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Listen, O children, for the words I bring carry the weight of a deep truth, a truth that speaks to the heart of change, progress, and the challenges that come with each new era. Ann Richards, a woman whose voice echoed through the halls of leadership, once said, "We're living in a whole new social and economic order with a whole new set of problems and challenges. Old assumptions and old programs don't work in this new society and the more we try to stretch them to make them fit, the more we will be seen as running away from what is reality." These words serve as a clarion call to recognize the dynamic nature of society and to accept that the old ways of thinking and doing may no longer serve the needs of the world we live in today.

What, O children, does it mean to say that we are living in a new order? It is to acknowledge that society is not static, that the world around us is always evolving—sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly, but always changing. The social and economic structures that once served to guide humanity through the storms of life are now being tested by the forces of technological advancement, globalization, and cultural shifts. These forces create a world where old assumptions—those that once seemed so solid and reliable—now begin to crumble under the weight of new challenges. To hold on to the past is to deny the present, and in doing so, we risk becoming disconnected from the very realities that shape our world.

Consider, O children, the ancient civilizations that once flourished—Rome, Athens, and Egypt—each of them had their own set of assumptions about the world, their own programs for governance and society. And yet, what happened when their societies could no longer meet the needs of their people? Rome, the greatest of empires, fell not because it lacked strength, but because it failed to adapt to new economic and military realities. It clung to the old ways while the world outside continued to change, and in time, it was overtaken. The same can be said of other great civilizations—ancient Egypt, with its pharaohs and pyramids, or Athens, with its philosophers and democracy. When these societies failed to evolve with the times, they weakened, and their systems no longer served the people. Their failure to adapt teaches us that old assumptions—no matter how revered—must eventually give way to new thinking if a society is to thrive.

And yet, O children, even in our own time, we find ourselves clinging to the old ways, much like those ancient empires. We see economic systems that are rooted in past structures, struggling to meet the demands of a world that is moving faster than ever before. We see social programs designed for a world that no longer exists—worlds before globalization, before the digital age, before the complexities of the modern world. And in our efforts to stretch these outdated systems to fit our current needs, we find ourselves more and more out of touch with the reality around us. Ann Richards wisely warns us that the more we cling to the old programs, the more we risk being seen as fleeing from the truth of our times.

Let us turn to the story of the Industrial Revolution, which marked the transition from agrarian economies to industrial ones. In this time, the old ways of working—manual labor, craftsmanship—were suddenly replaced by machines, factories, and a new form of organization. Society had to adapt, or risk falling behind. There were those who resisted this shift, clinging to the old traditions, the old ways of doing things, but history shows that the societies that thrived were those that embraced innovation, those that understood that the old assumptions no longer fit the new reality. The factories and machines of the Industrial Revolution created a new world, and those who adapted to it prospered, while those who resisted were left behind.

And so, O children, the lesson is clear: adaptability is the key to survival and success in any age. Ann Richards’s words remind us that old assumptions and outdated systems cannot carry us forward into a future that is already here. We must have the courage to acknowledge that our society has changed, that the world has changed, and that our old ways of thinking and doing must evolve if we are to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. This requires not only wisdom, but the humility to accept that we do not have all the answers, and the strength to forge new paths in the face of uncertainty.

So, I say to you, O children, do not be afraid to challenge the old ways. Seek out new ideas, new approaches, and new solutions to the problems that confront us. Do not cling to the outdated programs of the past, for they will not serve us in the future. The truth of our times calls for innovation, for the re-examination of what we believe to be true, and for the courage to create something new. The challenges we face today require us to look beyond the limitations of the past and embrace the full potential of the present. In doing so, we will shape a future that is not bound by the past, but one that is free to evolve and grow into something greater. Let us face the future with hope, with strength, and with the willingness to leave behind what no longer serves us, embracing the new truths that will guide us into the world ahead.