Spiritual Renewal
In addition to being inspiring, this vision of spiritual renewal includes specific changes that can help us find our work.Â
Would you believe me if I told you we were the forerunners of a great spiritual renewal? What if I said this renewal would change our global culture at the end of this century? That it will see the emergence of a new mysticism in contrast to technology and a strong social conscience of sustainability and justice. We are at the very beginning of this movement. We will not all live to see its first moments of birth, but we will have the joy of knowing that we were the shoulders on which others stood to make it a reality. History will show that what we did today to lift up an open-minded spirituality, welcoming to all people, made a difference. Our choice to stand together, to advocate for justice, and to heal this planet will be recognized as the breakthrough. Because we did not give up, they excelled. Would you believe me if I told you that?
The Spirit ... can represent the Holy Spirit of Christians, the Great Spirit of traditional Native American wisdom, or the Buddha-nature in all living beings. For some, the Spirit may signify the underlying force that binds all life together, like the Tao. It can be understood as God or Allah by Jews and Muslims. It can embody Brahman for Hindus. It can be the collective human spirit for humanists.
The Earth Charter vision is rational, but it does not have a compelling spirit. Do you suppose we could make more progress in its goals if it had spiritual content? Might it work somehow to combine these last two visions? What might that look like. Reflect on these thoughts in your journal.
"Facing Wicked Problems with Vision, Faith, and Works" relates Bishop Charleston's vision to the ministries of the Episcopal Church.