Image for the future...

Well-Trodden Path

“...because this pyramid that has characterized our society, our whole civilization from the very beginning, for 5,000 years now—this pyramid of power, where even all our admirable culture and music and inventions and science, is all bought at the price of oppression and exploitation...this power pyramid is in the process of collapsing...because this pyramid has no future.”

Br.David Steindl-Rast (Anatomy of Gratitude; interview with Krista Tippett, On Being)

Br. Steindl-Rast says that the pyramid of power is being replaced by a network—a network of friends, who have equal power, and who serve one another and the whole community. He quotes Raimundo Panikkar, whom he calls one of the great minds of the 20^th century, in saying that the “future will not be a big, new tower of power.” The image for the future will be “a well trodden path from house-to-house.” I like that image.

We happen to be living at the crossroads of this change—from a top down power structure, to a circular one. Unfortunate for us in some ways, since this time will likely be cataclysmic, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to be part of that change. We, as a species, have been working our way toward equality for some time now—the process has been slow, but headed in the right direction. This change began in America with the abolition of slavery, and has been gaining size and speed ever since. My image for it is a snowball rolling downhill—growing and gathering more power and speed as it goes. Occasionally, it hits a snag and is momentarily slowed down, but now, its speed is great enough to roll over most obstacles. There will be no stopping it.

I like knowing that future generations will see the world differently—they already do. For this new generation, life is more egalitarian, and less power driven. The roles for men and women are changing shape—morphing into partnerships, rather than male-dominated hierarchies. Evolution's movement is happening right before our eyes. Our job now, especially those of us who are older, is to encourage and support this movement, and not to be the obstacle that slows it down. The role of the elder is always to bless. The well-trodden path from house-to-house represents a kinder, gentler world. Isn't that what we all want for our children and grandchildren?

                                                       In the Spirit,

                                                          Jane