The Presidential Election 2016 - there is something happening here - what it is aint exactly clear -

Deep inside we know:  What is happening in the presidential election in the United States is far greater than a political problem.  The disparity between candidates shows the deep chasm running through the people in the US as we struggle with the battle of heart versus head dominance.  This same struggle is occurring over the earth as technology brings us together making us one people.   

 We live in a world where a death in the Sudan is lamented by a school boy in Finland watching TV who then by email shares the story with a friend in New Zealand- and soon countless thousands are suffering from the loss of single life continents away.  We are no longer separated by time and space.  Almost instantaneously we know what is occurring on the other side of the earth. 

The people of The Earth are on the cusp of great change. The world can choose to come together as One Family or we can create great destruction This time in history makes the crusades look like child's play when compared to the mayhem we now have the potential of creating. 

The truth is we already know the only way out of the looming chaos.  We already have within us the tools to avert annihilation.  The question we need to ask ourselves is not ‘what is the answer?’ but rather ‘Are we willing to pay the price for creating a more peaceful world?’

 As long as our choices are motivated by fear and lack we will continue to play this top of the trash heap game seeking to place a crown of tin cans on the head of our personal team leader (pray we do not choose a bully).  Since the crusades and long before, so many who claim to follow the Christ point fingers at those who claim to follow Muhammad and call them heathen. But guess what, they in turn call the Christian heathen.   Add to this countless other scenarios wherein we create in our minds the ‘good guy’ versus ‘the bad guy’ stories.  (gay vs straight – black vs white – rich vs poor – and on and on the stories run).

When I look at the choices before us - it seems the present political climate is just the tip of the iceberg and it is a smoke and mirrors distraction from the real issue. OUR SOULS ARE AT STAKE - - yes we have choices to make - those in politics who we have elected to stand for us are a reflection of us - and the real choice is not about who will sit in an oval office - but about who will reign in our soul.

And finally you ask, ‘What is the price that must be paid to attain peace?’

The price is agape*.  The price is giving everything with generous and open heart.  Loving all and serving all, knowing we are family. 

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* Agape is the highest form of love, charity; the love of God for man and of man for God. Agape embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends and serves regardless of circumstances.

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HARMING THE OTHER

Perhaps the most important lesson ever, 'We are ALL ONE' is not just a few sweet and empty words strung together on a Facebook post....

A Metaphor on what actually happens 

when we seek to harm another being:

 It is rather like crashing your fist at the person smirking at you (seeing him/her as 'the other)   - - -  and then the mirror you were actually looking into falls to pieces scattering shards of glass everywhere  - - -  your hand (or worse) is now bleeding - - -   your hatred has maimed the true self.  Which is to say - has ultimately harmed all of us.

One of the most astounding gifts given is a heart capable of breaking wide open.  It is most often through pain and suffering that the opening begins. Initially that pain is for the small self and concurrent thwarted desire.  It has the potential to expand to include immediate family and from there has the potential to include tribe and those with mutual attitudes and goals.  We are broken down by the weight of suffering pressing in on us from all sides. 

 Then there comes a time when the scales tip. ALL melts into us.  What we thought was taking us only deeper into to sorrow and suffering - into our collective suffering which we sought thru legislation and 'good guy' organizations to relieve and heal - was actually creating an even grander opening.

 Here is truth: When the flood gates opened pouring misery into our life what we did not then realize was that a channel was being formed to also admit - JOY concurrent with LOVE.  

 This profound and all pervading Joy and Love, we realize, has been there all along.  Yes there is still an intense suffering of which we are aware, and often it is still a personal and painful suffering.  But, more and more includes the connection to Creator and Creation and so connection with ALL. 

 There comes a time when we become acutely aware - harming the other also harms the self. 

 This is our collective journey - a turning to what in the bible is called ATONEMENT.  a return to AT ONE MENT.

PRONOUNS

   by Karle Wilson Baker    

  O God, You said,

“Say, ‘We’”;

But I shook my head,

Hid my hands tight behind my back, and said,

 Stubornly,

“I.”

 

Again You said,

“Say, ‘We’”;

But I looked upon them, grimy and all awry.

 Myself in those twisted shapes? Ah, no!

 Distastefully I turned my head away,

 Persisting,

“They.”

Again You said,

"Say, 'We'",

and I

At last,

Richer by a hoard

Of years,

Looked in their eyes and found the heavy word

That bent my neck and bowed my head:

Like a shamed school child then I mumbled low,

"We, O GOD."