Social Apocalypse

 

It was a brutal time. Love had waxed cold, and the cold had caught on and spread like a deadly virus, turning people into zombie-like creatures who walked sullenly and fed off each other with an appetite that was never satisfied. Women didn’t feel loved by men nor did men feel loved by women. So they either lost hope or clung to whatever shreds of love they could find anywhere, usually choking it to death with their desperate need. There was so much well-publicized sham and ego in religion that those on the outside couldn’t see the beautiful Reality that it points to. And those parents who had found life-sustaining strength and joy in their religion were watching their children being pulled into the world’s distorted view of it. People of leisure had never dreamed that times could be become so difficult. And the fringe classes were fighting in the weary streets to survive. The children were being dragged along in this desert march—thirsty, staring, too insecure to play. Those few who were sincere hung on, trying to trust. They prayed for the Light to come into this darkness. And they found some comfort. So the Hope, of course, as always was there, to be found by the diligent. But the trust got harder when the disease penetrated their own families-- those who had been taught in the Faith, now so easily pulled into the darkness. The “sword” Jesus spoke of, that separates mothers from daughters and sons from fathers was in full operation. People were rapidly forgetting how to live together harmoniously. All could sense, though all but the courageous and true denied, that dark clouds were looming—that we were coming to one of those historic crossroads where the river would split and most of the water of life would go in one direction or the other: into the lush, green valley of renewal, or over the cliff into the abyss from which all has to be rebuilt—on a foundation that might not be as secure as the one that had crumbled. Many of the very sensitive without a root or foundation could not tolerate it—and exited it. Others were ensnared in various pits cleverly woven into the torn fabric of the Community.

Thankfully, many who had an affinity for the Light and who were ready, drew toward the Light to escape the pain. There, to their shock and delight, they found more than relief from the pain. They found their true family. They found a shimmering sanctuary in which they knew, beyond doubt, that all is well, and ever would be; an unseen but very real dimension of genuine Peace and inner Serenity deep down below all the sufferings and cycles of this world. They found the Freedom that pours forth from the Source of all that is needed to have what our hearts truly desire, here and now. Today! They looked sadly, hopefully at the world.

And then they looked up!

Growing Up

 

Our parents are largely [not completely] responsible for our psycho-spiritual condition when we enter adulthood; but we are 100% responsible when we enter adulthood. We are responsible for how we handle what we were dealt as children. Doesn’t do any good to just keep crying, and we can’t blame them anymore. In fact, blaming is counter-productive—no matter whom is blamed. Blame is a distraction from the important work of overcoming whatever we are blaming anyone for. Those who have hurt us or our loved ones are unenlightened--- “They know not what they do” as Jesus says. This is true even if they are consciously mean or malicious—especially when they are. We guard our hearts from what is in them, and try to protect our loved ones as best we can; but they are going to wreak some havoc, nevertheless. We do damage control as best we can. But we continue to recognize and transcend the various ways our own souls have been wounded in this arena of life with humans who are still emerging from darkness into Light. And we remember that our war is not with “flesh and blood” but spirits that possess and move within the human heart. Those who are possessed of meanness, for example, are the primary victims of it, even though many others are hurt through them also. And we are careful not to “return evil for evil, nor be overcome by evil; but rather to overcome evil with good.” Our ability to do this is the very evidence of our healing and enlightenment. As the Cross of Christ absorbed and destroyed the sins of the world, so now, as we take up our crosses and respond to everything in courageous and peaceful Love, we, as His body, also negate the evil in this world. This is what we help each other do. This is one important way that we love each other: by carrying our load with integrity, and bearing each others’ burdens when necessary. We do all this as Christ described: in peace, with thankful hearts, in a “yoke that is easy and a burden that is light.” {At least most of the time. And more and more so as we grow.} We stay consciously grounded in the eternal Truth that He is perpetually revealing to us---the Truth that sets and keeps us free. We are always “more than conquerors.” Peaceful warriors. Joyful servants. Nothing from the dark side, not even Satan himself can change this. It is our default setting; the Foundation underneath all our experiences. And in death {our final victory} all these “slight, momentary afflictions” will be obliterated by a light of glory that the NDEers cannot describe, even in the most superlative terms.