Kairos & The Titanic 🚢
One powerful metaphor that illustrates this Kairos moment is the story of the Titanic.
The Titanic symbolized human achievement, representing the pinnacle of modernity; progress, and prosperity – a ship everyone thought was unsinkable.
However, the ship was flawed from the start, but it’s structural weaknesses were hidden far below the surface.
When the Titanic struck the iceberg, in the snap of a finger, it transitioned from Chronos to Kairos time — a sudden shift where old certainties dissolved, and a new reality rapidly emerged.
But here's the interesting twist...not everyone on the ship was aware that reality as they knew it was over.
Some people realized there was irrevocable damage and knew that the ship was going down, while others continued with business as usual – even when they were warned about what happened!
Fast-forward to our current reality.
All signs (from ecology to economy, and astrology to Indigenous prophecy) indicate we are on our own version of the Titanic right now, and this ship is going down.
However, this is not necessarily bad news.
Kairos marks the end of the only story we knew to be true, and yes, that is a hard pill for most people to swallow.
However, it also means we are in the process of birthing a new story, and that is the primary place we need to focus our attention.
Every single day, I reflect on this wise advice from an elder and ally, Grandmother Jyoti, who says:
“Make sure you are aware of the breakdown, so you can stay informed, but pay more attention to that which is breaking through…for there is a new Dawn rising.”
This is easier said than done as we navigate this awkward in-between phase of straddling two realities; the ship is going down, but it hasn't yet sunk.
This Kairos moment is teeming with uncertainty yet pregnant with possibility, urgently inviting us to ask ourselves:
⋙ Who do we choose to be through this disorienting and difficult time of transition?
And perhaps more importantly:
⋙ How do we want to show up and contribute?
Do you want to be the person flailing and freaking out, adding to the mayhem, chaos, and confusion?
Or do you want to be the person who remains calm and centered, who navigates this time with dignity and grace, willing to support others who are scared and afraid?
Do you want to be the person still sitting in the ship’s dining hall, in complete denial, snapping your fingers and demanding that the waiter keep serving you?
Or do you want to be the person who understands the magnitude of what is actually transpiring and the enormity of what is required of each of us at a time like this?
Which, of course, begs the question:
⋙ What is required of us at a time like this?
First and foremost, this is a time to re-evaluate what we believe is possible, what we believe we are capable of, and to imagine the unimaginable.
On the inside of kairos are the portals to new worlds—the nonlinear influxes of creativity, disruption, and opportunity. ~ David Temple
What if those of us who realize this is an all-hands-on-deck situation choose to come together and collaborate with courage, compassion, creativity, and adaptability to find unique solutions to unprecedented challenges?
What if each of us decide to bring forth our unique creative genius to contribute an aspect of ourselves to the greater whole? (Yes, you have a unique creative genius living within you...)
Then maybe, just maybe, we'd be able to pull it off and find our way out of this glorious mess.
(Side note for word nerds. 🤓 There's an old Latin word that points to this concept:
Felix Culpa: Noun. A series of unfortunate events that will eventually lead to a happier outcome. Essentially, a "fortunate fall" or blessing in disguise.)
Kairos is not a time for business as usual. This time requires a new set of skills and a new way of navigating day-to-day reality. I think of them as "codes for Kairos."
If I had to sum it up those codes or teachings in a single word, it would be:
