Enjoy listening to Patrick O’Hearn “Beyond this Moment” (Instrumental)
It appears we are entering yet another time in our collective human journey for epic change. Like with all change somethings cease to be as they were. We as human beings have been heading to this point in time for many years. The point in time in which old ideas no longer apply and no longer serve to enhance life. Where there is change of this magnitude there is usually fear of loss and a loud call to go backward in time to what was.
An example of such an “old idea” in the United States might be ” if people would just work harder they will get ahead”. This belief was once true, but it is not true today. Getting ahead used to mean to achieve buying a home, buying at least one car, provide food shelter, clothing and health care for children. One parent working 40 or 40 plus hours a week would achieve this goal during the late 60’s. This would be nearly impossible today for most people. For most people to achieve this level of lifestyle today, would require two people working over 40 hours a week leaving no one to be available to be with children, little time for leisure activities and rest. So to impose the old belief on people trying to live today is an unrealistic idea based in another time. A similar example can be given with respect to the middle eastern culture Saudi Arabia, for example, which is now changing in response to the push from women to be granted the right to vote. The old idea of women not being able to vote no longer fits.
All one need do is look around to see the cracks occurring in several social economic systems. The systems where corruption, greed dishonesty and total lack of sensitivity to the basic needs of human beings and the needs of this beautiful planet are shifting. Many ideas about who we are no longer fit.
Be it the United States, Russia, Iran, Israel, China, United Kingdom, or any other nation, if motives are dishonest, based in hidden agendas and unscrupulous means to unscrupulous ends, the result has never been and will not likely ever be, good. People, no matter who they are or where they live do not want to be exploited, deceived, tricked or plundered for purpose of fulfilling another’s selfish desire. It is appearing that such practices are proving themselves to be far more destructive than ever. Whether it is the US, and allied forces bombing Iraq with ulterior motives, Isis invading territories to dominate and impose their ideas upon others, Russia invading territories such as Georgia and Ukraine, or the recent retaliatory actions of the Israelis aimed at the Palestinians is all evidence of fear of change. All evidence of aggressive attempts to cling to old ideas which no longer fit. Isis is resisting progressive changes occurring in Middle Eastern culture, Putin resisting progressive change which had begun to occur in Russia, the United States acting on old ideas based in imperialism and greed. Netanyahu bound to old ideas now leading to a call for his dismissal. And in the face of these actions, people are fighting or fleeing. The fear that is pouring out in violence and chaos everywhere is evidence that the seams which once held old ideas in place, are cracking. The antidote for fear is always love.
We the people must push ourselves everyday for empathy, honesty, compassion and integrity and love where ever we are. More than ever we must borrow the wisdom so many ancient indigenous peoples who once upon a time lived by their word and sought to maintain the health of all who belonged to their tribe. The price of losing what [pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The price of losing what what our ancestors attempted to teach us long ago has already cost us a great deal, but the cost will be exponentially greater if we don’t pay attention to what is happening inside ourselves, as well as what is happening around us. [/pullquote]
what our ancestors attempted to teach us long ago has already cost us a great deal, but the cost will be exponentially greater if we don’t pay attention to what is happening inside ourselves, as well as what is happening around us.
The fact of the matter is that technology is going to take us all into the next revolution. We had the industrial revolution and we are entering the technology revolution. During the industrial revolution we changed lifestyles at an exponentially rapid rate compared to previous growth spurts. The first revolution may have been the discovery of fire. That said, no matter what the nature of change we may be facing, the demons remain the same, and with each revolution they pose a greater and greater threat to our survival and existence. The demons are greed, dishonesty, self centeredness and lack of compassion.
Recently it was reported that in the United States there has been a decrease in empathy over the past 30 years. (The research, led by Sara H. Konrath of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and published online in August in Personality and Social Psychology Review, found that college students’ self-reported empathy has declined since 1980) A lack of empathy, combined with greed and dishonesty are always a toxic mix, but combine that with a technological revolution and it could spell total disaster. However, add in empathy, compassion, honesty, integrity and this could spell the end of a great deal of what ails us all. The cultivation of these simple qualities which are always available to us at every given moment can drive us to shed old ideas which foster greed, hate, dishonesty, and fear, toward a change in course. The cultivation of compassion, honesty, integrity and empathy can lead us all toward using technology to stop starvation, to stop slavery, to stop man made suffering of any kind. For example, food will be safe and available because the producers distributors will be honest and care about their fellow human beings who are consuming it. Water will be clean and available because instead of greed being the driving force, the driving force will be the understanding that people and animals need clean water to live.
Shedding, is not easy, but it is inevitable and essential if we are to grow and evolve. It always will mean releasing something that no longer fits. May we all pray that the images around the world today of starvation, violence and the compulsion to dominate another are proof enough that old ideas no longer fit. May we pray for the ability to turn away from the need to exploit resources and people for self serving greedy profiteering to the need to share resources for purpose of enhancing life everywhere. May we pray for the courage to release our own old ideas without violence and without the need to fall prey to fear. May we pray that instead of falling prey to fear in these times of harrowing changes, we may instead find our humanity and reach out each other, friend, foe, and stranger and especially to all those who are caught in the crossfire suffering in war, starvation and fear of death with a hand of loving kindness.
