What Change Do You Want To Be A Part Of?
Happy Resurrection!
Maybe we forget, but the resurrection we celebrate was a milestone in causing change to happen in the world. Try to imagine how shocking the realization of resurrection must have felt for Jesus' followers when confronted with the reality of resurrection.
Is religion the Heart and Soul of the cultural revolution or evolution?
No matter our ages, we are at the dawn of a new consciousness in our global culture. How will we and do we approach our life and the lives of those we touch daily as the same as the human family in a world experiencing angst, change, and technological advancements that leave us feeling we are in a fragile world?
Do we see our interdependence on each other, technology, and jobs as an inescapable fact of life?
How does our work within the various Cardijn movements bring groups together in the context of our shared vision and purpose to build robust, flexible frameworks based on Jesus' teachings using the Cardijn methods and provide people with a sense of hope in their need to survive, thrive, and achieve their goals?
In a world of rapid technological change, can humankind consciously evolve away from antiquated teaching methods of exploitation and cultural dominance toward a more collaborative, innovative way of producing beneficial or desired results way of life that focuses on the greater good for the common good?
What can we learn from the lives and teachings of Joseph Cardijn, Thomas Merton, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Jane Goodall, Albert Einstein, Thomas Berry, Richard Rohr, Karl Rahner, Dorthy Day, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Thea Bowman, Oscar Arnulfo Romero, Dalai Lama, Thomas Keating, and yes, Pope Francis that will help us yield breakthroughs in societal change and produce events that change the way we look at humanity's role in shaping the future.
Humanity is entering a revolutionary phase driven by technology that needs to correspond to our work and mission as disciples, following the directives of Jesus and the early followers.
We must focus on systems that support greater awareness of the innate unity among all people and our shared responsibility to care for the people, the planet, and all living elements. We must develop purpose and a sense of prosperity that allows all human beings to live well and thrive. Indeed, our very survival as the world of autonomous technology evolves may depend on our collective ability to recognize and reflect upon the interconnected nature of all creation. The individuals I mentioned above have given us hints on how to do what we need to do to bring about the kingdom of heaven here and now. The key is collaborative relationships with each other in innovative spiritual ways to be pioneers in our work at the crossroads of experiencing societal phase change.
Thomas Merton taught us not only to be steeped in our Christian faith and understanding of the kingdom of God but also suggested we have much to learn from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, which embodied the Inter-spiritual model of human evolution.
When we practice SEE-JUDGE-ACT collaboratively with other human beings, we are evolving together!
Evolving Together
To decide and to thrive is to survive together on this planet.
Are we the species created by God whereby we instinctively act in the best interest of our fellow human beings?
Nearly two thousand years later, Jesus' teachings, the sermon on the Mount, and almost five thousand years later, Krishna's spirituality help us recognize the shift from individual self-preservation to collaborative human flourishing in multi-level societal change.
How often do you hear the word Altruism? When was the last time you thought about its meaning?
When we SEE-JUDGE-ACT, what role does Altruism play?
Altruism, a practice we need to focus on more in our world today, is all about putting the well-being of others before yourself. It's about acting selflessly to help someone or something else without expecting anything in return.
Altruism requires ACTion:
Focuses on others' well-being: Altruistic acts are done out of a genuine desire to improve the lives of others rather than any personal gain. This is why collaboration between us humans is KEY.
Altruism can be big or small. It can range from grand gestures like donating to charity or saving a life to more minor acts like volunteering our time or simply holding the door open for someone.
Empathy motivates Altruism. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. (Think of the Parables.) Once again, this requires education and collaboration; no one is an island unto themselves.
Benefits both giver and receiver: Helping others can benefit the recipient, make the giver feel good, and improve the overall well-being of each other and those we touch.
Altruism doesn't have to be complex or require intense debating by philosophers, scientists, psychologists, or theologians. It is what we can do together. The names of the individuals I mentioned have taught us the meaning of Altruism: we need to act.
Altruism is a way to enact a positive force in the world that can make a real difference in others' lives.
Is that not what the resurrection was all about?