I love to learn and I read whenever I can. I have often found items of interest to others and share them. Sometimes things that I thought would be life-changing, or maybe just opinion-changing have failed miserably. I know that each being is free to choose who they want to be, including how to react, what to read or watch or listen to, and how to interpret everything around them. There is a scriptural phrase I find interesting, "consume it upon your lusts". It refers to our motivation for seeking something. We can read, or watch, or listen because we sincerely seek further understanding, clarification, or greater wisdom. Or we can simply be seeking further justification for our current view or actions. Among people who believe in a being and power greater than mortals, there is often discussion and a quest for understanding just exactly what "sin" is. A wise king once said, "I cannot tell you all the ways to sin for there are divers (many and varied) ways." We, and God, only can know if and when we are sinning. The importance is not in the particular deeds, words, or even thoughts, as much as it is in the motivation. We can go to church because we enjoy the fellowship of other believers, because we want to learn more about God to feel closer to Him and be more like Him, or we can go because we want to look good to others or because it's easier than putting up resistance to a spouse or parent. When we have attended a religious service, are we happy/relieved to have it over with, or are we glad we were able to go because we are free to attend and it is available to us? Do we seek to justify ourselves because we want to remain stiff-necked or rebellious? Or do we quietly, humbly endeavor to earnestly seek what is most beneficial to others, or even ourselves, in being more Christlike?
I have a sincere desire to enlarge my awareness, understand others, and seek truth which I firmly believe exists. I don't think anything like "red" is better than "yellow" is a truth. There are opinions, and there is truth. Truth is the way things are or have been or will be. Children sometimes try to deny the truth that a parent loves them when the parent doesn't give or allow the child what he/she wants. How to show love can be an opinion but whether someone loves or doesn't is a truth. I exist- that is truth. If someone wanted to ignore me or is unaware of my existence does not change the truth that I do truly exist. Whether God exists or not is not a matter of opinion. It is a truth that some would deny because they want to choose their own version of truth. I find myself really weary of the discord in the world due to everyone insisting on their opinion or proclaiming misleading information in the guise of "truth". We all "look through a glass darkly" without being able to see everything clearly. We all "know in part". I would be like Paul's comment, "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or praiseworthy we seek after these things". I think truth is lovely. I seek it.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Envy
Okay- here I go again... ranting. Do you remember the commercial for some hair product several years ago that starts with a glamorous model/actress saying, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful" ? I find it sad and even repulsive when I hear someone speak disparagingly of someone- ANYone- else for no other reason than they consider them "superior" in some way: they have more money, more fame, more knowledge, are more beautiful, more talented, on and on.... I have often made the point that the teachings of Jesus Christ are not only good and righteous, they are totally logical. The scriptures teach us to love one another, mourn with those that mourn, rejoice with those that rejoice, not covet, and treat others the way you would want to be treated. When you have worked hard to accomplish something, doesn't it make you feel good to have others notice and acknowledge your accomplishment? If you have exercised to have a trim body, would you want someone look at you with disgust because they didn't have a body like yours? If you studied hard to ace a test, would you want others to mock you and hate you because you succeeded? If someone is diligently making an effort and not just trying to get attention, it behooves us to compliment them in the same way we would want to be complimented on our efforts. If someone else has a lot of friends, appearing to have more than we have, it would behoove us to ask ourselves some questions: does this other person really have more friends or is it just a temporary situation in which someone has gotten votes or praise or applause? If they really have more friends, are "more popular", is it because the friends they have are simply weak followers? If we would like to have more friends ourselves, what kind of friends would we want and what do we do to acquire more friends? Are we fully appreciating the friends we already have rather than discounting them because we think they should be more or better or richer?
I realize that the real root of envy is poor self-esteem. I also realize that we all have the freedom to choose how we look at ourselves and others. Can ANYONE truly, honestly say that they are not loved? Even those throughout history who have come to exemplify evil have had people who cared about them. We each need to be totally honest about our own attributes and accomplishments, without trying to compare ourselves to anyone. If we can be a little nicer, work a little harder or longer each day, or even just keep trudging on, we are successful. The billions of people who have and do inhabit this planet are all different in some way. We each start from a different place in any endeavor and have different strengths and handicaps. There is absolutely no way we can fairly compare ourselves with anyone else. The scriptures offer great advice when counseling us to lose ourselves in the service of others. We can be paralyzed into inaction if we feel "unworthy". That results in having done nothing to feel satisfied about having accomplished. If we spend time noticing others' needs and do our best to help when we have the skills or resources, we can feel accomplished which builds self-esteem. Our self-esteem is not built sturdily on compliments. We know within ourselves when we have diligently tried or when we have made excuses or given up. We all have moments of flagging energy or determination. That's a good time to pray for reinforcements. That can come directly from God through the Holy Spirit or it can come through an "in tune" friend or family member who lifts us up, encouraging us to keep trying. Envy only destroys- our self-esteem and our relationships with others.
