The End of What?
We studied Revelations in Sunday School the day after the world was supposed to end. The readings and conversation turned quickly to the phrase "Thy Kingdom Come" and I thought that was interesting because lately I've been thinking about what kind of Kingdom praying Christians are asking for. Perhaps being caught up in rapture and ascending to heaven is what it's all about for many of them; and if that is the case, I would think the prayers would be more along the lines of "take me to Heaven, bring me to you." Instead, the Lord's Prayer implores God's will be done "on Earth as it is in Heaven." Certainly, we can assume that it's all going well up there. What then do we suppose will happen when God's will is brought to earth? It seems just as important to ask (on behalf of all zealous Christians and type A personalities) just what we are to do to help assure it gets here. In other words, what are we asking for and shouldn't we be doing more than asking?
I imagine God's Kingdom to be a peaceful one. But I was surprised to learn that a small gathering of American Christians believe the way to peace is through war. One woman speaking her version of the Bible informed me that "God leads his people to war and is on their side in battle." I told her I thought the battle scenes took place in the Old Testament and that the New was all about Jesus' admonition to turn the other cheek and love one another. Even in Christian churches, I am having a tough time finding people who want to understand what fueled the animosity against the U.S. that lead to 9/11. I want to understand why such hatred exists and I want the leaders of the nation I call home to understand the same. After that I want the government to take action to effectuate change and then I want my countrymen to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation. But mostly I want people to think about peace and wonder as I do whether we Americans can call ourselves a predominantly Christian nation at the same time we staff and supply military bases worldwide. How can the occupation of another territory promote peace? What right, rhyme or reason is there for this show of aggression? After over 2000 years of fighting battles, I think supporters of Christianity should have picked up on the idea that peace doesn't come at the end of a war regardless of what country you are fighting for.
As far as the coming of the end of the world, I have read some of the teachings of those who have studied the Mayan calendar forecasting an "end" on 12/21/2012. They indicate that what many interpret as an end of the world is really the end of an era much the same way the phases of the moon are currently acknowledged. In other words, the position of our solar system within the Milky Way is shifting. This shift is the beginning of a new era. It is interesting that entering this New Age (so many think of in conjunction with the Age of Aquarius) has been interpreted to mean and end to the world; when in reality it could only mean an end to a way of life, a way of thinking of being that itself has to die out in order for the world to be revitalized and continue to support life as we know it.
By all accounts nothing much happened globally on the 21st of May that would indicate a big energetic shift. But after reflecting on the teachings of Revelations, I experienced an epiphany -- my own little end of an era. I saw that it was time for me to put an end to my frustration over living in a world so full of war and yes, hatred in the name of honoring an individual's God and Country. I also realized that getting ticked off at governments that allow nuke plants to be constructed on fault lines and corporate interests to destroy ecosystems wasn't going to cause the ideal Kingdom to arrive any quicker. That so many have chosen to dishonor the blessings of mother earth by greedily misappropriating the wealth of her natural resources to the detriment of so many of her other children is a situation that isn't going to be over because thoughts of it enrage me. My personal revelation that I should no longer be angry over war, and pollution and corruption made me realize that each of us on any given day can be caught up in our own rapture by allowing our thoughts to be guided by the Kingdom we want to see on earth. In my ideal world there is peace and compassion and forgiveness, the kind that lets us start each day knowing we are all equals and equally responsible for bringing the Kingdom. What does yours look like?
I imagine God's Kingdom to be a peaceful one. But I was surprised to learn that a small gathering of American Christians believe the way to peace is through war. One woman speaking her version of the Bible informed me that "God leads his people to war and is on their side in battle." I told her I thought the battle scenes took place in the Old Testament and that the New was all about Jesus' admonition to turn the other cheek and love one another. Even in Christian churches, I am having a tough time finding people who want to understand what fueled the animosity against the U.S. that lead to 9/11. I want to understand why such hatred exists and I want the leaders of the nation I call home to understand the same. After that I want the government to take action to effectuate change and then I want my countrymen to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation. But mostly I want people to think about peace and wonder as I do whether we Americans can call ourselves a predominantly Christian nation at the same time we staff and supply military bases worldwide. How can the occupation of another territory promote peace? What right, rhyme or reason is there for this show of aggression? After over 2000 years of fighting battles, I think supporters of Christianity should have picked up on the idea that peace doesn't come at the end of a war regardless of what country you are fighting for.
As far as the coming of the end of the world, I have read some of the teachings of those who have studied the Mayan calendar forecasting an "end" on 12/21/2012. They indicate that what many interpret as an end of the world is really the end of an era much the same way the phases of the moon are currently acknowledged. In other words, the position of our solar system within the Milky Way is shifting. This shift is the beginning of a new era. It is interesting that entering this New Age (so many think of in conjunction with the Age of Aquarius) has been interpreted to mean and end to the world; when in reality it could only mean an end to a way of life, a way of thinking of being that itself has to die out in order for the world to be revitalized and continue to support life as we know it.
By all accounts nothing much happened globally on the 21st of May that would indicate a big energetic shift. But after reflecting on the teachings of Revelations, I experienced an epiphany -- my own little end of an era. I saw that it was time for me to put an end to my frustration over living in a world so full of war and yes, hatred in the name of honoring an individual's God and Country. I also realized that getting ticked off at governments that allow nuke plants to be constructed on fault lines and corporate interests to destroy ecosystems wasn't going to cause the ideal Kingdom to arrive any quicker. That so many have chosen to dishonor the blessings of mother earth by greedily misappropriating the wealth of her natural resources to the detriment of so many of her other children is a situation that isn't going to be over because thoughts of it enrage me. My personal revelation that I should no longer be angry over war, and pollution and corruption made me realize that each of us on any given day can be caught up in our own rapture by allowing our thoughts to be guided by the Kingdom we want to see on earth. In my ideal world there is peace and compassion and forgiveness, the kind that lets us start each day knowing we are all equals and equally responsible for bringing the Kingdom. What does yours look like?
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