It still seems strange to write dates with 2000.  Yes, we have indeed arrived in a new year that is significantly different than the old.  However, the differences in the beginning are subtle.  It is not until we allow time to play it's role that the differences become obvious.  It only takes a small change now to result in a large change down the road.  Further, in many ways we are indeed at a crossroads.  Collectively, it is up to us to determine how we will allow spirit to manifest in the new age.  Whether 2000 or 2001 marks the true change of the millenium is not really important.  What is important is that we are moved to take action ... it particular, kinder, gentler, more compassionate action in the days, weeks, months, years, decades, and centuries ahead.  Actually, now is the only time we can ever truly take action.

In America, we are a young country ... but our ancestors come from all over the world; including most of the older cultures in the world.  We are a country of emigrants, most of whom came here to flee from religious persecution; many of whom came here for the economic opportunity.  It is amazing how much changed during the 20th century.  The next century offers more of the same ... potentially at an even faster pace.  Are we ready for it?  Can we adapt at a sufficient rate to match the rate of change?  It is not clear that we can.  Further, and more importantly, do we want to?  It seems to me that much of what is changing has limited relevance to us individually.  Yes, it affects the nature and quality of goods and services that we are able to acquire.  But, is that really important.  Are our lives better for all the change that has occurred or not?  Even if they are better, is the increased level of stress worth it?

We are living in an information age.  It is amazing how many people are consuming information services.  In particular, pagers, beepers, and cellular phones come to mind.  Personally, I don't have any of these.  I don't even like using the phone unless I have to.  Yet, there are many who carry their phones all the time and use them everywhere (cars, trains, planes ... etc), making them available virtually at anytime ... unless their line is already busy.  Even then, there are call waiting and other features to manage one's communications.  Many people also carry computers with them wherever they go.  This puts the information and supporting applications that they need in their work environment at their fingertips.  We should see more of this in the times ahead.  Hopefully, we will reach a point when many do not have to go into a central office environment at all ... because they have the work environment they need in their own homes.  This is especially true for people in information related services.  Already, a lot of jobs in this country involve the generation, evaluation, and dissemination of information.  It is only a matter of time before we realize that we don't need to waste incredible amounts of time commuting to work along with the resources consumed in this travel.  This doesn't mean that we can eliminate face to face meetings.  However, they could be far less frequent with judicious use of the internet and teleconferencing.

Simplify ... simplify!  How do we find ways to simplify our lives in a world that appears to be becoming more and more complex.  One way is by finding our niche and learning enough about tools/resources to do our job effectively.  This is sufficient for many.  However, others will have to be at the forefront of the information age, ever learning about and applying new tools and services in a manner that provides beneficial services to others.  Here, the pace is fast.  Within a couple years, what was brand new is now out of date.  Keeping up requires a significant investment of one's time and attention.  One must be wary however.  Not all change is good.  Not all new capabilities are better.  One must pick and choose what tools/skills one carries in one's arsenal.  What we are finding is that the pace of life is such that we have no time.  That is, there is not enough time to do everything that we think needs to be done.  We get back time by simplifying our lives ... by finding ways to get away from the hectic pace of the world.  In many cases this requires going inside to find out what is most important to us, then setting priorities consistent with having this.  The inner self is always still.  It is found through silence and listening.  It will not be rushed.  It knows that it's time is truly infinite.

I'm still not sure about what I am to do now.  It is time to do things differently ... and to believe differently so that I can create a new reality.  That much I know.  Further, I trust that I will be moved in the direction necessary if I simply pay attention and do as I am moved to do in each moment.  I've never had maps to guide me to date.  Why should I expect that to change.  Hmm ... but what if I do expect that to change?  Others have ventured forth into the wilderness and left maps of what they found.  These maps could easily come into my world.  Also, I may meet such others and engage in cooperative interdependent relationships.  The possibilities are endless.  It is but for me to choose which among the myriad possibilities I choose to experience.  Interesting.  Here we are with choice again.  This is an area I've had difficulty with for many years.  But, I do feel that I have more choice in how things are to manifest than I have since 1993 ... more conscious choice anyway. It is choice that collapses the wave function to determine the specifics we experience.

I've used the WWW and internet as my means for disseminating information to the world, and for getting feedback from the world.  To date the feedback has been limited ... but that doesn't bother me.  The information is reaching those who are ready to bring it into their lives.  Consciousness will see to that.  Though, it may not be so easy.  I noticed a few weeks ago that Altavista did not retrieve many of my documents that it used to retrieve for various search criteria.  It's as if the web loses connections over time (at least the part Altavista knows about).  I don't know why this happened.  But, the web as a viable medium for the sharing of the worlds knowledge must be dependable if it is to be effective. Losing strands of the web or even significant portions is not acceptable. Yet, it is not clear how one voices and fixes such problems, other than to resubmit one's URL to the various search engines.

Be Happy and Create Well!

LOVE,

Wayne