Let Us Not Lose Sight of Where We're Going

These are turbulent times. No one needs reminding that the extremes now seize the day, exacerbating their polarizing differences with every skirmish they fight.

However, despite the tug of such forces upon us, our peace -- and indeed our lives and the future of our world -- depend upon moving beyond them so we can all get where we want to go.

Perhaps it would be in order for us to take a moment to consider where that might be.

I won't be so presumptuous to speak for you, or anyone else for that matter. All I know for sure is the image etched in my soul of what can be, a possibility for a better tomorrow that looks little like our world of today. If you will indulge me, I'll share a little of it.

My vision for our destination is a place of peace and plenty, without oppression or imposition of wills on others. It is a place of opportunity, of incentive, and wholeness based on absolute knowing of who we are and what these lives are about -- unfilted by religious dogma or scientific belief.

Will it be a world also of absolute equality? Probably not. Humans have differences, and there is no reason to believe that we will magically evolve into a homogeneous race where everyone is the same, with the same experiences, advantages and disadvantages, nor even the same thoughts, beliefs and emotions.

Those differences, however, are to be cherished and honored, not used as bases to keep us apart. For in the new world I see we will become even more cognizant of our common heritage, hopes and dreams for what life can be -- and sensitive to the struggles and sacrifices some must make as they journey through it.

Does this mean that they will not be allowed to struggle or fail? Quite the contrary, for our differences may require that some souls make such effort and experience the many variations that might result.

But I suspect those failures (or the circumstances to which they are born) will be seen by all less as a death sentence than as a temporary learning situation for them to move through. And when they've had enough, to have others standing by who lovingly guide them to take their next step back toward the light and re-construction of their lives.

Do I see this as imposed by government edict, enforced by those who sit on high? No. Rather, it will happen as a result of each soul connecting more greatly with every other, and listening to and acting upon their own inner urges to help -- and trusting that when those urges aren't heard, then to allow those in struggle or pain the chance to receive the full benefit of the experiences being served upon by the reality they've created.

It may sound harsh to stand by and watch others suffer. But when not motivated by an inner voice nudging us to act, anything we might do to help would best be considered officious intermeddling -- sticking our nose in where it doesn't belong.

This will be a big test of humanity in the coming centuries -- learning to become sensitive to the inner flow and using it to act in the outer world. Perhaps this will be a world without pain or other hardship, but so long as it continues, we must trust that there is a purpose for it, and allow that purpose to be served.

Does this mean wrapping ourselves so deeply in our fears and desires that we ignore those of lesser means or ability to influence their lives? No, certainly not. For it is essential that our own egoic currents not be mistaken for the inner flow from source, and excessive preoccupation with our outer concerns may render us deaf or blind to inner influence.

When we begin to live this way, I trust that we will find ourselves in a kinder and gentler world. Some of the harshness of life that some struggle to fight now through government intervention will naturally dissipate, alleviating the need and desire to use government for such purpose, as well as removing the temptation of those who would abuse its powers for their own self-interest.

So as you move forward with your life in the darkness and uncertainty of this world in chaos, perhaps you might just remember to search for your own vision of what our world can be -- as well as the kind of lives we want to live in it.

Mine may not be whole; it may not even be right. I invite you to share yours as well. Together we can get there if we will but give energy to manifest the visions that are beginning to emanate from within us all.

God bless you indeed.