On Moving and Changing

WE SEE before us a generation on the move. There is much of going back and forth, much of running to and fro_much of seeking new sights, new scenes, new situations; and there are many who always seem to be possessed by the urge to be going somewhere, but who never quite seem to be arriving where they want to go. It would be interesting to know how many of us who are on the move actually have business of consequence or purpose of importance, and how may of us are deluded into thinking that merely because we are moving we are getting somewhere. With those who move with constructive purpose there can be no quarrel. With those who are spurred by the wholesome discontent of progress there can be no quarrel; nor can there be with those who move with the earnest intent of seeing worthwhile things. But those who move aimlessly, those who drift without purpose are to be pitied in their waste of life and in their want of objective. Aimless motion has little in common with directed purpose. But even more to be pitied are those who keep moving in an effort to elude themselves_those who try to outrun their own thoughts, those who try to solve their difficulties and their troubles by running away from them. This idea that merely moving to another place is a sure solution for our personal problems is an idea in which we should not put too much confidence. It is true that many of our troubles grow out of our environment, but it is also true that more of our troubles than we can admit are chargeable to us, ourselves. And for such troubles, moving offers no certainty of cure. We may move, and move again; we may alter our apparel and our appearance_but unless with all this there is some genuinely new attitude, some new and real determination, we are running to no purpose, for without some change within us, the old self is always there, with the old habits, the old excuses, the old fears, and the old thoughts_and temptation is everywhere. To be sure there is nothing wrong with moving. All of us got where we are because we or someone else moved us there. But let us not expect too much of moving. It sometimes offers an opportunity, but it give no assurance_and though we were to run restlessly up and down the earth forever, we should never merely by moving shake off the shadows that pursue us. Moving is one thing, and changing may be quite another_and the way to change is to change.