As a boy in the 1980s, stepping out into the world in the Midwestern United States, I probably had things relatively easy. Today, the world is undergoing some tumultuous changes. Young people, job seekers, and really everyone, face a challenging landscape—and it’s understandable if some get upset and cry out for answers.

With the evolution and development of technology, industry, finance, and society in general, we’re at a remarkable point in history. But I get the feeling that this only scratches the surface of the story. Underneath it all, there’s a profound awakening to the spiritual significance of our lives.

In many ways, the global story mirrors our personal stories. I soon realized after leaving the nest that life meant more than just getting a degree, a job, and maybe a family and house of my own. Our lives are not merely so “human,” for lack of a better word. They relate to God and His universal, divine nature. 

Christ Jesus, quoting the Old Testament (see Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18), summarized our relation to God and the laws of His universe with the two “great commandments.” The first, he said, is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Then, he explained, “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matt. 22:37–39).

Underneath it all, there's a profound awakening to the spiritual significance of our lives.

There’s a significant word shared by these two commands: love. In fact, the Bible states, “God is love” (I John 4:16). Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “We live in an age of Love’s divine adventure to be All-in-all” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 158). This, in its essence, is what’s happening. Our creator and everything in our lives is ultimately composed of a wonderful palette of good, spiritual qualities and ideas, which harmonize for a productive and exciting universe. These qualities are to be discovered in us and to be shared. They relate us all to one another. And herein lies a compelling point: that whether we’re excited or frustrated about the new waves of technological, economic, and social changes, whether we feel on top of them all or cheated by them, the lesson we’re ultimately to gain relates to God, to the divine Love that constitutes our lives and connects us.

So, how is it that things seem increasingly challenging for people? I think it’s really that the demand to love is getting greater. And that’s not always so easy, especially when so many of us are reeling from the implications. But as we get on board with this demand, we start to see some great things happening. Consider the encouraging stirring for democracy in countries around the world. And in many debates and protests, on a global scale, I for one have been struck by the tremendous, heartfelt convictions demonstrated.

Love is the story coming forward from it all. And from this story come important questions, which are the same for everyone on whatever side of things they see themselves: Do we love the divine essence of our lives more and more? Do we love, do we appreciate, the divine essence of our neighbors’ lives more and more?

I hope I do. There seems to be no other way to keep myself on top of the adventure and to help those around me stay on top of it, grounded and enjoying the ride. The ride sure appears to be far from letting up! Our lives do not simply relate to the events in our own neighborhoods. We have to learn what it looks like to relate to a universal family. 

Take heart, dear brothers and sisters around the world, because “the conclusion of the whole matter” (see Science and Health, p. 340) has been determined by our grand creator. It’s ultimately not determined by us. It’s not determined by the temporary whims or selfish desires of people. Sure, that’s often how things look. But that’s a muddled, reactive view.

What determines us individually and collectively is divine Love. It’s this Love, reflected, that will forever pour out of us and work something special in our world.