Tuesday, January 23, 2007 Obenieta: Dancing to a new beat By Myke U. Obenieta So to Speak
FROM the alchemists of ancient times to this modernist fad for makeover, the need for change has been constant.
Only the dead, after all, can’t bother themselves about becoming better. That, ho-hum, is easier said than done. Like an op-ed rant, a beauty contestant’s wish for world peace, or a treatise to be cherished for its yawning effect into the carefree zone of sleep. Whatever, it often sounds like howling for the moon. Or a sermon.
When Carl Jung reflected about inner transformation in his revisionist interpretation of the alchemists’ quest as a matter of “turning psychological lead into spiritual gold,” he might as well have affirmed it while easing his butt on the pulpit.
And it’s curious when priests or even a prelate holds aloft the psychologist’s candle to comfort and light the path of every seeker. Talk about the process of coming to wholeness—wherein mental health goes well with spiritual maturity in effecting the experience of psychological renewal—and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal came close to speaking in tongues when he talked about “cha-cha” way beyond its graceless political implication. Did his audience hear and internalize what he meant?
“Character change,” so goes the good cardinal’s gospel for the throng of Sto. Niño devotees who came to the pontifical mass at the Pilgrim Center the other day. “I challenge all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, to change for the better, not only for this year, but for the rest of your life,” he stressed, putting in context our power to transform our inner selves in relation to outer forces. Like the sordid state of politics in our country, for instance.
A relevant call, indeed, where politicians always seek to transform themselves into angels descending to our aid as the trumpets announce the election season. Recall how Jungian psychology posits this symbol-forming power of the psyche as transcendent function, and see how candidates always take the high road as they assume the role of saviors.
Reportedly, the Catholic Church in Cebu will not endorse any candidates for this year’s elections, and will instead issue guidelines to help voters decide whom to support. For starters, Rev. John Du waxed emphatic on the prerequisite of self-renewal. “He who lives in an ungodly fashion cannot be expected to choose the right candidate, the candidate who is sincere, dignified and visionary,” he said in his homily.
But, really, are we ready for radical change? Looks like the Serenity Prayer will be urgently handy on the way the May polls: “God to grant us the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
