Heading for change
By Rolo B. Cena
Arabian Diaries

According to the New Testament, it was winter when Jesus was delivered from the bosom of Virgin Mary. I used the word winter to mean “cold” which aptly describes the night when the couple was ushered to the manger in Bethlehem.

The greatest book of all times claimed that the three wise men came from the East. In geography, the East refers to the land where the Arabs are, and this includes of course, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Other Gulf Countries are also Kingdoms, before and after Christ.

Considered as one of the most sought-after tourist spots in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Judas Cave where Islams believed Judas hid after he betrayed and bartered the physical body of the human Christ for pieces of silvers is found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Looking at Arab people, their apparels are closely similar to the ones the twelve apostles and other disciples, including Christ, were using.

Amazingly awesome! I mean the links are. Do we have the same wave length? Are you thinking what I am thinking? Can the Wise Men be the Kings of the neighboring Kingdoms of Saudi Arabia and its boarders?

I suspect!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am not rewriting history or the biblical narrations for that matter, for if I do, this will require a total change process from A to Z. This is just one of my wildest imaginations linking these things I have come to know and realize. After all, I love change!

Anyway, the Wise Men were believed to be members of the Zoroastrian sect. This is a group of religious and wise people in the East who worshipped the stars and made the stars as their guide. Hence, the Star of the East came about.

As it was foretold, the Three Wise Men shall confirm the greatness of The One through the Star from the East. But this is not just it; the three wise men did a drastic and significant change in the history of mankind.

We all knew that before they arrived at the destined place as pointed by the Star, they were met by Herod and the latter instructed them to see him right after they found the Messiah. But wise as they were, they thwarted the plan of Herod and took the other route back home.

This was the change: re-routing for safety, for the benefit of the Savior given up for the mankind.

Yes, just like the three Zoroastrian figures, we too can. We can always re-engineer ourselves for functional efficiency and effectiveness. We can always re-define our purposes in life in order to achieve the true meaning of “it” in our lives. We can always re-write unsound decisions except for those which have already been executed to achieve better results.

Change is just a click away. Heraclitus philosophized that “the only constant is change.” Which is why, change has been playing a greater role in our lives, and even in the life of the Messiah.

Change connotes defects. Defects connote reforms. Therefore, change is reform. We need to reform our old beliefs to attune to the present ones, especially if these are obviously not working and defective. We should stop singing the old song and sing the new one, especially when its melody no longer attracts, soothes, or comforts the majority.

We need to reform our values to conform to the commands of the Word, not of the World. The modern-day society has eroded our values that it significantly decayed our moral foundation. This then renders us incredible to lead for change.

The mass-supported actor-turned politician was dethroned from the highest elective post shortly after assuming the power due to his questionable credibility to lead; the petite lady in the Imperial Manila is now bombarded by streamers within or without the picket fences due to the same issue. Former Senate President and House Speaker were ejected from their respective “influential” seats due to their discreditable moral leadership.

Zig Ziglar advocated that “it is attitude not the aptitude that will determine your altitude.”

Truly, I believe in the lines quoted by one of the world’s contemporary social scientists and Management experts. He, along with other experts advocated and introduced Change Process especially in the work place that catapulted the shift of the old ways to a new paradigm.

The heights that we soar today depend solely on our attitude and not on what we know – the Aptitude. I maybe good in mathematics or natural sciences that can make me a scientist but without the required amount of right attitude, I can never be one.

Albert Einstein made several failures before he successfully completed his theories. Nicolaus Copernicus made several damages before finally perfected his invention that boldly changed the entire humanity. Manny Pacquaio made several downfalls before he finally regained his composure and continuously maintain his fame today.

Change is what we need. As significant as it is, the New Year has always obliged us to proclaim our New Year’s resolution. This simply connotes change.

Change has always been for the better. However, change can only take effect unless the concerned individual acknowledges defects by heart. This admission then would lead to an honest assessment that could generate honest and implementable alternative courses of action. After this process, execution ensues. This process assures genuine change.

It is already 2009: the old year has gone and the new one is dawning for all. While we may have endured the pains and savored sweetness of the old year, let us remember that the New Year would still be the same unless we firmly command ourselves to change.

For a freer and better world, let us all head for a change!

Published, Dumaguete Star Informer, 04 January 2009.