Meeting the World, by Rev. Savanna Noelle Riker

“ You must meet the outer world with your inner world or existence will crush you.” 

Mark Nepo 

The US Presidential election and the energy leading up to it created beautiful opportunities for us to see how the shadow has pierced through the surface time and again. It left a heightened sense of unknown, fear, anxiety, joy, hope, and revelation depending what part of the spectrum was taken.

The world is facing a pivotal time in our collective history. Evolve, transform, or perish. I have been trying to wrap my brain around the question as to how a country can be so split in half, how others could hold views so adamantly differently than my own. I’ve longed to reconcile the seeming paradox of seeing and knowing that Oneness is our foundation while at the same time looking out at the world of effects, of our collective suffering.

The story of human suffering has painted the landscape throughout time. Some people may be operating from survival, scarcity, and fear, while others may be operating from the principles of love, compassion, unity, and collaboration. And yet universally, we are called to knowing that even through our suffering, we can transform our consciousness and thus change our experience of the world.

“Suffering can be a doorway to truth and transformation.”

Paul Ferrini 

I believe that it is our part of the evolutionary process for us to forgive, heal, and be made whole again. When I look through the lens of our oneness worldwide, I can take a breath and remember how whole and perfect everything truly is, especially in the breakdown, the unknown.

When we think outside of our own countries, across the miles to our neighbors, brothers, and sisters beyond our borders, across the seas and mountains, if we can just put ourselves there for even a brief moment, we will feel the awe and wonder of being alive. We will feel the magnificence of this beautiful planet we live on. Awe and wonder wash over us when we consider the qualities of life we each wish to experience: Love, community, safety, abundance, worthiness, and freedom.

The contrast of our suffering with that of everyone in the world gives me pause, for I realize that my pain is not special. In every language, in every culture, the wind blows. And the wind continues to share this beautiful truth with us that unless we meet the world by connecting to the inner, to our own wholeness, to the God within us, we will maintain the illusions of our brokenness.

Rev. Savanna Noelle Riker has served as a staff minister in spiritual communities across California since 2014. She started her spiritual path at the age of 16 in Denver, Colorado, became a spiritual counselor in 2010, and is the youngest ordained minister in Centers for Spiritual Living.

With an extensive background in youth leadership, global outreach, facilitation, and speaking, Savanna has served on a diverse array of councils and committees for over 15 years and has spoken at events in London, Vancouver, and Cairo. She completed her Master’s Degree in Consciousness Studies while living in Egypt in 2012 during their revolution for 8 months, pursuing her passion for global ministry. You may have seen her face on the cover of the February 2015 edition of the Science of Mind magazine, where her article, 'The Sacred Amidst the Shadow," was featured.

She continues to lead retreats, teach, and speak in communities throughout the U.S. and the world. Savanna resides in Seattle, WA, and is an Assistant Minister at Amazing Grace Spiritual Center.