GLOBAL COMMUNITY VISION

Recurring difficulties in global community life are: mission has increased the sense of isolation, of separation, and even of meaninglessness that contrasts sharply with the global concerns and expectations. geographic settledness and have embraced a comfortableness which deadens the visionary spirit, the unencumbered freedom to go beyond oneself in communion with the poor and with other needy people. force to the exclusion of sharing responsibilities, being accountable to others, and offering the supportive presence that builds global community. Consequently, personal life in communion with God is seriously affected, and global community of sharing, such as food, celebrations together, employment, and other rich human interactions of persons which are denied. has led to situations of fending for oneself, "doing one's own thing," and losing the larger global vision, even to losing an interior sense of self-giving. to turn in on themselves or to set out on a futile search for individuality in which there is no room for others minds, bodies, or spirits to be helped. legitimate inability to be present, but as a reaction to current trends and practice. This way of acting has seriously affected the very heart of all global people. their own personal fidelity as the extent of their efforts, thus depriving the global community of their piece of truth, their experience, and their graced spiritual wisdom. In view of the above: We believe that there is a hunger in us for membership in the global family, for God, for unity with one another, our sisters and brothers in the wider world. What is keeping us, at least some of us, from entering and living more fully this global community? We must begin to look honestly at some necessary shifts in attitudes, not only of internal mind-sets, but also their expression in our external manner of being and acting. These shifts must occur if the global community life is to reflect the communion of hearts and minds that single-heartedly love of God makes possible. It brings about communion that witnesses a sacred support commitment, giving witness to the possibility of selfless love in a hurting world, and urges vitality to a greater fidelity to save a global family. We must not forget that attitudes, those inner dispositions which express themselves outwardly, will not change by external force or coercion. Inner movements toward something more spring generally from the knowledge of being loved and the desire to reciprocate love. A dedicated life urges us not to lose sight of the fact that the purpose of our lives is a passionate love for God that finds its expression in a global communion and a planetary spirit. It is in this inner fire that worthy attitudes are formed and refined. It would seem that some of that fire has smolded and is in need of stoking.

IT SEEMS, THEN, THAT WE NEED TO MOVE
FROM a deadening satisfaction in living a life in the most minimal fashion, leaving each person undisturbed by global community expectations and thus, neutralizing any engaged commitment, TO living again with the fire of one's initial sacred commitment (but as it has penetrated deeper in the ensuring years) and daring to dialogue with one another about what is most central to our sacred identity and purpose.

FROM an individualism in global life, which emotionally and actually isolates us from one another, and renders us the sole directors of our individual lives and actions, TO an interdependence, whereby we are willing to assume influential responsibility for the common global good, and to let the course of our life be influenced by those with whom we have cast our lot.

FROM a privatized personal devotion that attempts to control the voice of God, whether speaking to us directly or through events and persons, TO a contemplative presence which, though taking place in the solitude of oneself with God, includes a desire to hear from the greater global community and by it to be moved beyond ourselves.

FROM a paralyzing fixation with former styles of global life (whether hankering for their false assurances and predictabilities or decrying some very real distortions and abuses), TO a healthy retaining of what is good and a letting go of the rest.

FROM a life-style which reflects a consumerism and materialism based on First World influences, TO an authentically simple life-style which mirrors both our single-hearted attachment to others and a desire to share both personal and community good with the larger world.

FROM an excessive professional busyness that is destructive of both our personal relationship with the divine and our global life. TO an active and growing effort to build a global family by living together in the same identity, sacred to each other and our mission to protect the other global people.

FROM a "closed" self-righteousness that categorizes individuals, groups, and institutions as unenlightened or outdated, too liberal or too conservative, and so forth, TO a humble receptivity in dialogue, reconciliation, and bridge-building.

FROM a posture of strength of power (personal or institutional) stemming from education, so-called academic superiority, or religious preference, TO being faith-sharers, discerners, and mutually teachers and learners, in solidarity rather than by privileged separateness.

FROM an entrenchment in or a preference for "comforts" that are coincidental with present-day chaos regarding consecrated identity, TO an acknowledgment that we resist some of the lights, we possess, and then, to a greater receptivity regarding conversion, change, and companionship.

FROM unreflective rejection of some legitimate mediations solely because of the source (church officials, religious leadership, private suggestions, and so forth), TO an informed and loving critique or reception of the mediation once we have listened and discerned carefully, willing to be moved towards loving one another regardardless of the channel of communication.

FROM a movement away from ignorance and its part in the dissolute journey, TO an embracing of proven wisdom, in the light of who we are and what we are called to be.

FROM a temptation to discouragement in the face of the realities of few in number of planetary leaders, TO a deep trust in God, Who has called us to live a consecrated way of life predominantly one of service for others.

Attitudinal shifts ordinarily do not happen abruptly. Although with God's grace, we can move out of our narrow fears and selfishness. Ordinarily shifts in attitudes and mentalities happen slowly. The change needed is, a letting go of one's independence. It will mean a return to communion with the global community. It will mean that one is ready to be sent, in the name of the global needs of the global family. A call for personal responsibility is implied. The demands and risks of accountability are obvious, but for many they are welcome. Above all, in actuality it is an expressed desire to know and be a companion of the unrepresented people in the world! Some of the attitudinal shifts necessary if a global people are to move beyond individualism to a shared community life are some concrete things the group needs to agree upon to become global communities. The following are suggestions to bring the above to reality: faith-sharing, and also for social, celebrative gatherings, keeping in mind and respecting the varying personal and work needs and responsibilities of all others; pertaining to the global commitment and other global issues; accountability in support of our global commitment and global mission; of it, will give witness to our concern for global growth; differences; corporate decisions, so that people may be mindful of working together; simple togetherness, so that even within their busy work schedules, people will have the time and the space to become aware of one another's vulnerability, to address conflicts peacefully, to offer and be offered reconciliation when necessary, and to support one another in their works to serve others.

PLEASE HELP BUILD A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF GLOBAL LIVING FOR ONE ANOTHER!

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