Facing Flux

The other day Karrin called to my attention that the sycamore leaves are falling early this year.  I had already noted that I was starting to clean them out of the pool earlier than seemed normal, but I hadn't really tuned into it.  Looking around we realized that the sycamores around us started shriveling and dropping leaves the end of August.  Our memory places that happening more like October.

When I mentioned it to my Dad, he said he had heard something like this from a friend in Georgia that he talks to regularly.  She had pointed out that the Ginkgo trees in her yard were losing their leaves considerably earlier this year than they usually do. 

Karrin then declared that she felt the shift in the seasons the end of August this year.  The weather is still hot without a doubt.  However, that oppressive heat that is summer, broke very early.  We used to say that September is a Summer month down here.  There's no break until October.  And of course, the dry season in the Spring lasted at least 6 weeks longer than I expected from past patterns.  And this year has provided a number of record breaking weather extremes - not to mention earthquakes in places we are not used to.

All this is simply examples I call on to illustrate that the world is in extreme flux right now.  Everything is changing.  The patterns we have learned to depend upon are in motion.  And those trying to preserve the status quo in their lives are doomed to disappointment.

I see patterns in everything.  I've learned to depend upon these patterns.  They make it easier to navigate life.  They give us a measure of belief that we KNOW what is happening around us.  But just as world consciousness is in transition, so is EVERYTHING in the world.  It's as if God is saying, "Everything that you have depended upon to make you feel secure, is now in motion.  Everything is now changing.  FLUX is the new norm.  You better find something beyond all of this that can make you feel secure."

Facing FLUX is one of the challenges of the spiritual path.  But, right now it appears to be everyone's challenge.  Learning to navigate a reality that is in motion vs. a reality that has the illusion of being stable, plodding slowly forward, is quite a talent.  But it is one that everyone is being forced to master.  Change is not our enemy, but meeting it with poise and confidence takes some spiritual work on our part.  We are all being asked to connect to "the Presence underneath life that is consistent" for our security, while letting go and free floating in order to field and even enjoy whatever flux brings our way.

If awareness of the Presence of God is your anchor, you can float freely through life taking advantage of whatever choices are presented.  If God is your source & your relationship with God is the most real thing in your life, you can handle multiple possible futures, many of which are presently unknown to you.  If you depend upon your personal control of life, multiple and especially unknown future outcomes are overwhelming, intimidating, and totally unacceptable.

One of the things I often do is head constructively forward toward multiple and often very different potential outcomes.  One doesn't have to know where you are going to feel secure.  In each area of our lives we are often facing a question, "Am I staying or am I leaving?"  My answer whether the area is abstact or concrete is often, "I don't know.  My life is not my own."  I know this flies in the face of declaring a thing and making it happen, which certainly has its place in our teaching.  But with humility comes the realization that I will demonstrate when I can, but "Thy will be done, not mine."  This is terribly unsettling if you are not firmly attached to "God is in charge of my life."

Right now there's no choice.  Flux is the new norm.  We can't control the waves of life, but we can surf them.  Place your trust in God.  Declare what you want in your life.  Give your input as a child of God.  But never forget that "the Father" is in charge.  You may not always get what you want (though often you will) - but you can always know that God is leading you securely through a reality that is in swirling motion to somewhere that will be GOOD for you.  If you know this, you can accept multiple possible outcomes to anything you face with poise, peace, confidence, and even an excited joy for what lies before you.

I cannot tell you exactly where we are going.  But I can feel the texture of what lies before us and I am filled with excited anticipation of the tour of life that the PRESENCE has in store for each of us.