The revolution starts first in our heart, moves up through our head, outward through our hands and embodies itself in community.
The revolution starts in our heart as we feel compassion for those around us who are suffering. One can begin with the homeless, whom we see everyday. One can also begin by noticing the wounds of creation. One can extend compassion into one's family and friends and networks. If we can start to feel, then we can start to heal and become healers ourselves.
The revolution moves up through our head as we begin to upload creativity, and delete cynicism. The revolution starts with practical baby steps. Action leads away from despair. Having realized that we are now slaves of empire, and having given up trusting that the politics of corporations can save us, we are free to unleash the power of our imaginations. To help awaken this freedom a first baby step would be to join the Move Your Money campaign (www.moveyourmoney.info) and take a step away from corporate servitude.
Secondly, as much as possible, again a baby step, move towards the building of a local, sustainable economy. Start with food. Abandon global or national chain stores, and move toward co-ops and community supported agriculture. Such activity leads out of empire and into life.
The revolution moves outward through our hands. The Real Change Organizing Project is a decent baby step towards creating the larger political empathy that shifts public priorities from the interests of the millionaires towards the interests of commonwealth. I also recommend attending the re-organizing of the Green Party this Saturday, Jan. 30 at Trinity United Methodist Church (6512 23rd Ave NW in Ballard). To come out of empire we must create non-corporate funded political parties. The great gift of President Obama's election is the clear exposure of how empty the Democratic Party is of vision and courage. Like the Republicans, they serve the interests of global corporations, they serve the interests of death.
Empire can only be resisted through the creation of an alternative society, a parallel culture that will grow up under the radar of empire's arrogance. The revolution requires a practical embodiment in a community that role models what the alternative is. And for those who start leaving empire, those who take the first baby steps, we will need each other for encouragement, companionship and continual reminders that life is good and goaled towards happiness. Otherwise we will be like lambs led to slaughter.
So, where is your community that refreshes your spirit and teaches you to take baby steps away from empire? You need not despair. There are many faith communities throughout Seattle that birth hope and vision, and many political groupings that embody the change that is needed. The important thing is to start, with baby steps, to leave empire today. This is how the new birth will begin.