Global Transformation: Strategy for Action
Dedication Epigraph Preface Acknowledgments One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Epilogue Comments

That’s it, folks – the best I can do within the timeframe I imposed on myself. Now I need you to help me improve it by telling me what you think. I particularly want to know about points of disagreement.

I welcome your comments via email and would like to engage in ongoing online dialogue. As discussed in the Preface, you’re invited to complete a questionnaire about the book and to participate in the September 15 workshop, where we will “think together” about the ideas presented here. If you prefer, you can complete your questionnaire at the conclusion of that workshop. The questionnaire is at:

http://progressiveresourcecatalog.org/index.php/Book1/Questionnaire/.

Other than occasional events like the September 15 public forum, I have no plans to organize any more ongoing projects. Next fall, I’ll probably return to Mexico (you’re welcome to visit), where I’ll read, reflect, discuss, and write – and maybe experiment more with simple ways to deepen dialogue. If you have other thoughts about what I should do with the rest of my life, let me know. I’m open to new ideas.

In the meantime, I encourage you to experiment with the proposals presented here, whether alone or with others. If you do, I’d welcome receiving reports on what happens. And feel free to invite me to your experiments, whether as an observer, participant, consultant, facilitator, or guest speaker.

The need for the kind of global community that I envision strikes me as compelling. But I’m not optimistic about near-term prospects. It seems to me that Ego is spreading like a plague. More and more people in the modern world are becoming workaholics, reduced to instruments in one future-oriented project or another.

I often wonder why people are so disinterested in what I think and feel. I sometimes wonder whether, out of fear, they’re following Dylan’s advice, “Don’t ask me nothing about nothing, I might just tell you the truth.” Then I realize it’s nothing personal. They’re rarely really interested in anyone. Then Simmel reminds me that the blasé attitude is a necessary defense mechanism in the modern world.

People are living lives of quiet desperation hanging onto a thread that seems to hold their lives together, worried that the thread could unravel at any moment, anxious that if they open up, they’ll be hurt once again, not accepting that unless we’re willing to be vulnerable, we become lifeless, without faith that even if our life does unravel, we’ll land on our feet.

One way or the other, everyone must cope, for “the human mind can only stand so much (Dylan).” So I accept that indifference must be one characteristic of our society.

I insist, however, that moments of wonder and true connection are still possible. And with some effort and discipline, they could become more common. I hope that with this book, I encourage people to find more authenticity in their lives and help cultivate a global community that will transform our world.

I’m not optimistic about prospects in my lifetime. I often feel like I’m in the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, encountering shells who’ve had their life extinguished and are unable or unwilling to be present and show real interest in others, perhaps because they’re afraid of openly re-examining their own life.

Following Buddha, I try to have “no expectations.” Following Jesus, I try to “not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” I hope, however, that some day people will wake up and smell the roses.

Regardless, thanks for your attention and remember: keep your eyes on the prize and listen, really listen – to that person in front of you and the voice within.