Prophetic Light for a New Year

"You are a prophet". This line, by Steven Charleston from his book, We Survived the End of the World: Lessons from Native America on Apocalypse and Hope, included in Richard Rohr's daily meditation, startled me. Me? A prophet? I don't think so!

The words "prophet" or "prophetic" may be, for many of us, associated with distant and lofty ideals or inspiration professed by  people of special and particular spiritual gifts that separate "them" from the rest of us. How could this possibly describe me?

But in fact, as Charleston explains, "we are all prophets". And while we may not see ourselves as prophets receiving divine inspiration from God, "we are all needed". Each and every one of us has a purpose and a message, a unique and precious wisdom that needs to be shared to help create a better world, a better whole. "We are human beings...living in extraordinary times", each of us striving to make sense of our world and to create a new and better world.

As we start 2024 with new hopes and a few resolutions, I invite you to make one of your goals to be a prophet and a light for your families, friends, and communities. Our complicated and often dark world needs your voice of hope and light, your unique wisdom. Believe and know that humanity counts on each of us to contribute our part to the whole, that each light brings more light to our world!