Together we can move the world!

I am starting to conclude that the feeling of realization has the most strangest, insightful and rather mystical colorful tone to it. 

As the world moves into the future, I feel there are a lot of people in the community who are 'fed up' with religion, but who remain spiritually hungry. Leading me to think that in order for communities of faith to thrive, there will need to start heading towards a place of becoming sanctuaries for seekers! Refuges for lost, hungry souls looking for a new form of spiritual community that doesn't resemble the old forms. 

If this mission shall fail… well … I think we just need to open eyes to look beyond our own little 'world' bubble. 

I recently attended an evening with youth ministers from around our area. It was very insightful to hear their views, opinions, actions and more alarming their view of the church. Some are in pre vatican ways, which hurts my heart to know anyone thinks in these terms, (and they wonder why they can not attract or hold youth attention!), others have a hint of cultural diversity shining through. Most directed their struggles with a tint of blame, towards their parish priests, towards the church structure and lack of openness to address todays contemporary issues. 

Part way through the night I thought to myself, no wonder people, especially youth, find themselves alone in the world at times, without a clear sense of spiritual direction or even moral purpose. Welcome to modern society - one of self-absorbed and sometimes self-destructive. Or even worst, people becoming susceptible to any authoritative voice that will give them a sense of direction or possible purpose; regardless of this voice been one of truth or not. Oh how my heart breaks at the thought of this, especially when I get a small insight into the church role models that Pope Francis is talking to when he illustrates not only through leading by example in action yet with his words embracing the Holy Spirit, reminding all, we are disciples, Our Lord is inclusive, one of love and mercy. Some church 'role models' have much to learn, new refuges need to be formed. 

Realization of all this, can at times leave me standing frozen in time, asking the Lord the question, what can we do, what response do we make…. please gift us with insight!

By any measure its undeniable the challenges ahead are 'daunting' indeed at times. I am not naive to think there is not an increase in economic inequality, political unrest has multiple sources, proliferating forms of ethnic bigotry and sexual exploitation are heavy evident and on top of all these there is a growth in the awareness of our spiritual emptiness as a culture!! For anyone who cares about our future as a species and future of our planet, this is crisis time!! Time to step up, acknowledge our past, present and future responsibilities. 

The Lord, Our Creator, has gifted us all with a wonderful light within that we are to shine forth to those who have lost their way. The world needs us, there is an invisible tug between us and creation. Its our calling and our duty; to shine forth as a light, doing one good thing and then another followed by another. With every single thing we do we move the world ever so slightly!

The world moves!! moves towards truth, towards beauty, towards justice, towards adventure and peace. The experience of that invisible tug draws each of us to a unity between present lives and our world with all that is past and with all that is possible. Together, we can move the world!!