I realize that the real root of envy is poor self-esteem. I also realize that we all have the freedom to choose how we look at ourselves and others. Can ANYONE truly, honestly say that they are not loved? Even those throughout history who have come to exemplify evil have had people who cared about them. We each need to be totally honest about our own attributes and accomplishments, without trying to compare ourselves to anyone. If we can be a little nicer, work a little harder or longer each day, or even just keep trudging on, we are successful. The billions of people who have and do inhabit this planet are all different in some way. We each start from a different place in any endeavor and have different strengths and handicaps. There is absolutely no way we can fairly compare ourselves with anyone else. The scriptures offer great advice when counseling us to lose ourselves in the service of others. We can be paralyzed into inaction if we feel "unworthy". That results in having done nothing to feel satisfied about having accomplished. If we spend time noticing others' needs and do our best to help when we have the skills or resources, we can feel accomplished which builds self-esteem. Our self-esteem is not built sturdily on compliments. We know within ourselves when we have diligently tried or when we have made excuses or given up. We all have moments of flagging energy or determination. That's a good time to pray for reinforcements. That can come directly from God through the Holy Spirit or it can come through an "in tune" friend or family member who lifts us up, encouraging us to keep trying. Envy only destroys- our self-esteem and our relationships with others.
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Random pictures
Look in the mirror
I haven't posted in quite a while. I'm not sure why I'm posting now other than there is something I have been thinking a lot about and just want to get it off my chest, whether or not anyone ever reads it. Anyone who knows me is aware of my disdain for hypocrites. Maybe I am considered a hypocrite in some way unknown to me by someone who has observed me. I try really hard to be a person of integrity because I truly would never want to be someone who expected things of others that I would refuse to do.
In that vein, I have been thinking of attitudes among children and adults that are patently unfair. If you would dislike entering a messy motel room and would complain about the filth, you should be willing to clean your own house. If you don't like cleaning, considering it below you or in some way unpleasant, you have no right to criticize others who are willing to clean, to say nothing of being a hypocrite if you prefer your surroundings clean but are unwilling to lift a finger to make them so. If you poop in the toilet, you should be willing to clean it, unless you truly don't care how dirty and smelly it gets. If you would consider neighbors' yards unsightly if they never mowed their lawn and weeds pop up everywhere, you should be willing to do yard-work. If you like wearing clean clothes, you should be willing to do laundry. If you aren't willing, or you complain about doing it hoping someone else will pity you enough to take over and do it, you are a hypocrite. If you don't like wrinkled clothes, are you willing to set up the ironing board, get out the iron, and remove the wrinkles? If you prefer eating off clean plates with clean utensils, you should be willing to wash dishes. If you like to eat, you should be willing to do whatever it takes to put food on the table: plant and weed a garden, help can or freeze produce, cook, clean up after cooking, even earn money to buy food! If you are legitimately not in a position to do anything for yourself, at least recognizing that it IS your responsibility to provide for yourself should make you more appreciative toward those who provide for you.
In a larger sense, if you don't like the smell of garbage, are you willing to occasionally clean your garbage can so it's not quite so unpleasant for the "sanitation workers" who have to handle it? Are you willing to diligently clean recyclable glass, plastic, and metal so it doesn't make the recycling containers or center so stinky and full of bugs? Do you smile at the garbage handlers and maybe even say "thank you" once in awhile? Do you think you are somehow superior to those who take care of your garbage?
Are you content to claim ignorance too easily so you can eat/drink/do whatever you want when you could make the effort to learn more about what's healthy for your body? Do you try to understand why laws exist or just complain when you discover one that interferes with something you want to do? Do you leave grocery carts in random places in parking lots when you are annoyed at not being able to park in a space you would prefer because there is a cart there? Do you routinely pick up things in stores then decide you don't want to purchase them and, rather than hassle putting them back where they belong, just drop them somewhere saying to yourself, "the store employees will put it back"? Do you grumble about neighbors playing really loud music that you don't like then play whatever you happen to like at whatever volume you want whatever time of day or night you want?
I realize I am ranting. I just can't understand how people can NOT see what feeling superior to others or being ungrateful does for their own personality and, ultimately for mankind in general. There is a little kid's song that says something about "to have a friend, you must be a friend, too". Also, the old Dutch (or whatever nationality) proverb about "if you want a clean village, clean your own doorstep". There are way too many people who expect government, or Mom, or Dad, or neighbors, or store employees, teachers, somebody, ANYBODY else to do what they want done. How can you complain about how unfriendly neighbors or people at church are if You never approach Them? If YOU can't afford higher taxes, how can you justify wanting the expansion or establishment of a government program to provide something you want? If you never bother to thank God for the things He provides for you EVERY SINGLE DAY, how can you justify going to Him on your knees with tears in your eyes when your loved one may be dying or a hurricane is coming or you have lost your job? The world could be a MUCH better place if EVERYBODY took more responsibility for themselves and felt and showed more gratitude to others. I wish, I wish, I wish......
