elegant aspirations

When I studied history in school, I always felt reassured that, despite all the setbacks, humanity was making progress. This idea, often referred to as the “arc of history”, was a term popularized with a moral perspective by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., who said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I took great comfort in the fact that a man who represented a people so oppressed that some considered them less than human could see the bigger picture with optimism, despite understanding that he probably wouldn’t live long enough to witness it.

Years later, President Obama had MLK’s words woven into a rug in the Oval Office, but when he spoke of it, it was always with a caveat—progress isn’t guaranteed. It takes vigilance and collective effort. Throughout history, every leap forward has been followed by a dark period of moral pushback—no matter how clever we get with science and technology, there’s a reversal of gains made and a scaling back of human rights. Today, we send research rockets to the moon while using the same advancements to drop bombs on innocent children.

There have been many highs and lows in my lifetime, but right now, it’s hard to sugarcoat things: these days feel especially dark. Everywhere you look, there’s discord, disruption, devastation, and dread. I always knew that unless we prioritized human needs before greed, humanity would soon undergo a major upheaval. I’m honestly surprised it’s taken this long, considering how inequality and environmental destruction have accelerated in recent decades. And now, here we are, like it or not.

So, what happens now? There’s a shift taking place. The darker it gets, the more I see people stepping into the light and coming together to stand up for peace and justice. Communities locally and globally are offering a helping hand to those in need. Increasingly, leaders and influencers are joining the chorus of “Enough.” The days of complacency and looking the other way are over.

As these challenges escalate, how can we sustain ourselves, and is there reason to have hope for the future?  

Here’s something to reflect upon that helps to sustain me: our lives are governed by three sets of laws. The first two are the social and religious laws created by people that can be changed on a whim and altered to support an agenda, both positive and negative. The third are the universal laws operating outside of time and space, which we have no control over whatsoever. They are infinite and constant. They govern all our lives, no matter who we are or what we do.

Universal laws have no agenda and continuously remind us of the truth. Here are a few examples that are glaringly evident today:

We’re all connected. Science, philosophy, and ecology all say the same thing. We’re not just living in the universe; we’re part of it. What happens to one of us affects us all. Acting as if we’re separate or better is false and puts us on the wrong side of the law. Simply put, it never ends well.

Change is constant. Everything in the universe, from subatomic particles to galaxies (and yes – this includes us), is in a continuous state of flux - manifesting, evolving, and decaying. Nothing stays the same for long. The idea that we can just go back to the way it was isn’t true. What’s gone is gone. We can either adapt, grow, and move forward, or resist, stagnate, and squander our potential, our purpose, and our progress.

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Cause-and-effect shows up everywhere: from physics in Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion, to religion and spirituality as in Karma and “what we reap we sow”, to everyday language - “what goes around comes around”. It all boils down to the same thing. Sooner or later, it all gets real, and what we do will come back to us in some shape or form.

There’s nothing new here. Throughout history, people have tried to bend these truths for personal gain. What is different about these times is that lately, I see more of us waking up to this reality. Wars, economic crises, climate disasters, and dwindling resources are making it clear: we are all connected, what affects one of us affects all of us, and choices matter because actions have consequences. Pretending otherwise simply isn’t working anymore because the truth will come out.

It may often be painful and hard to face, but the truth is always liberating. Truth shatters our illusions and shines light on things as they really are. With the blinders off and the way illuminated, we can finally see our way forward through the darkness. And this is where hope resides, and resilience is nurtured. 

So, if you’re feeling burdened today, remember you have superpowers - you always have a choice in how you respond. In November 2020, I wrote the article, “Calling all Lightkeepers – Illuminating the Months Ahead”*. It was another dark period when COVID was raging, storms were battering the coast, and we were living in the aftermath of a painful and divisive election. Then, as now, we have a choice: we can either be a beacon of light illuminating the path ahead or throw a spanner in the works by retreating into the shadows, creating more darkness for everyone. You can choose to remain burdened by fear of others, your personal safety, or the future, or you can choose to unburden yourself and step into your power.

By choosing to align your life choices with universal laws that embody truth – such as offering a helping hand, caring for those in need, supporting a just cause, and caring for the environment - you instantly elevate yourself by bringing your physical existence into alignment with your spiritual nature. Because truth is where real strength comes from. Choose this illuminated path, and you can rest assured that your energy supply is totally sustainable - constant and limitless. If we want to turn the page on these dark days - and remember, even this too will pass—this is the way, the hope and the light.