Prayers for community
This will be my last column this year. I will reappear bright, refreshed — and hopefully eloquent — come January. Therefore, I thought I’d bring down the curtain on 2021 with hopes, prayers and intentions for what will transpire as this year enters the history books.
The idea for this column was, in part, prompted as part of a homework assignment. I was asked to paint a forward vision of our community. IMHO, that was too vague; it didn’t specify whether to paint a vision of what I want to see or what I actually think will occur. Given the choice, I opted to create a concept of what I desire; that which I will work to manifest. After all, what we envision is what will be.
Besides, it simply cannot hurt to believe better.
When I think of “community,” my first thought is the area in which I live; for me, that’s Eureka, California and surrounding Humboldt County. Yet, location overlooks the fact that “community” has other definitions including — according to Miriam Webster — “a group of people who have the same interests, religion, race, etc.” That would be us; you and me. It would certainly be disingenuous to ignore that next year will continue to foist upon us huge transformation. Society is in the midst of a once-in-a-century paradigm shift; its repercussions to extend far and wide for generations yet to be.
Here, on the redwoodcovered, mountainous Northcoast of California, as well as within countless other communities, technological and demographic shifts are occurring rapidly, repeatedly and relentlessly. Many fear these transformations, possessing valid concerns that they will make the cost of living rise to unaffordability.
Perchance I’m naïve (or possibly I’m correct), but since tomorrow is yet unwritten, I see no harm in deciding to trust better rather than worse.
After the initial jolt of current price increases stabilize, the additional money pumped into our communities by those relocating, coupled with technological improvements, will circulate and spread, resulting in improved jobs and enhanced services for the people herein. I see an upsurge in our collective prosperity, assisting everyone from mom-andpop business owners to those experiencing homelessness. I visualize improvements in medicine, upgraded infrastructure, and increased philanthropy assisting all manner of individual, groups, and municipalities.
Foreseeing a coming together to celebrate the artistic and varied nature of who we are, I embrace the resultant diversity among thought, heritage, and viewpoint, caused in part by the influx of people from differing areas with opinions and attitudes not formerly associated with what we used to think.
Voices of hate and exclusion, now so vulgar, will be less tolerated, eventually silenced as we give witness to the grace and benevolence of a more open, supportive society. The animosity and vitriol, now so prevalent, — always destructive and unnecessary — will diminish, replaced with cooperation.
To receive openly this new mindset, we will become kinder, more compassionate, and a more holistic culture than are we presently. Substituting competition with Mother Earth, we will choose instead to find ways to harmonize more with her.
Finally, this new focus on a more benevolent, empathetic, egalitarian society will inspire more people to delve within and uncover the power they have always possessed, embedded in their own thoughts and feelings. From such a realization, we will confirm that we are more alike than different, becoming more in touch with the Unity that threads through and around us all, extending into a connection with the vastness of the Universe. This knowledge and these beliefs will further the acceleration of kindness, prosperity, and environmental stewardship that we stand for, helping to perpetuate this positive cycle. That is what I see. To that end…
May the coming year bring to you all you have imagined — and more.
May you realize without doubt that you are entitled to greatness, happiness, health, and prosperity — for no other reason than the fact that you exist.
May every breath you take, every sight you see, every sound you hear bring you back to the reality of how amazing is this existence.
May you always know that since the Universe is without limits, and you are of it, so therefore are you without limitation and all you need do to manifest what you wish is believe with feeling, love, and hope for all.
I am hopeful for what will happen and grateful you and I will be a part of it. Joyful holidays; happy New Year. May 2022 be our best ever — um, at least until 2023.
About the author: Scott “Q” Marcus is the CRP (Chief Recovering Perfectionist) of www. Thistimeimeanit. com and the founder of the inspirational Facebook Group, Intentions Affirmations Manifestations. Want more positive messages and ideas? Sign up for his free semi-monthly newsletter at www. thistimeimeanit.com/ signup