May you live in interesting times. Well, we are living in interesting and uncertain times indeed. I remember not so long ago wondering why I had chosen the easy path — to incarnate in a country of plenty instead of living in a more challenging environment. I wondered how I could reach spiritual enlightenment surrounded by so much.
Lately, I have been reflecting upon the illusion of living in the land of plenty and home of the free. Even basic necessities like clean water are no longer guaranteed. Another person’s rights no longer end where mine begin. In this blurry space, rights that we have taken for granted are trampled on. The illusion of greatness has eroded. Through the gaping holes erosion creates, the force of suffering blasts — I feel the agony of those who are not living the illusory dream. I hear in disbelief the shaming, blaming, and othering.
I ask myself, as the illusion crumbles around me, “Why are you here if not to live the American dream?” The answer to that question haunts me in the darkening night. It whispers
ever so softly, “Paradigm shift.” There is no simple action to create an all is well paradigm. The answer demands that we shine our light into the dark to navigate the road that leads from the fantasy of “living the dream if you try hard enough” into a reality that provides access to that dream for all.
ever so softly, “Paradigm shift.” There is no simple action to create an all is well paradigm. The answer demands that we shine our light into the dark to navigate the road that leads from the fantasy of “living the dream if you try hard enough” into a reality that provides access to that dream for all.
Maybe I chose this life because I am a dreamer, a change agent. I believe that we can create a better life for everyone. I believe that there is a table big enough for everyone to sit at. I believe that we do not have to compete for precious little when we can collaboratively provide enough+ for all. I believe that when we move from a mindset of forced compromise into a life powered by consensus that we live compassionately in one of those gates of heaven Merton wrote about.
I believe that to get from the uncertainty of today to this place of enough+, we need to make some tough choices. These aren’t the choices that destroy opportunities to realize our basic needs; rather, these choices elevate all of us to a place where needs are met and some wants realized for all of us — the community of enough+. We sustain this community when we stop othering by choosing to be compassion’s presence.
I am a dreamer, a believer who knows that each of us is alive in this moment to make the world a better place. A place where we reside, with others, in a gate of heaven — there we commit to live in each moment fully aware and compassionately responsive to each part of creation. In the gate, our light attracts the lights of others and we stand part of an illuminated community of compassionate consensus. Paradigm shift realized.
Set aside your wants, gather your needs, and join me at compassion’s table. Seated at the table of unconditional love, we are a community of consensus. Within this community of enough+ we navigate within the gate of heaven to live in these interesting, uncertain times together.
Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Neural Synchrony™ facilitator, Professional Speaker, and Author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Vanessa assists clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for keynotes, programs, and consultations.
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