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<div dir="ltr">It occurred to me that a practical way to actualize our commitment to the mission of furthering the objectives of the NRM without which the NSV can come into being would be for us "grey-haired ones" to consider bridging the generation gap in an "each one reach one" using social media to include our own youngsters in the struggle to deal with the moral issue of our time and join us in birthing the new. I think I mean for the elders to engage in passing on the baton to our sons and daughters and if they're willing their daughters and sons. As things stand now, to paraphrase Matthew, Luke and John, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few". I challenge us to reach across the gap and choose a mentee (I think that's a word) or more to open the gates of communication with them and invite them to join us in the "Great Work" we've chosen to be our legacy. </div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">In sharing our caring we just might get to initiate the path of mindfulness of Spirit, peace and empathy within a truly inclusive and beloved community. Our young ones have in the main appropriated many of the tools and methods we are using to form their own collegial group of fellowship and purpose via social media. </div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">What say you?</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">Yours in kindfulness,</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">dawn</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">We love the Creator/Source/Spirit because the Spirit/Creator/Source first loved us.</div>
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On Saturday, August 31, 2019, 11:14:57 AM MDT, Catherine Welch via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
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<div>Thank you, John, for such a thought provoking reflection (which prompted
more and more thought provoking reflection from others).</div>
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<div>I think there was an emerging generation song that was was out to capture
some of Kierkegaard’s wisdom at an elementary level. I can’t offer the
tune, but the words as I recall were:</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Oh I don’t want to be myself</div>
<div>Oh I don’t want to be myself</div>
<div>But that’s not my problem, my problem is relating</div>
<div>To the self that doesn’t want to be itself.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Oh I don’t want my situation</div>
<div>Oh I don’t want my situation</div>
<div>But that’s not my problem, my problem is relating</div>
<div>To the self that doesn’t want its situation. </div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>This little song still comes back to me from time to time and occasions a
more useful reflection on my circumstances.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Catherine Welch</div>
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<div style=""><b>From:</b> <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" title="oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" ymailto="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">John Epps via OE</a> </div>
<div><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, August 28, 2019 3:36 PM</div>
<div><b>To:</b> <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" title="oe@wedgeblade.net" ymailto="mailto:oe@wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@wedgeblade.net">Order
Ecumenical Community</a> </div>
<div><b>Cc:</b> <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" title="jlepps39@gmail.com" ymailto="mailto:jlepps39@gmail.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:jlepps39@gmail.com">John Epps</a> </div>
<div><b>Subject:</b> [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's</div></div></div>
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<p align="center" class="yiv2741363289MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;LINE-HEIGHT:107%;">The Spirit of
the 20’s<br clear="none"></span></b><i><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:107%;">John
Epps, August 2019</span></i></p>
<p class="yiv2741363289MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">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:</p>
<p class="yiv2741363289MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"><b>The
Prevailing Spirit:</b><br clear="none">Our External Situation is best characterized as one of
<b>THREAT</b>. 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.</p>
<p class="yiv2741363289MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">All
this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis of <b>FEAR</b>. 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. </p>
<p class="yiv2741363289MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">The
Existential Question in this situation is <b>HOW CAN WE SURVIVE?</b> 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. </p>
<p class="yiv2741363289MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">We
Escape through <b>BLAMESTORMING</b>; 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.” </p>
<p class="yiv2741363289MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"><b>Towards
an Authentic Response:<br clear="none"></b>This is where we meet the question of God today:
wrestling with the question of responding to threats to our existence. </p>
<p class="yiv2741363289MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">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. </p>
<p class="yiv2741363289MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">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.</p>
<p class="yiv2741363289MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">Your
comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome. </p></div>
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