The world of Nature and man is constantly passing through
changes. Everywhere, whether in Nature or in the world of man and in
everything human, the phenomenon of change is ever present Change is
thus the universal law of Nature. Nothing remains nor can remain in the
same state for ever. Such is God’s ruling. A particular system or state of
things passes away and in its place comes in something new. This is the
process going on in the universe slowly and imperceptibly and it is beyond
the power of man to check this change.
If we observe the things in Nature and in this human world with a
little care, the truth of this law will be perfectly clear to us. If we observe
a river, we shall find that there is current in it and that the water is
constantly changing. If this were not so, the water would be bad and unfit
to be used. We also see that there is sunshine but this sunshine is never
after the rain there is sunshine again. Similarly, we find spring followed
constant. It is followed by clouds. Clouds, again, are followed by rain and By summer, summer by autumn and autumn by winter. Though spring is
the most delightful amongst the seasons, it would prove to be dull and
tedious, if it were to continue for ever. It is the same case with things
Human. The change can be seen even in the smallest things in the world of
Wan. For instance, the clothes which a child puts on have to be changed
and replaced by new ones as it grows.
The change in the world of man occurs on an extensive scale. In
the first place, the thoughts and ideas in men’s minds are constantly
passing through changes. Human society itself is progressive, that is to
say, changing. In the early days of the world it was inhabited by savage
tribes. They lived in caves and forests and on tree tops. But now we find
their crude a dwelling-places replaced by splendid mansions and houses.
They did not know what it was to read or write while at the present day
there are countless schools and colleges to teach this. Laws which were
handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth have now
been written down and codified. The primitive form of dispensing justice
has been replaced by a more advanced form of administration. Such is the
extent times and it is none the worse of it. Can undergone from early
times and it is none the worse for it. Can them there be any doubt that the
world is passing through a series of changes with the process of time?
Society being progressive, it follows that the laws and customs which
regulate it have to be changed to suit the new conditions.
The law of change is necessary, for it is the sauce of life. It is
change which gives relish to life and makes it worth living. But for
change, life would be dull and quite unbearable. Man cannot endure
unmixed good or evil for a long time. Uninterrupted joy is good, no
doubt, but sorrows also are useful in making the joy sweeter. Good things
enjoyed for a long time produce a feeling of satiety. They no longer give
pleasure, but create a feeling of disgust. It is chance which makes them
worth enjoying. Herein lies the necessity and utility of change. Want of
change would bring about stagnation and consequent destruction in the
society and in everything. A system which is beneficent at one time may,
on account of altered circumstances, prove to be positively harmful. If the
system be not changed to suit the new conditions, destruction only can
result by the production of contrary results. In short, changing is the
purifier of things. Just as pure air, by entering a room which has been kept
closed for a long time, drives away all the impurities that might have
collected therein, so change sweeps away all the evil that has accumulated no-change produce dullness and makes life burdensome.
in course of time. Change brings in liveliness and gives zest to life, while
The far-reaching effect of change has been very beautifully
brought out in the following lines of Tennyson:
“The old order changeth, yielding place to new,
And God fulfills Himself in many ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.”
Though it is clear that the change which is constantly taking place
in this world is all for the best, yet we often find people lamenting for the
good old days and wishing that no change had taken place. This class of
people do not go deep into things. Had they done so, they would have
found that absence of change even in good things would tend to make them
lose their novelty and beneficial effects, and, if allowed to exist under
changed circumstances, might turn out to be harmful.
