(Originally posted in 2017...but still true!) I came across this inspiring and thought-provoking video yesterday: The Coming Anastrophe by James Corbett.
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| Image: Sundara Fawn - 2007 |
Some people think that we can't really
move forward, to heal society and all its ills, until there's a 'collapse' or 'catastrophe' of some kind;
otherwise (the story goes) we'll just keep putting patches on a system
that's so broken that anything built on top of it will inherently be
flawed. Corbett offers an alternative story: that an 'anastrophe'
would be a sudden and rapid awakening of humanity that would lift us
unified out of the many troubles facing the world.
He says that the
change must begin at the community/neighborhood level. I admit that his
views can seem a bit utopian but I appreciate him for shining a
spotlight in a new direction -- away from the fascination many people
feel in waiting for 'the BIG one'; the catastrophe that will hopefully, finally catalyze us out of the many messes the world is in.
I
think he touched on what many intentional communities, and people living in the alternative culture are feeling
these days. There's a feeling of waiting; that it's not quite time to act; that we need a 'sign' from outside ourselves.
I know that, here at the Sharing Gardens we sometimes find ourselves waiting for a big external stimulus to move us to the next level. We built up something to a certain crescendo-point but then it peaked and now it seems we're waiting to receive our next instructions...Is this just a cop-out? I'm not sure... I know that, until I/we have clear guidance before acting, that our efforts are often wasted. It's important to be clear before moving forward but I also sometimes feel this can be an excuse not to act at all. There's some famous quote that says - " All that's needed for evil to take over the world is for good people to do nothing".
I know that, here at the Sharing Gardens we sometimes find ourselves waiting for a big external stimulus to move us to the next level. We built up something to a certain crescendo-point but then it peaked and now it seems we're waiting to receive our next instructions...Is this just a cop-out? I'm not sure... I know that, until I/we have clear guidance before acting, that our efforts are often wasted. It's important to be clear before moving forward but I also sometimes feel this can be an excuse not to act at all. There's some famous quote that says - " All that's needed for evil to take over the world is for good people to do nothing".
Feel free to comment below, if so inspired. Blessings.
I truly believe in this vision, of a sudden and rapid awakening to uplift or transcend us especially at this stage of the evolutionary journey that is full of revolutions which lead to Paradigm Shifts and hopefully soon Resolution as the time has come when we need Faith more than ever to surrender to the Greater Vision of cleaning up or resolving this Mega entangled Mess of injustice, corruptness, fear, greed,of the deep dark destructive forces that have persisted throughout time.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and discussing this next stage of the journey of Anastrophe rather than chaos with no clear answers or Resolution to this deeply flawed human story. Certainly a most dynamic time to be alive! Many Blessings!
Dear Loretta - Thanks so much for your heartful comment. I think that many folks that got involved in the intentional community/alternative lifestyle movements beginning in the late 60's felt that they were being pioneers to help bring in a 'new age' that would be healthier for all beings on the planet. There was a hope that 'if we build it, they will come'; that eventually people would be drawn to change their lifestyle habits and join to make the world a better place. But overall, in many ways, it seems the world is more determined to continue with habits of consumption and war and competition and all those things 'we' were trying to create alternatives for.
DeleteChris and I started our own church back in 2010 - based on the principles of sharing and mutual-generosity. The Gardens are an expression of our faith. Our church was able to purchase this land we're on outright and receives a 50% reduction in our property taxes due to the charitable work we do. So our expenses are really minimal. But we're located in a small town which has really backward values - lots of meat-eating, alcohol-drinking, flag-waving football fans :-( so we feel limited in expanding our social-life or growing our project beyond the boundaries of our 3 1/2 acres. We know we touch a lot of folks through our website but even there, our 'stats' are shrinking.
We have a saying - that, if God gives you an idea, you also will receive the materials, energy and support to begin. By trying to make something happen, it's very often an ego-based desire and bound and not to satisfy. So, here we are, awaiting our instructions. We pray daily for guidance and clear signs of what is next for us to be called to do. Meanwhile we're prepping greenhouse beds, starting a few seeds, mulching fruit-trees and all the other little winter tasks that need to happen before spring's rush is upon us again.
Blessings and love to you - Llyn and Chris