change is afoot.

We have a choice: we can bemoan the changes in the world or we can embrace them and move forward. The Apostle Paul wrote, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13, NLT).

If we don’t embrace change, then we don’t really grow, and if we don’t grow, then we aren’t really living.

Former US President Bill Clinton once said, “While the world hates change, it is the only thing that has ever brought progress.”

The human body is built in such a way that we can only look back for so long before our neck hurts. Remembering the “good old days” works for a while, but we need to focus on the future and its possibilities. We need to meet with our councillors, reeves, mayors, and MPPs and let them know the challenges of farming and how they can help. They may be new in their roles but give them a chance to prove themselves.

Change doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can actually be a good thing. We need to work together and make changes for the better. As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

We must embrace change and make the changes that will improve us and the world.

Peter Peeters is a Director on the Board of Directors of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. The CFFO Commentary represents the opinions of the writer and does not necessarily represent CFFO policy. The CFFO Commentary is heard weekly on CFCO Chatham, CKXFM Chatham, and CKNX Wingham. It is also archived on the CFFO website, www.christianfarmers.org. CFFO is supported by 4,000 family farmers across Ontario.