Although we’re tired of problems about the recession, jobs and housing, the fact is we’ve been heading this way for a long time. It would help to know how we got here, so that we don’t repeat our mistakes.
It would seem that this all began ‘way back when we developed and dropped the first atomic bomb. That action did something to our national psyche. Suddenly, we didn’t see ourselves in the same way that we had in the past. Until then we saw ourselves as a nation of good, caring people. After then our essence oozed away. Our public and caring humanity was violated along with our terrible killing of so many people at a time. It changed our belief in the sanctity of life. Our national spirit was subdued.
The nuclear age undermined our ability to discern what’s worth killing for. And who to kill. It made war much easier to allow, excuse, and prepare for. Life is cheaper. The planet is cheaper. Things are expensive, and much to be desired. Greed is abundant, encouraged by capitalists, for whom it seems there’s never enough. People seem to be hungry for something, perhaps explaining our national weight problem. The basics – caring about people and living in peace and justice – have deteriorated to resentment of “the less fortunate,” blaming them for being victims. The number of economic sufferers has increased exponentially. In some areas of our country, it’s been there all along. The actual victims, of course, usually stay under the radar of our thinking.
We aren’t used to poverty. After all, in the past we’ve used acquisition to alleviate any anxiety we’ve had about our loss of spirit. Now that we have to utilize our financial resources just for survival, we don’t know what to do with these feelings. Some are disheartened and demoralized, which can lead to feeling jaded and decadent. It’s easy for equally jaded politicians to prey upon the fears of those who are worn out and let down.
The good news is that the time has come to recognize that the popular culture – we – are peaceably changing our whole system of economics. It may be chaotic while it’s happening, but the result will promote true democracy. This movement started decades ago. It’s gathering speed daily. It doesn’t matter how long it takes – months or generations – it’s a powerful change that will bring peace, compassion, and justice.
The planet will benefit as well. Much to the chagrin of some entrepreneurs, nobody owns this planet. We’re all here as temporary guests. Good guests respect their host. They do everything they can to care for it. Daily people all over the world are becoming a part of this caring Shift by checking their values and their lifestyle. Do they match? If not, join the club. We all struggle with it. We have to learn to live the change that fits our values.
The Shift is not an organization to join. It’s a movement that grows out of the way we live our lives – together. Its power is within. It is gentle, but persistent. Its motto is that all life is created equally and must be respected – even revered as creation from its Maker. It leaves out no one, nor any form of life. We are also air, soil, and water — the foundation of our existence. We are each person. If someone is in need, then we’re all in need. You and I suffer along with them. Instead of children of God, humans will grow up into adults of God. The Holy Spirit generates the movement, mostly in the young generation, and no force can resist its power.
It will happen – in its time. Since time is simply a construct by which we humans organize our activities, it’s impossible to know how soon or late this will occur. The Shift will happen, whether it’s convenient or not. But we can already see that this is different from any other “time” in human memory. What an adventure!
