The following is a letter written to a group that has been actively exploring and practicing the coming from the perspective of potential versus the coming from the perspective of problem with regard to issues within their community, work that, in the context of NOW, we can see as preparatory work.
Dear Friends,
During my recent, and no doubt ongoing, sorting out process, I have found myself reflecting upon you and your work. Quite naturally so, given that the sorting out process – particularly the sorting out process of now – holds within it the need to look at the previous and the current in the context of now… a process that lifts up such questions regarding what to keep – hold on to, what to separate out – detach from… and a process that calls upon faith – having faith in the way of working of the unfolding process… faith in the reality that the essential truths of the previous will be enfolded into the unfolding; emerging as deeper, more whole, more meaningful expressions of truth.
Since our last interaction, our understanding of the perspective of potential has continued to evolve… evolve with regards to wholeness, depth and certainty, in particular a certainty with regard to now… now is a time of potential… the step change along the path of our becoming fully and truly human is being called for; and is actively striving to emerge – to be born, so to speak.
There is a stirring, an intentional stirring, that is actively present and being innerly experienced by more and more of us – across our country, across the world… a stirring that is commonly experienced as the need to move towards wholeness, away from that which divides… a stirring that, through intentional reflective processes, has generated some seeing and understanding with regard to the work before us, the work calling for the advancing of our humanness – a particular progression that requires particular work on our part, that work being…
o Moving towards wholeness, away from that which divides,
o Taking up pursuits that work for all children, all children in the world,
o Bringing the world of our making into congruence with the world of intent…
…particularly work that recognizes that at this time, community is the smallest whole.
As we seek to answer this call, consciously respond to this stirring, there are some things we need to hold in mind… things which enable the developing of the mind required for the work. First off is the common law of earthly living: Ultimately the perspective we hold, where we start our thinking from, determines the path we take; the direction we move in, what we move towards, what we move away from. In this regard, a life of the whole perspective is the perspective of now… the perspective required for the intended unfolding, the work before us. The particular start point for our thinking at this time is: We are, each and all, by intent, living human beings… unique members in the larger community, the larger whole of life. A reality that embraces the truths of one Source, all else instruments… and the truth that emanating from and through the Source is intent, and intended ways of working.
Reflecting on this, and with regard to the ongoing work of sorting out, some seeing comes to the fore. We notice that much of our current thought organizing start points have within, “I am’s” of separation… “I am’s” that emerge from identity with, from attachment to, such things as country of origin, color of skin, gender, political ideology, religion, social status, neighborhood, etc., etc., etc. And whereas these can be energizing, spirit lifting, meaningful sources to ourselves and to others, as well as to current life processes; they, in and of themselves, lack the wholistic inclusivity required for the work before us… the wholistic inclusivity present in the reality of our being intentionally created as living human beings, members in the larger whole of life… each and all with particular purpose, particular work and roles to take up, to carry out. This shift, this step change in perspective and thinking start point, serves, not to diminish uniqueness – external differentiation – nor to move us in the direction of sameness. Rather it serves to move us towards oneness and wholeness. In reality, it is a thought organizing start point that enables our moving towards more meaningful expressions of essence, patterns of intent – patterns that are more intrinsic, inside out, essence to existence expressions. All of which moves us in and towards ways that reflect intent, intentional ways of working… the way of an intentional people.
In addition to seeing a movement towards essence, which enfolds essential truths of uniqueness, we see movement towards “why I am”, which enfolds “who I am”, “who am I”. In a similar way, we notice a moving towards “living from”, which enfolds “believing in”… a process and discipline that calls upon the organizing power of philosophy… a philosophy that is whole enough, complete enough to embrace the work before us.
All of which – the whole of what has been written so far – has lifted up the notion of, and the work of, conscious choice… the necessity for conscious choice if we are to be serious in our endeavors. Conscious choice looks to wholeness – wholistic seeing and the understanding of intent, intended ways of working… essential ground that is developed through the intentional processes of reflection, reading, writing, and dialoguing. The work of conscious choice is to generate the wholistic seeing and intentional understanding required to transcend the external pulls of culture – societal, institutional, personal, etc. With that in place, we can freely – of our own free will – consciously choose… moving in the direction of right and good – right for humanity, good for the whole of life.
As this reflection and writing begins to move towards closure, the necessity to the work of “community is the smallest whole” is becoming increasingly clear – cemented in, so to speak. And finally, some imagery from past interactions… imagery regarding the work on intentional purpose for your community… imagery that is lifted up in the words of “Becoming a living seed for peace… peace throughout the world”… your community developing and leading a process that enables moving in that direction… a direction clearly along the path of our becoming fully and truly human… a direction that certainly is congruent with that which works for all children in the world… a step change process – an entry way into the work, and onto the path of now.
Warmest regards, Terry
Terry P. Anderson, Philosopher of Potential
