Self-described “author and integrator” Jeremy Lent, who will be visiting Prairiewoods in April for Spirituality in the 21st Century, calls for creating a new web of meaning to enable the development of an ecological civilization in which “all humans flourish as part of a thriving Earth.”
Following the flood in Cedar Rapids in 2008 I received many explicit and implicit nudges that our community should be exploring living into new narratives. Initially, I thought that our existing narratives could be exposed rationally, that a small group could create new narratives, and that the new narratives could then be promoted to others. Now I do not believe that approach is appropriate, but I am still hopeful that the work can be done, just in a different way.
There seems to be a new global narrative emerging, with a general framework based on the unified nature of reality while honoring the diversity of each part of creation and the desire to see each part flourish. Jeremy Lent is one of the authors exploring that global narrative, as have former Spirituality in the 21st Century speakers such as Ilia Delio, Charles Eisenstein, Bayo Akomolafe, David Abram, Mary Evelyn Tucker, and John Grim.
While that emerging global narrative is a helpful framework, the work of living into that framework is local and will be unique to each area. And the areas are local natural bioregions forming natural economies. No one outside the area is going to do that work for us.
As we imagine new ways of living in harmony with ourselves, others, and nature we first need to be in touch with our authentic selves. And focusing on vitality—what brings us alive, what is alluring—is the best measure of our authenticity. Sometimes I cannot explain why I am sensing allurement or vitality, but I don’t need to be able to explain it to trust it. I find that time alone in nature is a great start. And engaging with others in an atmosphere of shared mutual trust and respect is very helpful.
As Jeremy Lent notes in The Web of Meaning (p. 370), “The local community would be the basic building block of society, with face-to-face interaction regaining ascendancy as a crucial part of human flourishing.” In my experience, it is not just any type of face-to-face meeting. A generative field, which allows the development of new approaches, can emerge over time when small groups meet in a place with ever-increasing mutual trust and respect.
Wherever you are on this journey please join me to explore these issues and develop our capabilities during Spirituality in the 21st Century.
—Chuck Peters
To join Chuck and facilitator Jeremy Lent at Prairiewoods’ Spirituality in the 21st Century April 28–29, visit www.Prairiewoods.org/spirituality-in-the-21st-century.