2012 and the Ascent of Humanity

Millions of people today believe a prophecy that the world will end in 2012, according to interpretations of the Mayan calendar. Some expect total destruction, such as a solar flare triggering earthquakes. Many anticipate a mass “ascension” or “rapture” of people shifting to a higher dimension — spiritually or physically. Others feel the world as we know it will end — a transformation of society worldwide. The skeptics, in contrast, claim the Mayan calendar ends in 2012 only because the ancients ran out of rock.

Until we see what happens in December 2012, why not address the global social and ecological  problems we all face together? Why not be enlightened people who daily change the world by changing ourselves? Why not use the power of our global connectivity?

Because we are globally interactive, everything we think, feel, say and do has an impact in the world. When we “think globally and act locally,” our choices tend to make global sense. A global sensibility affects what foods we eat, what clothes we wear, what cars we drive, what books we read, what jobs we accept, what candidates we elect. “Global sense” shapes how we live, love, learn, work, play, pray, and vote. Each enlightened choice, in turn, helps enlightens our world — incrementally. Indeed, we are powerful!

The cause of a global awakening is the cause of all humankind. The outcome of our choices in the next few decades will affect all life on earth for eons. Global sense is a good idea whose time has come.

The people in control of our world present critical challenges: They use religions to control our hearts and minds as they make us dependent on their authority. They lay waste our cities with poverty that incites crime and violence. They ruin fragile ecosystems and local cultures in the name of profits. They declare endless war on our civil and human rights while imprisoning the advocates of peace and justice. They distract the masses with mindless media mayhem while desensitizing us to genuine suffering. They encourage ignorance and irrationality by undermining public education while their zealots are banning or burning books. Such abuses of natural law must concern everyone who trusts the power of love and reason.

We are at a “tipping point” when our civilization may rise or fall. To survive and thrive, the time has come for each of us to ascend to our highest human potential. We cannot afford to remain hopeless and afraid. We cannot afford delays. Let us stand up for ourselves. Let us take action now in ways that make global sense.

My inspiration in writing Global Sense was Thomas Paine’s essay, Common Sense. In an age of doubt, fear and social unrest, his pivotal 1776 essay turned around public opinion in favor of a bold American revolution. I likewise hope to shift public opinion in favor of a global evolution. I have asked Spirit to use me in creating a guidebook for these hard times that try our souls. I’ve done my best to get out of the way, so the message comes through with resonant clarity.

Regardless of our age, gender, race, class, party, or religion, a clarion call of alarm for the future of life on our homeland earth is long overdue. Among all those worldwide today working to connect spiritual growth and social change gratefully stands…

Judah Freed,
Kaua`i, Hawai`i
-Spring 2011

(From the book Introduction)

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