Ministers Message

The problem is that everyone talks about the future but nobody does anything about it. Or is that the weather? Either way, the world seems paralyzed by polarity which is insane, especially when the future is rumbling toward us like a runaway freight train. Ideology versus common sense, magical thinking versus science, jingoism versus cooperation blocking any hope for progress while the fear mongers ramp up the anxiety and then feed off it like leeches. In response, I’ve considered moving to a remote island someplace until I read about how much ocean levels have risen in the last 10 years. Probably not a wise investment right now.

A book I am reading called The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe argues that history moves in discernable cycles that mirror the four seasons. A time of crisis (winter) brings about major change leading to high point of prosperity and growth (spring). After that comes an awakening (summer) as the next generation challenges the comfort and complacency of the preceding generation. This leads to a time of unraveling (fall) when the ideas and institutions that worked before don’t work anymore and then cycle begins again with a crisis.

The fourth turning is a time of crisis completing the cycle and leading to the next high point of growth. A good argument can be made that we are in the midst of an unraveling characterized partially by the political paralysis and polarity I mentioned earlier as well as the undeniable fact that our economic institutions and policies don’t work anymore.

Although the specific events of each cycle are impossible to predict, the cycles themselves can be identified over the course of 500 years of human history. This is good news. The unraveling and paralysis that we are experiencing may be part of an ongoing cycle that will resolve with a crisis leading to further evolution and awakening.

What the crisis will entail is speculative but what usually happens in a time of crisis is that the generations work together to pull through it. The generation that led the awakening moves into the position of wise elder as the next generation entering young adulthood assumes the role of hero and leads the way through the crisis. This leads to an important question; what do we have to offer to this generation and how do we reach them and beyond?

The Unity movement has always had a strong commitment to youth and family ministry, offering programs specifically designed to reach young people from infants to teens. Those who have experienced the enthusiasm of our young people on Sunday and how clearly they are able to articulate principle can see that it works.

However, there has been an inaccurate but persistent myth that young people from 18 to 35 have to go into the wilderness for a while before returning, if indeed they do return. Unity World Wide Ministries wants to bust that myth once and for all. At our June conference there was a discernible buzz about a new program that has been come together over the past few years called Next Generation Unity.

As it says on their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/NextGenerationofUnity)“NGU is for all you 18-35ish Unity folks! (and the people who love and support us regardless of chronological age).” They also offer a top ten list of ways to make your church more intergenerational. http://unity.org/association/adults/nextGenerationMinistry/pdf/Intergenerational.pdf
Unity principles offer a path to liberation from the kind of greed, fear and suspicion that is the cause of the polarity and paralysis that is precipitating the next crisis. This is a deliberate step by Unity to undo the myth of the lost generation and become a truly intergenerational movement. A vibrant and diverse movement is essential because it is going to take all of us working together to deal with the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that are coming our way.

Blessings,
Revs. Mark and Karen