The path to a spiritual awakening isn't the one most followed by our politicians and leaders. In fact enlightenment or spiritual awakening isn't on their radar screen. It seems as though every nation has it's answers. One would hope that the church would be of help; however, it seems to be wrapped up in providing answers to questions that no one is asking. Eugene Ionesco put it this way, "It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question."  The question? 

We are too wrapped up in bank bailouts, and getting the Dow back about 9,000 to be looking at the big picture. Who has time for that wacky date of 12.21.2012?

Those who do peer over and past their own geographical boundaries are only doing so to see what others have that they might make theirs. The Middle East is a good example. How can we expect the Palestinians to get along with the Israelis when Hamas can't manage to live with Fatah? We can't just work on the political plane alone. There must be some spiritual awakening on both sides. An increased consciousness is desperately needed.

We need a major transformation! If we're to succeed in this evolutionary journey to maturity, before we kill each other, we'll need to refocus big time.

We need to awaken the spiritual giant within us, awaken our true soul, awaken to the Spirit that is within all of us. ALL! Annamarie Schimmel said, "Once the journey TO God is finished, the infinite journey IN God begins." On this side of releasing our physical bodies, the journey is never finsihed and unfortuantely, it's seldom seriously begun by most. The Buddha gets credit for putting it this way, "All things arise and pass away, but the awakend awake forever." Jesus simply said, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand." How do we relate to this challenges in our lives, or do we?

Is there anyone who would doubt that adversity is increasing as planet earth gets more and more inhabited and as a result smaller and smaller? What most of the major religions felt a hundred years ago was a peace about the inherent principles embraced by those individual religions because the same mindset was in the neighbors- and neighborhoods.

But, no longer.

Our neighbors are today much different than we. But, on the other hand, our neighbors are the same as we. We are ALL children of God. We may speak a different language, have skin color that's markedly different than others around us, but we all come from the same God- for there is but ONE GOD! Too often we let our religion get in the way of loving people. Too often we let the word God get in the way of being "Godly" .

The kingdom is WITHIN! We must first journey within before WITHOUT.

And when we come out from our visit within, we need to carry that same peace that we found there with us throughout the day. Since we all come from the same place and will end up back there together, why don't we try and exercise a little more patience, tolerance, and love for one another while we're here experiencing this thing called humanity. It really can be a good thing- if we'll just let it. Awaken giant within for this dwarf in the mirror isn't getting the job done!

We can't keep going in the direction that we're going for very much longer, without ending up where we are headed. And, where we're headed doesn't feel right, isn't good. There are so many uncertainties facing us now. On our own we're not capable of solving the problems of racial bias, moral realativism, economic shame, and separation from our true self. There is a spiritual dimension to life that goes deeper than we know.

Something is dying, and we must let it happen because something is about to be born. We have been given all the resources that we need. The answer is WITHIN. We're not standing outside looking in. We're IN and have BEEN for all of eternity. Waking up to where we ARE and who we BE (I know, bad English) is what's needful. We need deeper insight to the unconscious forces that await our engagement. On the other hand, if things get too far out of hand we might see the enantiodromia principle fall into operation.

I don't know if 2012 has any spiritual significance, but I'm focusing my energies that way. What are the possibilities? Let us live the George Bernard Shaw axiom,"Some people see things that are and say why while others see possibilities that never have been and say why not."

WHY NOT?