You may be hearing the word awakening being thrown around a lot right now.  Many people in our world today believe we are being called to wake up.  I am one of them.  If the current social, political, religious and economic turmoil around the world isn’t a wake up call, I don’t know what is.

This is a time of awakening.  So… awakening to what?

Our true nature.  Being created in the image and likeness of the creator of the universe, we are born to be creative.  We create our own world with our thoughts and actions.  When we begin to wake up and join together we create a world that works for all.

Our oneness.   Any separation we experience is an illusion we create ourselves.  We name, label and exclude others and declare it to be so, but it is all still an illusion.  When will the current climate of hatred, fear and hostility begin to turn around?  When when remember our oneness.

Our responsibility to care for the earth.   As a Christian, I believe were placed on this planet to care for it — to tend the garden, not destroy it.  Will we wake up to this reality before it is too late?  I certainly hope so.

Our dependence on each other.  We live in a time when we brag about not needing anyone.  We think we can take care of ourselves.  We ostracize those who openly can’t do things for themselves.  But sooner or later we will realize this is not true.  We all need each other and there is no shame in needing or asking for help and nothing to boast or complain about in helping others.

So this month we are talking about awakening.  We live in a time of what appears to be great darkness.  This can be a frightening time.  But it is also an exciting time.  The world is changing.  Something new is begin born and we are experiencing labor pains.

The time has come for those who have been awakening to start to come together.  Not to form new institutions or churches which have not worked in the past, but to bring a new way of living and being into the world.

Wake up!  You are light.  Shine!