“In these times - we must be mindful of the gift, use our hearts and hands to lift the fallen spirit in this land. Growing gardens in the sand and reaching out a helping hand – in these times.”

                                      -  Noel Paul Stookey

We attended an event recently to hear a powerful international futurist speak of the earth changes. This brought about a most interesting observation.

During the audience Q&A, the older people of the audience voiced concerns about where the safe locations to live were located for themselves and their loved ones, how to protect their savings, and in general, had concerns about material and physical safety while attempting to maintain as much of their current status as possible.

Then a startling, beautiful question came from a twenty-something South American man. His question: “What characteristics should I focus on developing within myself in order to be considered preservable? How can I be a useful resource for the future?”

He wasn’t complaining about the world becoming frightening and chaotic before he had the chance to have a life.  Instead, he wanted to know how he could contribute to being a resource in the future instead of a liability.

I expected the elders of the audience to pose such a question. Instead it came from a young man standing on the threshold of life. One might think youth would be concerned about physical and material security while the elders would offer questions about how to be a useful resource in times when resources are so necessary.

But that was not the case, at least in this event. I doubt anyone else noticed this but to me, this was highly significant. How many of us think about being part of the solution, instead of contributing to the problem as a liability?

In my consultations with clients, most of the questions are about having individual emotional needs met, realizing goals, acquiring more security or maintaining the status quo of various relationships at work or within family. While some clients are now taking an objective look at what they have to offer in a rapidly changing world, this is still the exception.

The American way seems to be focused on the search for individual security while the overall needs of collective society and future generations remain a distant concern if it is noticed at all.

Advanced civilizations make decisions based on what benefits the collective while maintaining respect for individual preference and choice.

In these times, it is the willingness to travel through darkness and troubled times, even though we may not like it, and the determination to move with dignity to the other side that are some of the characteristics of a soul higher beings might view as a resource for the real New Age.

A perfect storm approaches.  We must not close our eyes and we cannot hide. Our choices are fewer now because of the issues we have chosen to ignore. We have lived beyond our needs while denying our own greed. We now face life-altering circumstances in a collapsing world as well as the loss of American abundance, which has become an expectation instead of a privilege.

Michael and I are considered elders - based on years lived. Yet we think and make decisions as if we were twenty year olds.

Oh, we’ve made some huge whopping mistakes and experienced many disappointments - that is for sure - yet we have no regrets over taking chances or experiencing losses. We made our choices. And we have grown, adapted and changed as a result.

There is something so empowering to look at your own fiasco and then have the ability to say: “Wow. That SO did NOT work according to plan!” then choose to quickly move on (no whining!) to a place of greater wisdom.

One could say we have embraced the Star Trek philosophy: “To explore new Universes and to boldly go where no man (or old married couple) has gone before!

Living this way has allowed us to look at the changes in the world differently.

We accept and understand that the world as we know it is not going remain as it is.

So we have made yet another bold choice:

We will not fear the changes.

We are not going to run away from what is occurring, or what is coming. We intend to cross over the evolutionary threshold.  Like the young man from South America, we desire to contribute. We work toward the relief of fear and suffering, and to saving lives. We aim to be a worthwhile resource in a future world.

We were inspired by the real life example of the Japanese fisherman who made a wild, daring decision.

When disaster strikes, the instinct is to get away, but not this sixty-eight year old man. While Tsunami sirens blared and residents ran to higher ground, he steered his boat directly into the wave!

This story, to me is a metaphor about facing fear, not running away and aligning with the forces of nature.

Enjoy the link from the CNN report:  http://www.wfaa.com/news/Japanese-fisherman-who-sailed-into-tsunami-and-survived-119147019.html

Over thirty years ago, I received a series of visions about the direction we are heading and our ultimate outcome. Now I teach about these worldwide changes.

I see all kinds of reactions in my audience and online as I bring forward information. 

This is a recent comment: 

“According to you we are all screwed. This is crap (sic)! All we can do is pray and eat stored food. There are some low beings in spiritual high places who really hate the human race. Now I am left to think about how I’m going to die: from cancer, suicide, or starvation!!! I’m sorry, but I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking.”

Others imply that preparing for changes is the way disaster is created. If food is stored, for example, you are asking for shortages.

I see it another way. What is the worst that could happen? You’d have extra food - either way.

Comments like “This is crap!” do not offend me. (Actually the language was more colorful, but I am limited by editorial guidelines!).

This simply proves how great the need is for healing and deeper knowledge.

I disagree that I create fear. People are already afraid.

A neighbor, not particularly spiritual in outlook said, “I wish the system would go ahead and fall, getting the inevitable over with so we could move on.”

Everyone knows on some level that things are unraveling.

Fear is only a problem when we ignore it or do not know what to do with it. Fear can be a reminder to pay attention.

Desperation can be a call to action. Desperation and hunger succeeded in bringing down a dictator in Egypt …it was youth that started a fire for democracy and freedom, which burned so bright the older generation joined in.

To not discuss what is coming and what is occurring in our world and refuse to ride the wave of chaos is foolish.

MORE information, not LESS is in order.

As Bob Dylan said “The old road is rapidly aging. Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend a hand, for the times they are a changing.”

As beings of infinite consciousness, we are not without choice.

We have many options: joyful, mindful preparation being one of them as we move toward making an unknown future known.