In that vein, I have been thinking of attitudes among children and adults that are patently unfair. If you would dislike entering a messy motel room and would complain about the filth, you should be willing to clean your own house. If you don't like cleaning, considering it below you or in some way unpleasant, you have no right to criticize others who are willing to clean, to say nothing of being a hypocrite if you prefer your surroundings clean but are unwilling to lift a finger to make them so. If you poop in the toilet, you should be willing to clean it, unless you truly don't care how dirty and smelly it gets. If you would consider neighbors' yards unsightly if they never mowed their lawn and weeds pop up everywhere, you should be willing to do yard-work. If you like wearing clean clothes, you should be willing to do laundry. If you aren't willing, or you complain about doing it hoping someone else will pity you enough to take over and do it, you are a hypocrite. If you don't like wrinkled clothes, are you willing to set up the ironing board, get out the iron, and remove the wrinkles? If you prefer eating off clean plates with clean utensils, you should be willing to wash dishes. If you like to eat, you should be willing to do whatever it takes to put food on the table: plant and weed a garden, help can or freeze produce, cook, clean up after cooking, even earn money to buy food! If you are legitimately not in a position to do anything for yourself, at least recognizing that it IS your responsibility to provide for yourself should make you more appreciative toward those who provide for you.
In a larger sense, if you don't like the smell of garbage, are you willing to occasionally clean your garbage can so it's not quite so unpleasant for the "sanitation workers" who have to handle it? Are you willing to diligently clean recyclable glass, plastic, and metal so it doesn't make the recycling containers or center so stinky and full of bugs? Do you smile at the garbage handlers and maybe even say "thank you" once in awhile? Do you think you are somehow superior to those who take care of your garbage?
Are you content to claim ignorance too easily so you can eat/drink/do whatever you want when you could make the effort to learn more about what's healthy for your body? Do you try to understand why laws exist or just complain when you discover one that interferes with something you want to do? Do you leave grocery carts in random places in parking lots when you are annoyed at not being able to park in a space you would prefer because there is a cart there? Do you routinely pick up things in stores then decide you don't want to purchase them and, rather than hassle putting them back where they belong, just drop them somewhere saying to yourself, "the store employees will put it back"? Do you grumble about neighbors playing really loud music that you don't like then play whatever you happen to like at whatever volume you want whatever time of day or night you want?
I realize I am ranting. I just can't understand how people can NOT see what feeling superior to others or being ungrateful does for their own personality and, ultimately for mankind in general. There is a little kid's song that says something about "to have a friend, you must be a friend, too". Also, the old Dutch (or whatever nationality) proverb about "if you want a clean village, clean your own doorstep". There are way too many people who expect government, or Mom, or Dad, or neighbors, or store employees, teachers, somebody, ANYBODY else to do what they want done. How can you complain about how unfriendly neighbors or people at church are if You never approach Them? If YOU can't afford higher taxes, how can you justify wanting the expansion or establishment of a government program to provide something you want? If you never bother to thank God for the things He provides for you EVERY SINGLE DAY, how can you justify going to Him on your knees with tears in your eyes when your loved one may be dying or a hurricane is coming or you have lost your job? The world could be a MUCH better place if EVERYBODY took more responsibility for themselves and felt and showed more gratitude to others. I wish, I wish, I wish......
Monday, July 30, 2012
Whatever I can do....
Today was not one of Mom's better days. It is so hard watching my mother disappear, ever so slowly. I find myself wondering why a loving Heavenly Father allows human bodies to go on long after the soul who has inhabited them has, for all intents and purposes, gone. They sometimes fade in and out for several years or sometimes there is nobody there when you look in their eyes- maybe they can't even move. This can be the result of an injury or simply degeneration from a disease or old age. I wonder what purpose can be served by their continued existence. Are those of us who are still able-mind and bodied to learn something? I'm trying to learn how to avoid the condition at all costs but my rational thinking forces me to acknowledge that I may not have a choice. I'm sure those who experience such a condition never requested it. Every day when I go to visit Mom I see people who have had severe strokes or accidents or are suffering dementia. I so admire the people who work there to take care of all the broken people who need so much. I try to be friendly to all the patients and appreciative to all the employees. I wish I could do more but - what? All I can do is pray that if I ever end up like these people, there will be someone willing to change my diaper, deal with my delusions, and try to be patient with me. For now, I'll just keep praying to know if and when I can do anything to help anyone.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
THIS is family.
