Our Collective Light: Building a Legacy of Unity, Love & Change
What really lives on after we are gone?
What really lives on when we finally join all those who came before us in the dustbin of human history?
Research done by Erica Chenoweth (as a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School), along with her colleague Maria Stephan, led to a concept called the “3.5% Rule”. The research covered the 106 years between 1900 and 2006 and pointed to the fact that, generally speaking, virtually no government or leading political organization has the capability to withstand a sustained opposition of over 3.5% of its population. That’s less than four people like you and me out of one hundred.
So, the power of change is ours if we choose to seize it…and help others to join in.
One of the few benefits of aging is that one realizes more and more each day that there is definitely a “hard stop” for our lives here on the blue planet. There is no getting past that, and it seems to approach at increasing speed with each year that passes.
Hopefully a certain wisdom comes with this if we allow ourselves to honestly evaluate the past, forgive ourselves for our ignorance and transgressions, and try to help others of all ages understand the opportunity they have before they squander it…to leave the world truly a better place than we found it.
The Power of Collective Action
As fragile imperfect beings, we live our lives in reaction to the nature of our universe and our fellow humans. We are born into a life that has a lot of potential, but which forces us to be constantly vigilant for our own personal safety, our health, the security of those close to us…as well as deal with our fear of the unknown.
Over human history we built belief systems to overcome this fear, yet we live each day trying not to look fear in the eye and see it for what it really is…the inability to deal with the crushing idea of no longer existing…of “not being”, of having no purpose and therefore no legacy.
Throughout our human story we formed tribes to protect us from the “others”. Time and time again we gave our power to hateful eccentric leaders who played on our fears and said they had all the answers, claiming those different from ourselves as evil and blaming them for our troubles. We expanded our tribes by warring with these others, and yet it was never enough. Each tribe grew and wars became more prevalent and more destructive.
All humanity suffers for this, yet as we still allow it to happen. We are complicit.
Instead of a pure method of exchange to foster trade between tribes, money is now that shiny object that distracts us from the fears we must face, and finances the wars at an ever-increasing rate. Weak leaders become the masterminds of manipulation using fear as the cudgel.
The result is that Having dominates Giving. And the gap between the haves and have-nots grows.
We become mesmerized by these shiny objects because they represent promises of safety, wealth, and self-importance…and distract us from our pain and suffering. Yet all the while we know the truth that Robert Frost spoke of in the poem Nothing Gold Can Stay – [you can reference his short 10 line poem at the end].
So, what does stay? What part of us can remain? What legacy can we leave that will be worthy of our time spent here?
I believe we can all have a meaningful legacy by promoting a basic human concept that can not only bring happiness to humanity but shine into the darkness of the universe for eternity. It is the simple act of overcoming: Overcoming the notion that any one of us is better than anyone else. Overcoming the idea that there is such a thing as the “other”. Overcoming our fears so that we do not let this false hatred pit us against ourselves. Overcoming ourselves—our ego, by putting others first. Overcoming the top-down model of nations with the bottom-up approach of community.
There is plenty of wealth in the world to provide everyone with food, healthcare, shelter, and a leg up…to change the equation for the happiness of future generations.
No individual or corporation or country should have a wildly disproportional share of what humans throughout all of history have created for us all to share. Today’s wealthy did not build the infrastructure of transportation or distribution that they benefit from…nor create the base for all the technology and science passed down over the millennia. This was built by workers and thinkers from all nations and ethnic groups: by the Chinese, the Irish, the Italians, Americans, Rome, Greece, slaves, the Egyptians, explorers, inventors, writers, artists, and average everyday people.
By supporting the history, diversity and equal treatment of all these people we ensure the future of those who come after us…and the inherent peace and happiness which are attached to it. Through this same process we also remove the inherent power bias that enables the super wealthy to create oligarchies and abusively control the lives of the many.
The dark energy created by self-serving dictators and groups feeds on lies and hate, then collects and sucks in all things near it, like the boundary at a black hole does to light. But the destruction of this dark force is certain when cumulative energy inside the black hole finally overcomes the gravitational pull, ending in a final, explosive flash…the end of the darkness, and a chance for a new beginning.
This is what can happen when as few as 3.5% of us band together. Our cumulative light will defeat the darkness that surrounds us.
Note: If you are interested in giving feedback on some creative ways to build on these ideas and develop a lasting legacy for all, or are curious about participating directly in this process, please message me.
Thank you for your time! Bruce
Join the Light Passers Mission
Light Passers exists to share a message of love, peace, unity, and human connection. We believe each of us has the power to leave the world better than we found it.
If you believe in building a legacy rooted in compassion and collective light, we invite you to be part of the mission.
Together, we can choose love over fear.
Together, we can choose community over division.
Together, we can pass the light forward.
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