Manifest Destiny

Beginning in the 19th century

This U.S. historical action was

Believed to be a divine right.

Territorial acquisitions

Imperialism and exceptionalism

Somehow preordained

Seizure of property to own and

Govern peoples and lands in the US.

Today, intruding into other countries

Forcing their gifts of oil and minerals

U.S. Colonialism, dissatisfaction with its borders

(though wanting to keep people out of the U.S.

Or send them away wherever).

Greed, wanting more and more

Grabbing additional glory and goods from

Throughout the world

According to a president’s and his supporters’

Need to possess and enslave

Claiming moral superiority

Like kings.

A damn shame.

Manifest Destiny can become a call

To create our own experiences of life

Not necessarily our futures but

Our present times and presences

Once we understand and believe that

Yes, we can.

We are sovereign and

No one can overpower us

Again. Not ever.

So, instead of rolling with the tides or

Going along with the governmental flow

How about a remarkable ride

A gentle journey that

We design and implement ourselves?

While just hearing these words

Our breathing slows and deepens

The outer material world seems

Less assaultive, less important

Vanishing by the moment.

We feel more cocooned

Within a thin membrane between us

And all the patterns and conditionings

We have practiced throughout our lives

Within this culture of violence, goodness

Human consumption and corruption.

As we release some of the past and

Observe current horrors and tragedies

We acknowledge the strengths and skills

We learned well in order to survive.

And then

We let some of them go

No longer needed

Awakening, and finally knowing

That we have been and are

Now protected

By a different kind of energy

A collaboration rather than a hierarchy

Protected beyond all measure.

We cannot even imagine how loved

We are

We are never alone.

Can we expand our open hearts and

Manifest different responses

To life and all of its chaos and confusion

When we have truly experienced and

Accepted that we are being held and nurtured

By the Unconditional Love that is

Available to us all?

That is our Manifest Destiny.

Not just human love, always conditional

(Except perhaps between parent and child

And even then, we have conditions)

No, this is Manifested Love Intelligence

Expanding around us, and through us and

Within us every day of our lives

Helping us make every decision we make

Holding us even when we are not aware.

If we listen

If we become still enough

Breathe deeply and gently enough

Surrender our minds enough

Open our hearts enough

Trust well enough to encounter

What we cannot describe in

Human language.

Those energies that are moving

Throughout boundless and

Unfathomable time and space

Those powerful energies which exist

Eternally, Infinite Presence and

Support at the ready

Even when we do not listen or hear.

We turn, shifting from needing to

Claim ownership of Mother Earth Gaia’s

Properties and territories, and her people

To create, to realize, to know and

Hold within ourselves

All that is

All that will be

And all that has ever been.

Realizing our needs and desires

Never to own but only to share

This divine Radiance with

Everyone, world without end

Amen.