Happy New Year, my Forum friends. As we enter 2025, may we leave regrets behind and carry hope forward. Wishing you all resilience for the challenges, gratitude for the joys, and peace in your hearts.
I wrote the following while the neighbors boomed fireworks as we passed midnight on New Years Eve. Jeanne asked me to share it on the forum.
As I sit here in Tucson, on this New Year's Eve, as 2024 turns to 2025. I am inundated with my late brother-in-law's favorite saying:
Everything changes.
Everything is connected.
Pay attention.
I continue calm, with intuition and logic holding hands. What is, IS. Yet somehow, something odd, hopeful even, encourages me to trust rather than fear.
Spirit asks to speak:
The "Now" may be thick with dark, unpleasant manifestation. Yet all futures depend on the thoughts and actions of humanity. Thus, that which is not Now is never static. It is always in flux until the second it manifests. And it lives only for a second for now is ephemeral.
When a possible future manifests and becomes Now, previous possibilities may meld, slip away, or reform with facets of new and previous possibilities. The future is never still. It cannot be captured completely. The Now re forms second by second. This is how change occurs. This is why earth and humanity are alive and dynamic rather than stillness tethered to a line, immobile. It is not the line that jumps but rather one future descending to earth becoming Now, while other possibles realign or dissolve. Density is the final formation. And density is derived from thought combined with actions- micro and macro. Humanity works with Light to improve what is ugly and/or grows with Lighted understanding into more mature souls.
Yes, you see futures, for some energies are consistent and lead to manifestation while others are disrupted, scattered, constantly reforming until one density prevails and becomes Now.
The dark meddles and shifts possibilities. We do not. We can ease and offer guidance, but we do not manipulate. Humanity is in control of its destiny by its thoughts and actions. At times, it takes disruption and pain to clear the dark from humanity's eyes. This is what has manifested. Light illuminates through darkness when love, compassion, and forgiveness, of self first, and then others, is realized.
Energies good and evil are dancing through a shadowtime, yet Light flows from hand to hand and the dissolution of darkness transmutes to Light Density and manifestation.
Think wisely for your thoughts prepare that which shall be. Transmute fear with trust and love for only with love will dark reality (Now) become Bright with Joy.
Everything changes
Everything is connected.
Pay attention.
Namaste.
@tesseract Wow. Lots to think about with this message. Thank you. Makes me want to contact my sister who I've held a one sided grudge for over a year now. She most likely has no clue what is wrong. Clear out negative vibes and replace with light and love.
Good evening forum friends!
I’ve been considering my path forward for the past two months and began to take action this week. And what a week it has been.
I cannot remember where I left the analogy and where I haven’t, but in the event that I haven’t shared it here, the first thing I came to grips with was I will be horrified by everything coming out of Washington for at least the next two years, but that I cannot engage with all of it. I’ve picked two issues I’m going to defend and I’m going to leave the rest of the battles to others. Anything else is trying to hold back a tsunami wave with one lone 2x4. It’s pointless.
So what to do with all that extra time? I have an incredible story to share with you.
I have a coworker who calls herself Christian, and while she’s a wonderful human who is not 100% MAGA, she shares some deeply troubling views on the homeless. I have lived in my community for nearly 20 years now, and I had no idea until recently how bad the homeless problem in our area was. I’ve decided to take all that energy I would have spent doomscrolling to do something locally.
On Tuesday I met with the pastor at the church we attend. I shouldn’t imply we attend regularly. I go Christmas Eve. My wife will go a few times a year. But to steal from Ronald Reagan: I didn’t leave Christianity, Christianity left me. And this church has always been wonderful, but I couldn’t get over the number of purported Christians who are content to leave the teachings of Jesus on the side of the road. When I explained this to our Pastor he smiled and said “I don’t identify as Christian. I identify as a follower of Christ.” - if anyone can convert me back it may be him. Our church is the only entity in town outside of our Salvation Army that was willing to open its doors during this cold snap. We have about 30 churches in the area and only one opened their doors. Another church wasn’t willing to open their doors but paid for night security so the pastor could go home from 10-6. We spoke at length on the phone on Tuesday. And on Thursday I went to the church and observed and chatted with him some more. (Today on my way back from the school I was presenting at I stopped at Sam’s club and bought a ton of clementine oranges and bananas because the food that’s been donated is a lot of processed food and one person brought fruit and it disappeared instantly)
Talking with pastor, he’s limited in what he has time and bandwidth for but - I have project management experience, nonprofit leadership experience, strategic planning experience, group facilitation experience - all things I’ve learned in the 25 years I’ve spent in my career. We also have connections. He’s been working with the Salvation Army to work in shifts - they stay there during the day and come to the church at night. It’s not sustainable in its current form but it’s a start. The universe guided me to the pastor.
