Last week Joel and I were enjoying listening to and singing along with Styx, “Show Me the Way,” written in 1990 by lead vocalist/keyboardist Dennis DeYoung. A devout Roman Catholic,DeYoung originally wrote the song for his son Matthew, as a pseudo-hymn about the struggle to keep the faith in a “world so filled with hatred.”
When the song finished, Joel and I sat silent in his vehicle as a hush came over both of us. I broke that silence by saying, “This might be the theme for our September Beyond Mastery Newsletter.”
Here are the opening lyrics:
Every night I say a prayer in the hope that there’s a heaven
But every day I’m more confused as the saints turn into sinners
All the heroes and legends I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay
And I feel this empty place inside, so afraid that I’ve lost my faith
Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away
Please, show me the way
No less so now than in 1990, it is undeniably a significant time on our planet. Barely a day goes by that someone is not pointing out the perils we all face: climate, economy, disease, violence, on-going wars….
Fortunately, everything holds its opposite, and this is one of the most magnificent periods in human history as well. You and I get to decide how we want the rest of our lives to be.
Yesterday, Joel and I both listened to Ken Wilber’s introduction to “A Revolutionary New Operating System for Your Mind that Illuminates the Full Spectrum of Your Higher Potentials, and Awakens the Greatest Possible Version of You”. Most of our NLPers know the name, but, if you haven’t already heard of him, Ken Wilber is one of the most important philosophers in the world today. One website said he is “the most widely translated academic writer in America, with 25 books translated into some 30 foreign languages.” You may appreciate listening to the introduction for yourself at Super Human Potential.)
Feast on the written description of the program:
This is the monumental event in your adult development where you shift from what the renowned developmental psychologist Dr. Abraham Maslow called ‘esteem needs’ to ‘self-actualization needs.’
Your growing dissatisfaction with your old ways of being and your underlying frustration with the day-in day-out grind of “ordinary” life is a clear sign that you’re ready to make this shift and consciously engage in the process of self-actualization.
The truth is you have been preparing for this moment your whole life.
The time has come for you to answer this inner call, awaken your untapped potentials and step into the greatest, most empowered version of you.
Whatever you know or don’t know about Ken Wilber, I think you will wholeheartedly agree that there has been a whole lot of dissatisfaction with the old ways of being, and more than a little frustration with the day-in day-out grind of “ordinary” life.
For now, just think about every human being on the planet stepping into his or her greatest, most empowered version of being. That would be a very good thing!
In “What’s Happening?” Ross Bishop tells us that 5,000 years ago the Hindus predicted all of this. Around 2,000 A.D. humanity would rise up from a troubled time into a wonderful era of peace and harmony. The Age of Darkness (c), noted for corruption, greed, degradation, and lack of moral virtue, was predicted to give way to the Golden Age (Krta Yuga). All on the planet could expect an end to natural disasters, cultural calamities, and the reign of fear, anger, poverty, and hatred.
Whatever you think about ancient Hindus, Ross Bishop, or Ken Wilber, others agree we have good reason to relax into a positive expectancy. Many, including some prestigious religious leaders, say the Golden Age is not only possible, it is ordained by God.
This quotation from a recent talk in Poland given by Pope Francis (published in our local newspaper) supports that view: “People may judge you to be dreamers, because you believe in a new humanity, one that rejects hatred between peoples, one that refuses to see borders as barriers and can cherish it’s own traditions without being self-centered or small-minded.”
Pope Francis’ new humanity is exactly what Ken Wilber calls Super Human Potential.
Even if you listened and watched this powerful music video, you might also appreciate reading the words of these powerful lyrics…
And as I slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred
I close my eyes and know there’s peace in a world so filled with hatred
Then I wake up each morning and turn on the news to find we’ve so far to go
And I keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid I just won’t knowShow me the way, show me the way
Bring me tonight to the mountain
And take my confusion away
And show me the wayAnd if I see your light, should I believe
Tell me how will I knowShow me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions awayShow me the way, show me the way
Give me the strength and the courage
To believe that I’ll get there someday
And please show me the wayEvery night I say a prayer in the hopes that there’s a heaven…
Nothing changes the environment like one person deciding to love another, no matter what. Nothing changes the environment like a world of self actualized individuals. Is it the right time for you to be the greatest, most empowered version of you?
There is a heaven! As Grandson Bradley said, “It is right here in our hearts.”