 |
| We just finished an awesome family reunion. We were blessed with excellent health, safety, and weather. Our last night there, one of the older girls lost her class ring on the beach. The older kids all tried to find it with flashlights but it was too dark. The next morning, nearly everybody in the family was out there doing all they could to help find the ring. |
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Sets and subsets
Most people in the world would acknowledge that love is a powerful force. Being a Christian, I have read and continue to study scriptures which refer to love, probably the most famous being Christ's admonition to "love one another even as I have loved you". The ancient Romans had specific terms for different types of love, recognizing that love for a parent is not the same as love for a friend which is not the same as love for pink flowers, etc. I have found that opposing opinions, while creating dissension which makes me uncomfortable, also motivates me to analyze exactly what I believe/feel/prefer and why. As I am exposed to different people's concepts of love, I have come to an analogy that I want to share with whoever might be interested. In terms of the arithmetic concept of sets and subsets, love would be the large all-encompassing set. Hate would be a separate circle, a separate set. Inside the circle/set of love would be all the many types of love, one of which would be the love in a marriage. (Love between two people who are not married but simply living together wouldn't be included because it doesn't involve the same commitment or deep covenants. It might be really passionate and feel like it will last forever but if it doesn't inspire the covenants with witnesses so it really isn't the same.)
Marriage involves many aspects of relationship including but not limited to: friendship, counseling, learning and teaching, support in various forms (such as financial, moral, physical), recreational partners, co-nurterers of offspring, comforters, job sharing, and on and on. God made us with the ability to reproduce, as long as there is a male and female. He also made us with a physical desire to enjoy the pleasant sensations attendant with sex. That desire is at different levels in different people and at different times in our lives. Biologically, it assists in reproduction. If sex wasn't so pleasant, why would people do it when the result could be undesirable, e.g. diseases, pregnancy which causes great discomfort for nearly a year for females to say nothing of the agony of birth, offspring which can interfere with plans the adults have and cost lots of time and money? Sex is a biological function but humans are more than biological entities. We have an element that doesn't exist in other living things. Many animals come close because they seem to feel emotions toward others of their species as well as other species. But humans are unique in their advanced state and that is because we are not just creations of God, we are His children, His offspring. Sex is so powerful in that it allows us to conceive and produce more biological entities which will house the spirits of other offspring of God. Sex also causes us to attach ourselves to others emotionally as we grow and develop in a mature love as opposed to just lusting physically or coveting the undivided attention of someone. It grieves me that sex is portrayed in media as simply a recreational activity that "sometimes" leads to a decision to make a commitment. When sex is not in the subset of love called marriage, it is not truly in the larger set of love. It is a different element altogether. If sex is not for the purpose of reproducing or for bonding a male and female longterm, it is destructive. Growing up in the 60's and 70's I tried to go along with the cultural attitude of free love or "if it feels good, do it". But I soon realized that it was "fun" for the body (biological entity) but it raised havoc with the mind, emotions, and spirit. There is more to us than physical reactions. If we don't acknowledge that, we cause ourselves grief.
Marriage involves many aspects of relationship including but not limited to: friendship, counseling, learning and teaching, support in various forms (such as financial, moral, physical), recreational partners, co-nurterers of offspring, comforters, job sharing, and on and on. God made us with the ability to reproduce, as long as there is a male and female. He also made us with a physical desire to enjoy the pleasant sensations attendant with sex. That desire is at different levels in different people and at different times in our lives. Biologically, it assists in reproduction. If sex wasn't so pleasant, why would people do it when the result could be undesirable, e.g. diseases, pregnancy which causes great discomfort for nearly a year for females to say nothing of the agony of birth, offspring which can interfere with plans the adults have and cost lots of time and money? Sex is a biological function but humans are more than biological entities. We have an element that doesn't exist in other living things. Many animals come close because they seem to feel emotions toward others of their species as well as other species. But humans are unique in their advanced state and that is because we are not just creations of God, we are His children, His offspring. Sex is so powerful in that it allows us to conceive and produce more biological entities which will house the spirits of other offspring of God. Sex also causes us to attach ourselves to others emotionally as we grow and develop in a mature love as opposed to just lusting physically or coveting the undivided attention of someone. It grieves me that sex is portrayed in media as simply a recreational activity that "sometimes" leads to a decision to make a commitment. When sex is not in the subset of love called marriage, it is not truly in the larger set of love. It is a different element altogether. If sex is not for the purpose of reproducing or for bonding a male and female longterm, it is destructive. Growing up in the 60's and 70's I tried to go along with the cultural attitude of free love or "if it feels good, do it". But I soon realized that it was "fun" for the body (biological entity) but it raised havoc with the mind, emotions, and spirit. There is more to us than physical reactions. If we don't acknowledge that, we cause ourselves grief.
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