We want to build a homeless coalition in our area. Many hands make light work, but as I explained to him - we dream as big as we want to. Let the Project Manager (me) break it into manageable tasks, deadlines milestones, etc. When nothing exists, no dream is too big or too small. The people I fed at the church have a variety of issues. Substance abuse. Mental Health. Economic disadvantages. Homelessness is no one cause.
I then have had 5 separate text threads with five separate people, all of whom represent different angles. I found out my choreographer’s mom (remember when I won that competitive dance competition October 2023?) is on the Salvation Army board and has been working on a strategic plan for them to address the issue in their wheelhouse. A former friend I had a falling out with (neither of our faults, long story) and I are going ot have a phone call tomorrow about bringing more churches on board in a variety of capacities as well as how we can work the mental health angle.
Our Career Tech Center is expanding their adult programming and I’m going to meet with our director about how we might channel some of them in that direction. We’ll work with rehabilitation agencies to provide services. We’ll work with the hair place I go to to provide free haircuts and shaves. I’m meeting with a woman who ran (unsuccessfully) for our Michigan House seat (deep red) who is also in this. All of these things fell into my lap this past week. We have momentum and interest, and we’re not even a week into planning.
It’s been horrifying catching glimpses of the news - I’m avoiding it but the big stuff finds me. But it’s been so comforting to push myself into this work.
If I can make this much progress getting something off the ground in my local community imagine - if we all turned off the news and looked for a problem in our communities, how much we could do?
I look forward to telling more of this story over the weeks and months that follow. And I challenge you all to find something and be the light for others. It’s the most theraputic way to get through this!
@dannyboy THIS type of engagement is exactly how we get through the next few years. Kudos and Godspeed!
@dannyboy As raids are beginning here .... and they are starting with the kindergartners and elementary age trying to get in to schools and take them. You know here in Marjorie Taylor Green and Barry Loudermilk land we have fought off and overcome an antisemitic group locally... but the Oathkeepers ,Proud Boys and Gravy Seals around are all foaming at the mouth to show off their self imagined "bad-assery" by terrorizing our large Hispanic population. All creatures great and small ... that need shelter and sustenance ... are being watched for.. and.. watched after.
@journeywithme2 Godspeed dear internet friend. I believe you know how to reach out to me if you need anything in this endeavor.
As raids are beginning here .... and they are starting with the kindergartners and elementary age trying to get in to schools and take them.
Journey, can you please explain more about this? Like, are they actually dragging little kids out of the schools? Are they separating them from their families, or just dragging the whole family away together? I know it's hard to talk or even think about this, but we need to know. Thank you @journeywithme2
@unk-p Nothing has happened in our area yet.... there were discussions at our "democratic group" about what we can do if it starts happening in our area. We had heard that the plans were for them to take young children out of schools then get the parents when they come to pick them up out of detainment. We have a large Hispanic population in our sector and many have voiced their fears to us. All? are worried... and have been carrying copies of their papers because they fear their original papers being taken from them and destroyed... leaving them vulnerable to being removed and yes.... they all fear being separated from their families. Our discussions have centered on how our schools and churches can act as a buffer and as well as making plans to shelter/feed those in need. One of our groups pastors is deeply involved in the church that is established for the Hispanic Community and we are discussing game plans for if/when authorities come to our area... we know they will be coming... just as the White Supremacists and NeoNazis did. It is best to be prepared as much as possible.
In my younger years... I often housed women and children in need of a safe place to stay while getting out of Domestic Violence situations... so this is a natural response to me for those in need. For all the hurt and help I went through... I always answer the call to pay it forward..and to stand ready.
@dannyboy Thank you Danny Boy.... and God Speed and grow your assistance to the homeless also! A big problem here as well. many groups already working on that .... lack of mental health care and addiction recovery has a huge role in it. Quite a meth problem in this area. The local gendarmes have regular "rousts" of the homeless when the commissioners want an area "cleaned up" and the homeless get driven.
