Our "Come to Jesus" moment

There is a lot of energy swirling these days…nothing bad but certainly intense as more and more Americans open to the notion that we may have been duped by people, narratives and systems that we thought were trustworthy, that we relied on for stability.

When trusted people deceive us, it's betrayal. When our narratives prove false, it's destabilizing. When corrupt systems crack, it's opportunity. Humanity does not want deceit, greed and manipulation. We reject power-over control and false history. We put down fear for sovereignty. We value the difference between integrity and duplicity.

This is not the time to punish ourselves with guilt or judgment over what was out of view. This is a "Come to Jesus" moment for humanity to face the unfaceable, to hold ourselves accountable for the ways we allowed crimes against each other to persist, to engage in direct restitution, and to impose immediate preventive remedies. As we wrestle with generations of deceit and harm, we can be grateful that once-hidden darkness is being exposed. In seeing and acknowledging what is true—however ugly it may be—we can begin to clean it up, build honest foundations and grow authentic connections.

As we learn what's true, we have the opportunity to put down what's false. The truth offers a powerful potential for us to transform our reality, to lay down division, greed and self-aggrandizement for unity, sharing and egalitarianism. One truth is inescapable: We thrive or suffer together, and it is up to each one of us to choose which reality we create.

As the venerable Monks of the Walk for Peace teach, peace in the world starts with peace in us. Every morning as you rise, begin your day with this prayer: "Today is going to be my peaceful day." Make it your mantra. Use it as your guide. Honor that prayer and watch what changes.