[Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's

[Jack Gilles]

John and Colleagues,

You have laid out the classic analysis of the existential crisis the world
is facing very well. Indeed, the collective threat to our human and
planetary existence is before us. What is obvious is that the pain will
increase; for all of us. There will be no escape. We will all weep at the
destruction of the planet and the dehumanization forces react to the fear
they feel. Let these tears cleanse our hearts and clear the dust from our
minds. We will rejoice at the signs of possibilities that so many will
demonstrate daily, even though they also face the wind that can blow out
the candles of hope. Cruelty will grow, greed will flourish and the beast
will roar. Courage will be in big demand.

So many years ago, amazingly we saw it coming, although we had no idea of
the particulars. You can remember and resonate to the words of wisdom that
were spoken then. “Without a NRM there will be no NSV”. “Although we are
engaged in the campaigns of Awakenment and Demonstration, the day after
tomorrow we will only be doing the Third Campaign, Caring for those who
Care.” “Discerning the Contradiction is the key to creative change”. “Never
attack directly, indirection is the way”. And wow, all the learnings we
amassed! We failed at replication, but now we know why. We failed at
expanding Religious Houses, but now we know why. We failed at renewing the
historical Christian church, but now we know why. And that wisdom needs to
be collected and shared. Thus the mission of the Living Archives. It is now
time to share that wisdom, but not just everyone, but with the newly
awakened ones, those who discovered the Second Mountain, as David Brooks
describes it. With those who have discovered the primacy of the local but
have done so in partnership with the living Earth. We can trust the Mystery
to raise up stones in amazing ways. New life will fill “dem bones”. New
poetry, stories, songs and symbols will left hearts and strengthen spines.

Enough of the words. Practically what do we do? Most of us are long-in-the
tooth, so we must discern our elder role and develop the strategy to make
it happen. Time is short to do so. Maybe the ICA’s is the vehicle, maybe
not. We lost something when we shifted from Global language to National
language. The nation state is a social vehicle that will not work, it is
dead, but sure does look at act alive (I mean it doesn’t represent the way
life is anymore). So start with our Grid. Watch the TED talk on the 50
Urban Nodes that have emerged (these are the Areas from our Grid). Listen
to the wisdom of Larry Ward and Peggy Rowe (see Larry’s short TED talk).
Become fluent in speaking of what we called the NRM. See how it is indeed
the absolute requirement to lead in the creation of the NSV. Understand the
dynamics of the creative process and how our Socilal Process work reveals
the wisdom of how it happens and review the Pressure Points and Whistle
Points for their relevance today and have they shifted? Grasp the dynamics
and forms of The Wayside Inn and how it can function. And so much more.
Perhaps we need a forum to



On Aug 28, 2019, at 16:36, John Epps via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:


*The Spirit of the 20’s **John Epps, August 2019*

The categories for determining the spirit of a decade supposedly come from
Kierkegaard: An External Situation creates an Internal Crisis which raises
an Existential Question from which we try to Escape. I’ve used them in
trying to assess the situation since the 60’s. Here we go again:

*The Prevailing Spirit:*
Our External Situation is best characterized as one of *THREAT*.
Economically, health care costs are rising astronomically, the move away
from fossil fuels and the trade war with China have put markets in turmoil
and talk of recession is in the air. Politically, we have cut off alliances
and find Russia, N. Korea, and Iran all upgrading their nuclear
capabilities. USA Congress seems unable to act. Culturally, we are besieged
with increased numbers of immigrants and mass shootings now appear
commonplace. And encompassing all this chaos is the Earth’s environment
which appears to be undergoing dangerous changes due to global warming.

All this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis of *FEAR*. We
increasingly fear those who differ from us, whether by race, gender
identification, nationality, or ideology. Everything different seems a
threat, and we fear the changes already in progress. Compromise seems weak,
and we’re increasingly in a black or white situation: agree or fight.

The Existential Question in this situation is *HOW CAN WE SURVIVE?* With
the environment collapsing and threats at every turn, what can we do?
Problems seem too big to tackle, and local action, while effective, remains
local while the issues are larger. Institutions we developed to address
larger issues appear paralyzed: CONGRESS, UN, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, Treaties
with Iran and the Paris Accords for Climate all appear ineffective in
providing remedies. Attempts to inact gun control legislation, despite
agreement from both parties, cannot move through Congress.

We Escape through *BLAMESTORMING*; we look for scapegoats for each issue,
then cast them as enemies toward which hatred is the only suitable
relation. We demonize NRA, GOP, “Moscow Mitch,” Trump, Kim, Putin,
Refugees, Democrats, Immigrants, Socialists, and many others. Extreme
hostility takes the guise of radical nationalism attempting to band “us”
against “them” or in too many cases, mass shootings aimed at eliminating
“them.”


*Towards an Authentic Response: *This is where we meet the question of God
today: wrestling with the question of responding to threats to our
existence.

Local action may be the most we can do, and since that makes a difference,
should be pursued with vigor. Maybe, over time, the mass changes needed can
come from local people.

The threats are real. The status quo cannot and will not survive. The
future is really open and unpredictable. We can, however, have a hand in
inventing it.

Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome.
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