Staying Awake in the Storm

Kaua‘i and the Hawaiian Islands are experiencing what feels like an unusual storm of high, erratic winds and heavy rain. Two inches of rain in an hour is a lot by any standard. As conscious beings, we can recognize that these unusual storms are a manifestation of the intense taxing of our environment that has been building for many years. Climate change is real, and we could consider it a deep threat to our survival.

It can feel overwhelming because we want to do our part, yet our small efforts can seem insignificant. We are often told it might be too late—that we are doomed.

After watching the Jane Goodall documentary and remembering how she challenges us at the end of her message to keep doing the small things that only we can do, I have faith in the solution.

I bring this same idea of “one small thing” to our imprint on what can feel like overwhelming problems in our world—war, violence, political upheaval, and the dismantling of what we once assumed would always be here. We may have been warned at certain times in our history about the possibility of unrest and upheaval, but we preferred to stay asleep.

For the most part, we are awake now. As we search for answers to these horrific challenges, there is something I know for sure: we are the answer. We, the people, are the answer. As I watch masses of people marching peacefully, as I witness the walking monks and all who come out to love them and bear witness, as I feel the unity at the Olympics, and even observe the deliberate continuation of the Super Bowl as an expression of our democratic choice, I see massive change and coherence coming into being.

We do make a difference. When we align our thoughts and actions in love and deliberately create moments of unity in our own lives and in the life of the collective, we have found the solution. It’s us—and it has always been us. Our coherent consciousness in action is our service to a world in change.

Things are not going to go back to the way they were—and I wouldn’t want them to. I don’t want to go back to sleep. I am awake, and in each moment, in my own way—writing, singing, marching, teaching, living my best life, reaching out to others—I am. You are – eing that change.

Don’t give up. We are just beginning.

With love,
Rev. Dr. Rita Andriello-Feren, Author, Performing Artist, Co-Founding Director CSL Kaua’i & Partners in Empowerment