Break open a cherry tree and there are no flowers, but the spring breeze brings forth myriad blossoms. -Ikkyu Sojun
It’s no coincidence that spring, Easter, and renewed feelings of aliveness, energy and
change are all grouped together. It is definitely the season of rebirth, in many ways and across many disciplines. Biologically speaking spring is when the sap flows, the trees bud, the vines shake off winter and the animals get frisky (people too!). In various parts of the Middle East they celebrate Norwuz (the first day of Spring), there is the Chinese New Year marking the beginning of spring and of course in the Christian-based religions there is Easter, a time of rebirth. Lots happening this time of year.
I also have a suspicion that the various protests sweeping the globe demanding regime change are also a product of the desire for renewal. Too long people have suffered under a winter of oppression, irresponsible leadership, lack of accountability and elitism. Also the calls for change in the culture of banking are a demand for renewal as well; a renewed level of openness, transparency, and accountability. In governments and public institutions the world over leaders are being called to account like never before.
What makes the current global renewal attempts different from previous change efforts is transparency and global access. With the rise of the Internet allowing access to events on an instantaneous basis for the world to see, dictators and other oppressive forces can no longer hide under the cloak of invisibility.
Just today there were reports from several independent sources on the numbers of protesters killed by government forces in Syria. When I lived in the Beirut in the late 
60’s events in Syria, right next door, rarely came to light. Now they circle the globe in milliseconds and reach millions of concerned people. People have always cared about injustices, but most atrocities never came to light. Today we have a growing global population of concerned and informed people who are becoming fed up with abuse of power among those entrusted with the wellbeing of nations and public institutions.
Change is in the air, and the airwaves. Leaders take notice. It’s time to lead!
Tight Lines . . .
john@johnrchildress.com
