Just as the births of living creatures are often messy and awkward, so too are new ideas and innovations when they first emerge. They are like the offspring of time, born rough and unfinished. Just as someone who brings honor to their family often stands out more than others that follow, the first successful attempt at something new is rarely equaled by those who copy it. Human nature, in its imperfect state, tends to hold onto the familiar, favoring habits that persist. Meanwhile, good ideas, like a force acting against nature, often burn brightly at the start but then struggle to endure.
Think of medicine: every cure is an innovation. If you refuse to try new remedies, you invite new problems. Time is the ultimate innovator—it changes everything, whether you like it or not. And if time naturally makes things worse, but wisdom and planning don’t intervene to improve them, where does that leave us? Sure, things established by tradition might not be perfect, but they at least feel familiar and functional. Long-standing practices fit together like old companions. New ideas, while they may be useful, can feel awkward and out of place at first—like strangers who are admired but not entirely trusted.
This discomfort is understandable if time stood still. But it doesn’t. Time moves forward relentlessly, and stubbornly. Clinging to outdated customs can be as disruptive as introducing something new. Those who idolize the past risk becoming irrelevant to the present. Instead, we should take a lesson from time itself: change should be gradual, steady, and almost invisible. Abrupt changes often catch people off guard. For some, they bring unexpected benefits, which they chalk up to luck. For others, they bring setbacks, and these people often blame the one who introduced the change.
When it comes to running a business or governing a group, it’s wise not to experiment recklessly. Only make changes when the need is urgent or the benefits are clear. Be careful that your desire for improvement isn’t just an excuse for stirring things up unnecessarily. And even when trying something new, approach it with caution and a bit of skepticism. As the Scriptures advise, “Stand by the old ways, look around, find the straight and right path, and walk in it.”
In short: embrace change when it’s needed, but do so thoughtfully, respecting the lessons of the past while moving toward a better future.
Bacon Blueprint 