Humanity at a Crossroads: Which Way Home?

Who would disagree that September 11, 2001, and its aftermath constitute one of the great turning points in human history? On that bright autumn day, a piercing SOS was heard that continues to reverberate around the globe like the back-ground waves from a cosmic explosion. Since then, we have been introduced to perpetual war and shocking crimes against humanity. We exist in a polarized and deeply wounded world. Such developments have brought us to a crossroads, a point at which a vital decision must be made. The choice before us is the most consequential ever: shall individuals driven by arrogance of power, and capable of destroying everything, be allowed to have their way ? or will the majority of humans opt for the opposite: collective life shared in the spirit of oneness and love? To the degree that we yearn for a life of wholeness, harmony and peace, to that degree will it be necessary to see through lies and deceptions, hypocrisies and manipulations in order to avoid heading blindly into a disaster. At the same time, we must grow large in mind and heart, for the renewal that could be ours must be inclusive of all people and life. Moreover, if we hope to build an entirely different tomorrow, we can only do so by refashioning ourselves in the most humane of images. Which means dedicated inner work, the kind most of us try to avoid ? until something harrowing, a truly staggering event, gives us no other choice but to turn our gaze from the outer to the inner. We clearly have reached such a point, for the trauma of 9/11 was so profound and the consequences so devastating that humankind finds itself stranded in an exceedingly treacherous terrain. One false step and we could plunge over the precipice, carrying with us our world and dreams, immense destruction virtually guaranteed. Meanwhile, divisiveness, polarization and enmity are all clear indicators that the situation is indeed extraordinarily dangerous. Crossroads usually are. They are the great markers, the prophetic warnings throughout humanity?s perilous journey. They are the stone tablets erected by the ancestors along Japan?s coastline that admonish, ?Do not build beyond this spot; it is not safe from tsunamis.? Over the years, some obeyed, and others perished. And what is the message for us at this crucial turning point? If we are to live, and live with dignity and in freedom, the old must die ? the old guard mentality, the old formulas, the deceptions, the injustices, the cruel machinations of fear mongers and militarists. For they are the symbolic, the human-made tsunamis, which are equally capable of destroying every-thing in their path. Now, when speaking of the significance of crossroads, we must emphasize no less their inherent potential for growth and renewal. Furthermore, while the dangers surrounding them are usually outside of us, their promises are all within; that is to say, accessible. Awareness of those promises is a resounding reason to embark on a voyage to the last frontier: the boundless and largely unexplored realm of Self. For to believe that we can find answers to ultimate questions any other place than at the core and depth of our own being, is illusory. Additionally, this inner journey seems inevitable because, despite the progress we believe we are making, we still find ourselves facing an awe-some abyss, which will not go away ? unless we do. That is, unless we turn in the opposite direction, turn toward Self ? the source of light and power, the gateway to life?s Oneness. The good news is that more and more people are realizing that the old ways are no longer sufficient for what we de-sire to become, what we believe ourselves ready to be. This is why today, from all directions, winds of change are stirring. And every swaying flower and dancing leaf, every garden chime and birdsong calls us to come home to ourselves, that we might end the nightmare that has been our self-imposed prison for generations.