This morning while discussing the present state of our country, the upcoming speech tonight from our President, and a recent video from Marianne Williamson regarding it all, my husband spoke these words, “When a flood is coming, move to higher ground.” I added, because we live on the island of Kaua‘i, “When a tsunami is coming, move to higher ground.” That’s what we do on the island, and it is mandatory, unless we want to be overcome by the ocean and possibly drown.

So, if we are truly awake right now and conscious of world affairs, we might feel like we are either in the middle of a tsunami or that one is approaching, or we might feel just fine. I’m not here to judge any of our feelings or political beliefs.

However, I am here to ask one question. Where do you stand regarding our civil rights, our freedom of choice, our responsibility toward the well-being of our brothers and sisters? We may or may not believe that anything is wrong right now. We may not even be paying attention. If it doesn’t touch our personal world, that is a natural human tendency.

For myself, I am concerned for my brothers and sisters and for myself. I am listening and paying attention. I am concerned for our freedoms and our democracy. I am concerned for the way we treat the vulnerable. I am concerned for the future of my grandchildren.

And, because of my concern, I am forced to pay attention, to act, to speak out. It is not enough for me to say a “shift of consciousness is here or coming,” and I’ll just stay tucked in my meditative world and know that we are all okay. A shift might have already occurred, but I feel I still have a responsibility for the welfare of my brothers and sisters and my children while I am here on this earth in this conditional world. I do meditate. But I must also bring Spirit into living.

Yes, I pray, yes, I vote, yes, I protest. Yes, I pray. Sometimes, praying is all I can do.

I do believe that Love is the answer and that I cannot exclude that Love from anyone, even from those I feel are doing wrong. If Love is the answer, then I must Love everyone. As my favorite mystic, Ernest Holmes, wrote, “Love is a Cosmic Force whose sweep is irresistible.” In the last reckoning — and I know there will be a last reckoning in this tsunami we are in — Love will prove to heal our turmoil, our inability to accept others who think differently. Love will put the power behind our prayers that is needed right now. It will also put the power into our actions, our words. It’s the only answer I know. And, please don’t argue with the idea that you can’t love those who do wrong. Of course, you do not love what they do, but that doesn’t mean you cannot Love their true spirit, though it might be hidden from view.

“When a tsunami is coming, move to higher ground.” That higher ground is Love. I invite us to: Stand up! Speak out! Act! Pray! And Love like you’ve never loved before, beginning in our own backyards.

With Love,

Dr. Rita Andriello-Feren, Author and Co-Founding Spiritual Director CSL Kaua’i

#ChooseLove #HigherGround #LoveInAction #HopeOverFear #ConsciousLiving #StandSpeakLove #CSLKauai #TogetherWeRise