From the Pulpit: Omaha area religious leaders share messages of faith
A few years ago, our family was battling the Decepticons, helping the Transformers protect the AllSpark, a powerful energy source. Then, everything stopped. An announcement over the loudspeakers alerted us of a malfunction. The lights came on, revealing concrete walls, wiring and screens within the Universal Studios building. The illusion shattered; reality returned. The past few months, we as Americans have been on an intense ride in the generated world shaped by news media. Elections, for better or worse, expose the intricate workings of a society's values, issues and priorities.
Our spiritual existence on Earth greatly depends on the illusion we choose to believe. Twenty-five centuries before the 2024 American election, the Buddha deciphered that humans seek attachments, which leads to suffering. Our nation roots itself in an understanding of democracy, a structured system that differs immensely from spirituality. While all followers of a political system are spiritual, not all spiritual followers are political. I would even hope that a time comes in a person's life when spirituality transcends any identification with a structured political system.
How can identification to a political party bring the consistent joy and purpose that humanity seeks? Politics may call to the outward self, but spirituality calls us inward to know our life purpose. Internal spiritual exploration, immune to the herd mentality that deceitfully pretends to offer comfort, comes from reminding oneself of purpose. Knowing your life purpose, that which guides you each day, will sustain you through times of instability. Each person's calling, the mission placed uniquely within them, is discovered not through the drama of division, but through silent, intentional communion with God or the Divine within.
When you know why you are here on Earth, you move beyond needing the validation of political affiliations to feel grounded and whole. Mark Twain's timeless wisdom reminds us, "The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you discover why." Like Twain, who questioned both political and religious institutions, each of us is invited to look beyond temporary social structures to discover our life's meaning.
When we connect with our spiritual purpose, often expressed through acts of service and love for others, we tap into something far deeper than politics. A primary focus of the Sacred Activism Community is to help one another create Sacred Activism Templates, and that begins with constructing a life purpose statement, discovering one's core values and the passion behind what truly breaks your heart.
What about this past election brought you joy or suffering? Write that down, then ask yourself, "Why?" Are you overly swayed by social media that's caused you to drift from your life purpose? Focus on that, not all the ensuing drama, for that is your spiritual self.
When we escape the world's shifting illusions and root in the steadfastness of our spiritual calling, we then find the peace that only Divine purpose can offer. That is the true epic experience.
— Rev. Dr. Cynthia Ramirez Lindenmeyer, American Public University Online Chaplain, sacred activism pastor
