I know I don’t need to say this because everyone knows it too well – there is A LOT going on in the world today that is very challenging. The lies, misinformation, corruption, injustice, lawlessness, greed, cruelty, oppression – it’s enough to overwhelm anyone. In the midst of such unrelenting darkness, it can be difficult to stay out of denial while remaining hopeful.
We need hope. It fuels our motivation to choose courageous, moral action and resist the pull of negativity and polarization. I’ve noticed that when people lose hope, they fall into apathy and paralysis. This is exactly what the dark forces are hoping for – to convince us that there is no use in resisting.
So while I actively make a practice of looking for reasons to hope (and they can always be found if you look deeply enough), I also know that we cannot base our actions exclusively on any outcome we think is most likely.
Our task is to engage in compassionate, non-violent action
because it is how we want to live our lives.
For me to live in integrity, to live according to my values, I must speak up and act up when the planet and all its inhabitants are threatened. When I reach the end of my days, I want to know my life was in service of love, at least to the degree I was able. To act whether or not you are feeling hopeful is not easy, but when we act grounded in our values and trust Spirit with the rest, our purpose will sustain us during the times when hope is hard to find.
When it gets challenging to remain on the side of love, I always sit with the question, “What would you do if you knew the human species had a terminal illness?” Now, I’m not saying we are doomed, but I am willing to face that as one possibility. If I imagine that possibility, and wonder how I would respond, I always come up with the same answer.
If humanity had a terminal illness, I would do my best to love all beings in the time we have left. So whether I am full of hope or despair on any given day, the answer remains the same. Live from love to the best of my ability – regardless of the outcome. I’m responsible for my actions, not for saving the world all by myself. When I choose to trust life, which I know is more powerful than any human, then I know life will restore balance even if we don’t. We may evolve and birth a new consciousness, which happens to be the future I want to work for, and we may choose destruction. We are always collectively co-creating, and life will course-correct if we miss the mark.
For me, that is the universal hope that transcends whatever
might happen to my individual life and those that I love.
So however you choose to act today – showing up at a protest, smiling at the grocery clerk, making amends for a hurt you inflicted, or tending to a loved one who is ill, I invite you to a challenge: set an intention to see the divinity in every being you encounter. Because when you close your heart to someone’s deepest essence, you close the door to your own. When you open to love regardless of whether you believe the other is deserving, you open the door to experience God within.
And that is the most anyone could ever hope for!
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Join Cibele Salviatto and myself for the March 30th Sacred Activism Session:
Beyond the Divide – Finding Unity in a Polarized World
If you’d like to contribute to the birth of a new consciousness, I invite you to join Cibele Salviatto and myself for this month’s gathering in the Sacred Activism series. We will explore the transition from dualistic consciousness to unitive consciousness, and how we can make this shift in our own lives and in relationship to those we encounter. Come commune with like-minded folks and experience the hope and support that is found amongst kindred spirits with a large vision!
In the interest of safety, we do ask that you have your camera on during the meeting. If this is a problem, exceptions can be made but please contact me to share with me your situation.
The world urgently needs more Sacred Activists who can light the way for others as we collectively encourage the evolution of consciousness that can offer a roadmap to live in harmony on our beloved planet. Join us on March 30th as we explore this transition from separation and duality to unity!
Learn more and register here.
Each of the Sacred Activism modules stand alone, and they build on one another. This series continues to be a gift-economy offering. You are welcome to choose a fee that reflects the value that you receive and respects your financial budget—if that amount is zero, please know you are fully welcome.
