Smoke Signals

“I walked the line, the line I choose,

I see the people in front of me
I climbed the wall, the wall of news,
I watched them show the tragedy.

If you were me, could you defend
the given rights to all of man?
Let’s fuck the world with all it’s trend

They say it’s all about to end.
They say, they say. “[1.]

With the “social media” world we find our society living in today, it really has come down to “they say”, hasn’t it?

It’s either right or left, progressive or conservative, CNN or Fox (with other diverse news outlets) relaying their “accurate” message of current events. Kind of easy to get lost in translation, right? Especially with Americas headlines of late, they seem to be sending smoke signals for us to decipher (gives me headaches).

I can’t help but sense the feeling that news from all spectrums of social media is trying to portray just one thing: “it’s all about to end!” The apocalypse is at hand…

Well, let’s digress and just take a few steps back here, folks. I mean, are we really at the brink of some type of unstoppable force of destruction? Or are we seeing something that was once hidden now being brought into sight? I think the later is the case.

The Son of humanity came into our world to show us the light in darkness. He showed us the way of harmony not destruction. That is what Jesus is all about: SHALOM. The Way of the Prince of Peace doesn’t bring about “Armageddon”, it prevents it! That’s the last “say” in all of this madness.

Interesting that Jesus didn’t come to show us the light in the…light, right? The darkness is there in order for us to grasp the light. Here lies the heart of the matter: we live in a world of PARADOX. We are all tangled up with the good, bad and ugly sides as a species. It’s difficult to achieve a circumference which brings about a holistic balance to our worldview.

This can be very frightening for most. We as humans love being wrapped in the security blanket of “certainty”. Who can blame us? It’s a freaking comfy blanket! Unfortunately, that blanket doesn’t take us where we need to go: TRANSFORMATION. The only way to transformation is childlike (NOT childish) TRUST. Having faith that light will prevail over the darkness is what brings us to reality.

LOVE (reality) is the unfailing essence that brings us out of the grave and into resurrection (literally or figuratively). This starts with the individual then sprouts out to all of the cosmos. No matter how old, young, educated or experienced, BE A BEGINNER. This always bring us to new understandings and growth.

How do we experience the “triple threat” (love, life and light) transformation? Well, let’s look at an example. The butterfly can only come into being when the caterpillar breaks out of the cocoon (yes I went there). This process is not a smooth and clean one. The caterpillar digests itself, releasing enzymes to dissolve all of its tissues. If you were to cut open a cocoon or chrysalis at just the right time, caterpillar soup would ooze out (I’m going to hurl).

Our process of transformation can be just as messy! But, we can’t get discouraged! To be set free of our old selves (false selves) we need to LET GO and be transformed into our new selves (original true divine selves). No matter how tough, painful and uncomfortable the transition can be, we need to trust that life is bigger then death. I like this bible verse:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭

So when we here the various and diverse voices through social media, friends, family, colleagues, “enemies”, etc., let’s remember to be the light in the darkness. Let’s not get trapped in the fear of the unknown but let’s trust that love casts out all fear.

We all have those conservative and liberal juices flowing through our veins (if we are honest with ourselves). That’s ok! All we can do is our best with the obstacles and hurdles we are given. Letting “serving the least of these” be our goal to achieve “peace on earth and good will towards humanity”. I think that might just be the direction to true transformation…

“When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.”[2.]