Everyone has the potential to become a Jedi like Luke Skywalker or a sith like Darth Vader, it’s a choice, so choose wisely.  No matter how or when this choice point pops up, there is no question that the force is the real power behind the outcome. As Han Solo (Harrison Ford) states in the trailer above, I say it as well, “It’s true, all of it … the dark side, the force … it’s all real.” All we have to do as Rey (Daisy Ridley) says, “Just let it in.” Surrender our selfish desires and be open to receive. We sometimes refer to this process as praying when we ask, followed by meditating when we receive. You know all this, Yoda said it many times … “Meditate on this I will.” After getting answers, this is when we must choose. Finn (John Boyega) made that choice: “I was raised to do one thing (fight and kill), but I’ve got nothing to fight for.” Let me step back a few thousand years and put this into perspective. The force is a very real element of life, in fact, it is the energy field that is life, and is in everything and everyone. This force abides by universal laws and axioms and it serves three, only three, great purposes discussed in my book 11 Days in May; it creates, maintains, and destroys. As we learn throughout the Star Wars films, this has been known forever. One of the oldest languages known to man is Sanskrit, dating back almost 4,000 years, and it uses three words to describe creation, maintenance, and dissolution: akara, ukara, makara, respectively. Together these three words form the syllable AUM, and to keep it simple, over time this has been modified to OM and AMEN (read more in 11 Days in May). If we connect what the force is, energy, and what it does described above, and how we use these words today, you will possibly come to the same realization as I did: humans have been giving homage to the forces that we sometimes refer to as the circle of life in all ages and times. It is the essence of many, if not all, of our sacred practices, mantras, prayers, and rituals. Hopefully you see my point, the force has been a part of our world belief system for thousands of years. Perhaps that explains why the film is such a blockbuster, it strikes a deep subconscious truth. Now back to present day. Like Finn, one day we have to decide what we are willing to fight for. That is called motivation. If you are motivated by fear, lust, greed, anger, hatred, or control, then welcome to the dark side. Have fun using your power and gifts to manipulate others (hint: that doesn’t usually turn out so good in the final part of the trilogies.) I hope however, that you consider choosing the higher path, motivated to serve a greater good, the selfless way of the Jedi and Finn (Jedi in waiting?). I don’t know about you, but as I reflect on who I plan on voting for in the upcoming Presidential elections, it seem pretty obvious to me which candidates have fallen victim to the dark side. I’d like to meet a few of them in person just to confirm the color of their eyes since some of them do a lot of squinting. One day in the not too distant future you will have to make a choice, so my words of advice come from another Harrison Ford film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where a 700-year-old knight told Indiana to choose wisely in selecting which cup belonged to Christ. (Spoiler Alert) The man before Indy choose motivated by power and control and evaporated into thin air, whereas Indy choose motivated to save his father and found eternal life. May the (binding) force be with you and choose wisely in the upcoming elections. It would be a real bummer to see a sith lord in charge of the senate or country ‘cause we know where that leads: revolution.

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