Just as the power of Mordor strengthened, threatening the destruction of Middle Earth, the shadows of darkness are covering our world. Every day we hear fresh news about violence near and far. How many mothers and fathers must mourn their children before their tears make a difference? Our nation is sharply divided and there is very little kindness or quest for understanding or cooperation in our conversation. Our vision is contaminated and so we see people as other: different, less, wrong. Lack infiltrates the globe, expressing as need—even starvation—and also as greed. How many people will kill themselves or just numb out and waste their lives before we change this game?
We are inclined to put our heads in the sand because we don’t know what to do. It hurts too much to focus on these shadows. But what if there were something that could be done? What if we could join together and create a world where we act like one people, where everyone has enough, where peace is the normal state of affairs—everywhere and every day? It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Let’s go crazy together and make it happen.
Shadows 2 Light (S2L) is an innovative program designed to create exactly this kind of world, to transform the shadows into light. Shariff Abdullah is a visionary from Portland, an academic, attorney, and writer whose work in the world is all about cultural inclusivity and spiritual transformation. In 2003, he helped to catalyze an historic ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers. This was an 18-month process, following 30 years of civil war. S2L is based on what worked in that environment, plus.
This fall there are more than a dozen pilot groups starting in Unity Churches all over the US and at least one prison. Unity Community of Central Oregon is one of those groups. In Fall 2018, this program will go big. Already behind it are Unity World Headquarters, Association for Global New Thought, and Institute of Noetic Sciences. Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.”
It’s pretty exciting to be on the cutting edge of peace and a world that works for all. This is not a job for lazy people. It requires passion, commitment and love. It’s a 12-week commitment to start. It costs money. It takes time. It will call forth the hero and warrior in everyone who chooses to step up. Unity teaches that it’s not enough to talk about what we believe. We have to take action. In the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, “The time for action is now. It’s never too late to do something.”
Are you in? Go to our website, get the details and enroll. Want to support this but can’t give the time? Donate! Others have the time but not the money. You can offer money toward scholarships. This feels somewhat daunting to me. We are a small community attempting to lead a big movement. But what I know is the most worthy goals feel impossible because we are not supposed to try and do them on our own. We need to flow from the field of Divinity. And then we can make magic. I want to make some crazy magic for our world. Please join me!
