Addressing the Metademic

The topic of inner fortitude and appropriate action is a major challenge for us all. I’m part of a Near-Death Experience forum on Facebook and conversation threads cover a lot of territory, sometimes on the fringe and yet valid for those who participate. We really have a metademic on our hands, one that spans not just the physical and emotional state of affairs. The balance of this piece is a response to a post on good vs evil. It felt like it deserves singularity and perhaps more engagement from a different perspective. Here goes:

I live in a world where choices matter, the most significant one is whether I choose to live inside or outside. What do I mean by that? Inside is where the point of light in each of us is connected to the Great Light and holds a fearless view of the outer world, no matter what appears. Good or evil is a matter of how we think about things. We have an entire sphere of points of view, yet the event itself is just an event. We only have a perpendicular view no matter how we look at the physical world, the eyes being the base of an extremely narrow isosceles triangle.

If we choose not to polarize to either eye and simply view ‘what is’ then we can actually do something about where we’re going and how we’ll get there. It’s disappointing to see so many get caught up in the outer world still, even knowing what we do about the Law of Attraction and other spiritual-based knowings of how interconnected things are in the many mansions. It’s encouraging to witness the gradual acceptance and transcendence of attitudes toward the pandemic and whatever else is happening as a result.

This doesn’t deny the facts of how we’ve been treating each other for thousands of years, through coercion and fear generated by a few to manipulate the masses. It does give us a better foundation from which to change the conditions of anger, fear, ignorance and immobility. I had a friend ask me what I though the ‘essence’ of this current time is about, while we were playing golf in a tournament recently. My reply was simple, “Inner fortitude.” For a moment I saw a spark and then his eyes glossed over, even though he understood precisely what I said.

Inner Fortitude and Appropriate Action

Fortitude refers to strength in the face of adversity or difficulty. … When someone has fortitude it means that they have emotional power or reserves and the ability to withstand adversity. Most of us, including me, are challenged by our strength in the face of adversity, especially in these crazy times. Most of us also do not seek help, we want to rely on our own ability. Sometimes our ability just isn’t enough and we become depressed, disoriented and experience dis-ease of the spirit within us, still not asking for help. Chaos brings the question once we realize we cannot control the circumstances.

The fortunate few who have learned to ask for help can only offer advice. They know that trying to give someone direction when you know they need, when they haven’t asked for it, is like trying to give advice to a teenager who knows everything. It falls on deaf and often unappreciative ears. It doesn’t change the truth of the message that help is available for the asking. It may not come in the form we expect, though it will assuredly come. That much we know by experience and until or unless one has the direct experience, trust in the process is hard to come by.

My wife and I have conversations about this topic. Growing up in Russia and seeing what happened there in the 80s, she sees through that lens regarding the current situation and the atrocities being inflicted upon Americans now. Although bread lines aren’t present, the intentional social distancing and mask wearing holds the same charge for her. I get it! She’s got a tremendous amount of inner fortitude, yet the temptation to get caught up in the mayhem and the fear of a disastrous future looms.

I suppose the best and most faith-filled response is, “[This], too, shall pass.” We know there is a way out, just not sure how that will look yet as we stumble around for solid footing in a world that’s shaking us up considerably. Instead of distancing ourselves, we need to hold on to each other and practice the faith, love and trust we have in our Creator. Having some ability to live in that space requires certain habits, which the 5 Ps certainly apply – Patience, Perseverance, Persistence, Passion and Purpose.

I’m not a prophet or soothsayer, but I can and do see a process of transcendence taking place. It feels arduous and slow, yet in our historical timeline it’s been but a moment. Our challenge is an invitation to rise above outer conditions and learn how to work together to change them. We cannot do it by remaining free of it and just observing, though that is a prudent place to begin. Attention, intention and appropriate actions are key. How we think is key, tossing tender tomes in the thoughtmosphere that ripple throughout the connected network of human beings who truly will to do good.

Near-Death and Spiritually Transformative Experiences (NDE, STE)

So what does inner fortitude and appropriate action have to do with them? I don’t know about others specifically, though many have offered that there is a certain knowing they return with, a connected part of themselves they might not have known existed beforehand. In that ‘other’ place we are free of the constraints of the world, yet we return to it. Sometimes retaining a new living awareness of the connectedness of worlds and sometimes feeling angry and trapped in a world so cruel and disturbed at present. The bridge between worlds is evident and maybe obvious to some, just rarely connected inside with complete submission. I suggest we do that more often, especially now.

“During these times, it would seem only logical that these ‘experiencers’ would have a better handle on how to find transcendence in this event. Although many of their experiences were spontaneous, the feeling of trepidation was nevertheless present, just like many now, creating an overall sense of dread. In a counterpoint to the trepidation, the sense of connectedness could and would generate a magnetic effect on others in a coalescence of cohesion. In a sense, it raises the awareness slightly and creates a subtle shift in the overarching consciousness of humanity.

I know that last paragraph was pretty ‘out there’ and yet there are scientific reference points in particle physics and quantum mechanics. Another bridge we can be thankful for is the one between science and spirituality that is most notably illustrated in how intention affects energy (entanglement) and that what you observe you affect (Los Alamos). I know it’s a tall order, but just for a moment imagine feeling safe, secure and sustainable in your life right now in this moment. Right… work on that one and notice the difference in your life in a week or two. Don’t believe or disbelieve until you attempt it for a while. Enjoy!

Find Some Joy In Service

Going back to the inner fortitude and appropriate action plan, here’s a novel idea: spend as much time as you do on responding to social media posts on creating a relationship and doing some kind of service for a non-profit in your community. We all know how over-burdened service organizations are and no doubt you’ve got a lot of time on your hands now, right? You’d be surprised what you can do remotely, let alone getting involved personally even if you have to maintain the social distancing for a time.

How difficult could that be? Your time would be spent so much more productively as you offer attention to things you actually can do something about instead of being overwhelmed with the pandemic and able to do nothing about it. Just imagine how your attitude will change knowing you’ve done something good for the community. It certainly is much more fulfilling that the current ‘distanced’ attitude that seems to be keeping us away from each other.

My example, which is still in the beginning stages, is working toward ending homelessness for youth aging out of foster care in Arizona. We Can Do Better Arizona brings business acumen and best practices to assist Qualified Foster Care Charitable Organizations by raising public awareness about using state tax credits. Dollar for dollar deductions are still available, it’s just a different way of paying state taxes through your employer or directly through qualified donation portals. Only about 1% of Arizonans took advantage of that in 2018. Imagine an increase in market penetration there and the service to the community it will provide. That’s just one example.