“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
You can sometimes feel a shift in the atmosphere and suddenly certain events take place and you have to wonder “Is this just coincidence, or are these things happening for a reason?”
You can sometimes find patterns.
Sometimes the passion of one movement can catch flame somewhere else and cause another movement.
These are strange and difficult times we are facing, as a world and as individuals.
Globally, we are experiencing an economic crisis. Starting in the spring, Arabs rioted and overthrew their government. Starting this fall, the US protests the control of corporations in our government. What will happen? Will we the people take our government back? Will the government over power us and continue to cut us down? Will these events ultimately lead us to the 2012 disaster? (not an apocalypse, because I don’t believe in that, but I do not doubt that the prophecy has relevance. I mean look at what is happening around the world.)
As individuals, we are facing difficult times.
My mother is losing her job, which means she and and my dad will not have the good income they once and so briefly had, making it even more difficult for them to retire. Their hope to draw social security in a few years is even being threatened by our government.
Once my mother loses her job, my family and I will join the ever growing population of those without health insurance. As an epileptic, I worry about this.
My sister’s marriage is failing. My friends’ relationships are failing. Even my relationship has been shaken.
My childhood pet died last week. I feel as if she took with her the last remnant of my inner child. A family friend had to say good bye to a dear pet as well.
After years of praying, my church family is saying good bye to a member tomorrow.
This month seems to be covered in a dark cloud. These times are hard, but I have to be thankful. It is beautiful to see everyone I have mentioned, on the global, community and individual levels, pulling together to help one another.
As humans we have the capacity to hold a lot of evil within us and the capability of doing such evil that destroys ourselves and others. However, as humans we also have the capacity to overflow with such love that redeems and builds each other up. That is the tragic beauty of us.
These times we face are hard. But I have faith that brings me peace. Faith in the people. Faith in God. And in faith, we persevere.
