Global Community Communications Alliance Member Profile
Karene
Have you ever had a sense that you were here for some unique and special purpose? Did you ever feel that something incredible is going to happen in this lifetime? Have you ever thought, "I know I have a higher calling; but, I don't know what it is." Have you ever thought about being a part of some major changes in the world; and then thought, "what difference can one person make, especially me!" Have you ever gone out seeking new adventures, traveled to different places, sought training in new fields, looked for a more exciting job, joined a new organization, listened to another motivational speaker or read another best-selling book, always with the hope that this time you would find something meaningful, something to make some sense out of this life? If these thoughts are familiar to you, know you are not alone.
It seems we are all looking for a way to contribute to others, to our family, to our profession, to our neighborhood or community, to our church or organizations we belong to. Yet, how often we feel unfulfilled; feel we really don't make a difference. Even those people who we perceive to be the movers and shakers; are they really fulfilled or do they also feel a sense of lacking, a feeling that more could and should be done?
It came to me about twelve years ago that my life should not be solely about paying a mortgage, making a car payment or even about finding the right mate and having a family together. In my pursuit of the American dream of the ideal television family, a successful profession and a nice home in the suburbs – I realized I had no idea who I was and what contribution I was here to make, really. I was trying to fit in. I knew I needed to get real; clean up my act and stop acting as if all is well. We have some incredibly hard issues facing us as a country and as a world. The truth is we do not treat one another very well, and we certainly don't take very good care of our planet.
I knew there must be answers to my questions, and I knew I did not have them. I knew there was a power much greater than myself, and I knew I needed to reach out, to seek and hear from that power and source, from God. It was actually a process of getting quiet; it took letting go and listening to those inner urgings. It took a shift in my awareness and focus, away from "me-me-me" and toward "how can I participate with and serve others." To my surprise the more I let go; the more interesting and exciting life got and the more unexpected were the opportunities that came my way. The more I let go; the more changes I began to make. In fact, it wasn't too long before I knew I was going to change everything.
I knew I was working in a job I was going to leave, in a profession I would no longer pursue and with a circle of friends I knew I would have to say good-bye to. I worked for five more years, and each day I asked for a vision of what was to come, what was next; and again and again I felt a quiet reassurance to be patient and do my best that day. It was frustrating; but, it was calming in that it was clearly not up to me. I no longer needed to try and control everything. Letting go really did mean letting go, of everything. Letting go takes faith. Faith is knowing that I don't know; but, God does.
At the time I was working for a special interest lobbying firm in Sacramento, California promoting job-training programs. In addition, I sat on the boards of many human service programs, cooked meals at the homeless shelter, organized fund raisers to support a variety of political candidates and issues and, in my spare time, was trained and worked as a coach to assist people in their own process of discovering who they are and what they really want out of life. I had been in the Peace Corps in the early 70s, lived and traveled throughout Central and South America, received a graduate degree in urban planning, worked as a social planner and grant writer for local and state government for many years, and was in the process of renovating a 100 year old Victorian house.
Out of my desire to know God and God's will for me, I began attending services at a local church. One Sunday I was hit by a lightening-bolt of insight and awareness. We were singing a hymn as the children from the Sunday school classes walked into the sanctuary. I could hardly believe my eyes; I saw standing in front of me a reason for my being. These children needed me, needed us to provide them with a reality, an environment where they could grow up and find a place for themselves. They needed the love, support, nurturing, guidance, attention, direction, leadership, examples, correction, guidelines, education, understanding, firmness, honesty, encouragement, trust, respect, discipline and sustenance from us, the parents and adults of this world. I knew this awakening in me was not limited to the children of that church; it included all the children of the planet, and it meant we adults had to make this planet a safer place in which to live and grow up, for everyone.
I really didn't know where this would lead me; but, I knew it started with the kids and with me. So, I volunteered to be a Sunday school teacher; and, almost immediately, I experienced a sense of purpose and excitement at taking on the responsibility for training these young people. Also, I realized that, even though I was single, I had gained quite a family. My sense of purpose shifted from taking care of myself to beginning to look out for and take care of others.
It wasn't long after that that I heard about the community of Global Community Communications Alliance in Sedona, Arizona. The mention of Sedona peaked my interest because I had heard so many things about it and because I had been drawn to the Southwest for many years. Why the attraction, I did not know; but, I was told that Global Community Communications Alliance was dedicated to people finding their destiny purpose. Destiny purpose, I thought, "what perfect words to describe that yearning we all have to know who we are and why we are here." I contacted Global Community Communications Alliance and began reading their information and related books, The Divine New Order and The Cosmic Family, Volume I . For some reason I could not put these books down, though what I read amazed me and took me far beyond any of the new age books I was familiar with. This wasn't new age material, this was the vision of a divine new order. I went to a week-end seminar offered by Global Community Communications Alliance. There I met Gabriel of Urantia and Niánn Emerson Chase and the community members of Global Community Communications Alliance and heard much more about the Fifth Epochal Revelation, The URANTIA Book and Continuing Fifth Epochal Revelation, The Cosmic Family, Volume I .
What had the most profound impact on me was the affinity I felt for many of the community members. I had the sense of being with family even though I had never met these people before. There was a sense of familiarity and genuine love and acceptance. It came as quite a surprise to me that I would feel so comfortable and at home. Of equal note was the surprise I found as I read a paper in The URANTIA Book entitled "The Lucifer Rebellion." That paper explained so much to me about why the world is in the shape it is in and why so many of us keep seeking truth, meaning, and purpose and keep finding confusion and disillusionment. For the next year I continued to read The URANTIA Book and The Cosmic Family, Volume I and visited Global Community Communications Alliance a number of times. I prayed for the right path to be shown me, not knowing what God had in store for me. I put my house up for sale and wrapped up my business responsibilities. It was a gradual process of letting go; letting go of so many things that I was attached to but, which seemed secondary to the world-changing work and vision of Global Community Communications Alliance.
As long as I can remember I have sought purpose and meaning to this life; wanted to know why I was here and what was the reason for all the running around we do. I was once asked what would it be worth to know my purpose, to know my reason for being? My answer was, "it would be worth almost anything, it would be worth everything." I could not begin to place a value on it. Imagine if you knew what your contribution was to be, and you were actively engaged in it. What would that be worth to you, to everyone? What if everyone was actively pursuing a destiny where their unique talents and abilities were being encouraged, trained and allowed to develop? Wouldn't the whole planet benefit from raising the level of appreciation, support and encouragement individuals receive as they grow and develop into contributing members of a global family? Sounds like a dream, a fantasy? To me it's where I want to invest my time and efforts so that some day we can all look back and say the world is a better place because of what we did. That is what I am doing here in Sedona as a member of Global Community Communications Alliance. We truly function as a Divine Administration of men and women trying to respect the higher godliness in our elders.
Sounds like a lot of responsibility we each have doesn't it. It is, but then what else is there to do? So, what is it that you feel the urge to do and what is it you feel you need to leave behind so you can find your true purpose? It is hard to face the truth when our material lives demand so much and distract us so much. Besides, someone else must have the answers because I surely don't. Well, I will tell you this, if you ask, you will receive; if you seek, you will find. How do I know? I know because that is how I got here.
Karene,
Minister
Vicegerent Second Assistant
to Gabriel of Urantia and Niánn Emerson Chase and the Mandate of the Bright and Morning Star