At first people were horrified, traumatized, empathetic, and grief-stricken by the heart-wrenching pictures and stories coming from the Gulf coast states and, in particular, New Orleans. Huge amounts of people immediately opened their hearts, their pocketbooks, their time, their resources, their homes and their cities to help and be of service. In the wake of what is undoubtedly the worst natural disaster that America has ever experienced, there was also an outpouring of love perhaps larger than Americans have ever demonstrated before.

However, in just a few short days some have turned their tears and opened hearts to angry words of blame, judgment and criticism. They chose sides. They felt they needed to be right and someone else needed to be wrong.

Listen carefully. Listen to who and what is really speaking. It doesn’t matter their titles or degrees or whether they are politicians, members of the media, spiritual teachers or another. Discern the truth behind the words and emotions. Discern their investment in their position, in his- or her-story, in being right. Discern between the voice of ego and spirit.

Having to be right and having someone else be wrong is the old world approach to facing the storms of life. This is not to say there are not serious problems revealed by Hurricane Katrina. Of course, there are and they are significant. That is the purpose of all storms. Storms reveal the truth about what is out of integrity.


It is what we do with this truth, how we respond, that reveals our character. It is in the choices and decisions we make now and in the weeks, months and years ahead – small and large; with our words, thoughts and actions; with the energy of our heart, not just our mind – that will set into motion our future path, individually and collectively as a nation, as a world.


Every storm is a lesson in love. That’s why storms happen. They raise our consciousness, awaken our spirits to find the better path, the path of love, the path back to our true spirit-self. This is the Love for our self and others. This is the Love for humanity, human-kind. This is the Love that knows that we are all one, that we are all connected. And, if one is suffering, we are all suffering. Like dropping a pebble in a pool of water the impact will travel out in waves of concentric circles further and further out from the center where the pebble was first dropped. At some point the waves will touch each of us in this sea of life.


It does not matter whether it is a physical storm like Hurricane Katrina or a stormy relationship, like with one’s spouse; partner; children; our self; with our higher self; associates; boss; civic, social or religious organizations or even our bank account. Figuratively speaking every storm serves the same purpose. The storms of life raise our awareness about paths we have taken and decisions we have made. And, in the wake of things falling apart, they always provide an opportunity to raise our standards and live much more of the life we deserve. Said another way, storms both literally and figuratively bring death and rebirth or cleansing and renewal.

If a storm is large or uncomfortable enough it will ultimately reveal what is off in any situation. We won’t any longer be able to choose to look the other way, rationalize or ignore what doesn’t work. The pain and cost of doing so will be far greater than the immediate suffering of the storm. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual upsets may be patched up for a while, yet the storms will persist and generally intensify until we have to face them. Hurricane Katrina has served just this purpose.

Of course, this is taking the higher view which is admittedly often much easier to see when you’re not the one in the middle of the storm.

“Time” magazine on its September 12, 2005 cover calls this “An American Tragedy.” And, yet with all the destruction, loss, pain, death, turmoil and confusion this is “An American Opportunity.” As uncomfortable as it seems, Hurricane Katrina has brought America a special gift. Katrina has brought us to a crossroads in our spiritual development as a nation and a people.

Deservingly or not, we have come to believe and led others to believe that ours is the strongest nation in the world, a leader of other nations. Well this is a good time to live up to this high status and take the higher road, the “road less traveled.” Americans can lead the way to shifting consciousness from fear, anger and lack to love, harmony and prosperity. I honestly feel that we, America, have been chosen for this mighty task to reshape the world precisely because we have the heart, inner strength and wisdom to create a world of collaboration and unity.

As Albert Einstein said, “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them.” The way of ego and personality – including name calling, pointing blame and being politically astute regarding this situation or any other - will not lead us to higher, safer ground. Ultimately it will only be more of the same and attract even greater storms to reveal the truth once again.

There is a Hindu saying that says: “There is no nobility to being superior to another man. There is nobility to being superior to our previous self.” In this aftermath of Katrina is a wake-up call to connect with our superior self. To take this higher perspective is to see ourselves as God does and respond as God would.

In Messages from God it says: “Be positive. Come from love and compassion, not judgment and criticism.” This Now World requires authentic power centered in higher thinking rather than physical might or verbal abuse. Real, substantive change comes from the inside-out.

Being our superior self is seeing all that is through the eyes of love. It is to connect inside before we speak and make decisions. It is to offer forgiveness and compassion for others and our self. It is to stay present in the now and make decisions on what is and not what was.

Each of us has the ability to raise the vibration of our consciousness and that of our nation and the world with our thoughts and feelings. And, as more and more people do so, the storms of our life will dissipate and ultimately be eliminated.

As I reflect on this crossroads that we currently face, I am reminded of the words President Kennedy said of Robert Frost, "America's poet laureate," at his passing. He said, "In America our heroes have customarily run to men of large accomplishments. But today this…country honors a man whose contribution was not to our size but to our spirit; not to our political beliefs but to our insight; not to our self-esteem, but to our self-comprehension."

Inside each of us is this hero. We each have the ability to connect daily with our spirit, our insight and our self-comprehension. Will you? Will you answer the call to be your hero self, to be your spirit self? Will you join me in taking the road less traveled?


As the American anthropologist Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

© 2005 “Phoenix” is an spirit coach who speaks and writes on business and personal transformation. Her latest book is Messages from God®. For private sessions or to subscribe to her newsletter contact www.MessagesFromGod.com.