Thank God For Evolution

Michael Dowd author of Thank God for Evolution presented at our church last night. He does a remarkable job of bringing science and the traditional teachings of Christianity together. Since the dawn of time, humankind has tried to explain why we are the way we are. Why do we seem to have these instincts than run counter to who we want to be? Michael explains that we carry with us our evolutionary roots. Different parts of our brain function as though we were still crawling out of the primordial gook thinking only of safety, reproducing and food. We may be aware and conscious now, but that has not always been the case. He provides tons of science to show where we came from and how we still carry these same instincts with us today. So, original sin then becomes original survival. Jesus' message becomes one of spiritual evolution and transformation. And we find that we can now choose to intentionally evolve by choosing a life of integrity.

We also now see how all of our decisions do affect the whole. Science has shown that we emerged from the Universe as opposed to being set down on the earth. As a result, we are the Universe observing itself. And, that means as we act on a smaller scale, we impact the whole. We can no longer see ourselves as isolated and simply affecting our tiny corner of the world. The evolution of technology and mass communication has shown us how compact our world has become. It forces us to consider how our daily actions will affect the remotest part of the world because that part is us.

It is a powerful and timely message and if you were not able to be with us last night, I highly recommend his book to everyone.

Historical Election

As I listened to Sarah Palin last night it struck me that this is going to be an historical election regardless of who ends up in the White House. We will either have an African American president or a woman vice president. Either way, a huge shift in consciousness has occurred for this to even be possible. I have my preference of course, as we all do. And at the same time, I applaud each one for their willingness to serve in such a huge capacity. I cannot imagine having the kind of power they each have right now in shaping the direction of our country. My prayer for each one is that they be guided by the Spirit of compassion and inclusivity. I pray that they will remember that they represent all of us and that they will listen deeply to our needs and longings as individuals and collectively. I pray that each will be motivated by a clear vision and purpose and will surrender fear. I also pray that they will act in integrity and listen to guidance from whatever they call God. If each one does this, regardless of their position on issues, God will have room to move in remarkable ways.

I also encourage each person who reads this to get involved and at the very least, to vote. As the last elections have shown, our voice does count and we can have a say about where our country is going. Look into your heart and clearly define who and what you stand for and vote accordingly. I encourage each one of us to be guided by the Spirit of compassion, generosity and to remember that what we do does affect every being in our country and in our world.