@journeywithme2 We’re big enough that we have a big problem with the unhoused, but small enough that we don’t do what you just described. I think the heart of the issue is we haven’t tried to do much because it’s easier if we don’t (does that make sense? It’s a “they’re not causing major problems, so we’ll just let them do their things.”)
In my observation of the makeshift shelter and conversation with Pastor, I saw mental illness, substance abuse, and economic driven causes. Those are only three - I know there are myriad. This is why I’m planning to reach out to as many people from as many different walks of life as possible. We have services, how can we make them more widely available? And how can we fundraise and grant write for more? We have two universities within an hour of us - can we secure steady funding for services we don’t have through a combination of grant writing and partnerships that do research?
I have had a couple of friends try to tell me not to get my hopes up. One of them had me a little down yesterday. But then I remembered where she’s coming from - and instead of saying “you’re right!” I took notes on how she was unable to address the problem and added it to my running notes on how to do this.
Last fall, pre-election when I was feeling really good about a Harris win because I was ignoring the warning signs, I looked at the awards I’ve accumulated over the years I realized I have made an entire career out of saying I was going to do something and following through. There are some big achievements under my belt that required navigating and corralling local, state, and national individuals and organizations. I’ve run or helped get several state wide projects that have impacted all students to the finish line. None of them turned out the way I initially envisioned them but it all happened because I didn’t accept the finality of any failure.
This homeless coalition seems easier than half of those previous accomplishments because there’s already a pile of foundation stones and bricks at the job site. I just need to find the people to help build.
@dannyboy Yes I do understand that... we have always had homeless here... for many reasons..addictions,mental health issues, all the usual causes... and for many years... they were not major problems here... then ? we started experiencing major growth out of Atlanta and businesses moving out here and county commissioners wanting them expelled out of areas they were trying to "sell" to developers of industry... like the battery plant and more. Lots of housing going up too. Just another extension of rapid growth without development of infrastructure.
I applaud the fact that you have always been willing to step up to the plate and "put your money where your mouth "is... and I admire you as a person and you're taking actions. You follow in the footsteps of the great men in our world..the Jimmy Carters, the Martin Luther Kings, the John Lewises ... you are the teachers and kind of leaders we need in this country. I pray and and trust that Creator sees us... and ... sends the help we need..in just the way we need it.
Personally? I want to say thank you! for the hope you inspire and share bringing a balm to aching hearts and being a cheering squad and leader for us to be encouraged to act in our communities as well.
Many heartfelt hugs and thanks... I value you and your friendship.
Currently there is a huge concern in Arizona and neighboring states regarding the Navajo Nation. Members who live off the reservation in places like Phoenix are being rounded up and held in detention. Authorities are not accepting the tribal (and valid) form of identification, sometimes even with State issued drivers licenses.
I am infuriated for them. Who the heck carries around a birth certificate? Nobody should be forced to carry one on them. Additionally not all Navajo Nation members will even have a birth certificate, especially if born at home and not in an AZ hospital before 1970. Many births were not recorded at that time.
Am I upset that racial profiling is being used to target people who look a certain way? Absolutely. It is so unfair. People who are U.S. citizens of many different backgrounds are being targeted and it is extremely disturbing.
@lovendures It is heartbreaking that people of any color of skin are at high risk. Native Americans, African Americans,Hispanics, Asians... that have been in this country for generations as well as those that came seeking sanctuary and work . They are all proud peoples and hardworking and are just as much entitled to be here as anyone... and more in the case of our Native Ancestors. I have friends... who fear for their children of interracial unions. I fear for anyone who is not lily white skinned and male.
Well I am sure you all have read the news... raids have begun in my sector😢 Please pray and send Light .
Ironically today is International Holocaust Rememberance Day . Methinks that is no coincidence.
If you have a Facebook account, change your ad settings to make yourself less valuable to them.
https://www.johnoliverwantsyourraterotica.com/
I have been attending a Qi Gong class in the park on Saturday mornings. Near the end of today's session, the leader had us set our main intention for the day. I ran through a mental list of all the things I needed and wanted to do and trying to decide which was top priority when a line from the prayer of St. Francis popped into my head: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace". I realized that yes, that should be top priority for everyone, everywhere, all the time. If done, everything else will fall into place.
Here is the full prayer (from Wikipedia)
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Lord, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in forgiving that one is forgiven,
it is in dying that one awakens to eternal life."