Who Owns You?

You are either free or you are a slave.   Ask yourself, "Who owns me?"  Nobody?  You are your own person, correct?  So, you owe nothing on your car or your house, and you have no outstanding debt on those credit cards, right?  For most of you the answer is a resounding disappointment.  Almost everyone in this country and, for that matter, the world, has debt of some kind.  If you do, then you are owned.  You are probably owned by the bank or other lending institution like a mortgage company, Visa, or Mastercard.

Not to put too fine a point on it, and please excuse the language, almost all of you are someone else's bitch.  Who's fault is that?  More than likely it is your own damned fault.  You fell for every trick in the book entitled, "How to Hook a Sucker."  There are a lot of you out there, so don't feel like the Lone Ranger.  There really is a sucker born every second.

Okay, now what to do about it.  Well, I recommend "Tony's Three Step Process."  First thing you have to do is admit you're a dumb ass.  The second thing you need to do, and this is the hardest, stop spending money you do not have!  The only people that spend more than the common Joe Bag O'Donuts is the federal government, and look where that's gotten us.  The third thing you have to do is get the hell out of debt!  This step of the process is actually pretty easy after you conquered the second step.

So, how do you get out from under a mountain of debt?  Get rid of everything you owe money on.

I can hear the doors of your spoiled rotten brain slamming shut at the prospect of selling the new car, downsizing the apartment or the house, and cutting up credit cards.  Your mind is reeling with, "What?  Yeah, right!  Be real, dude!"  The problem is you aren't saying all this to me, you're really saying it to yourself as you, once again, easily convince yourself there is no way your sorry ass is ever going to be able to exercise any self-control, which really means that you have no self-respect that you haven't been able to purchase on account... on account of you think you can't live without the purchased self-respect.   But, you see, in reality you don't even own your self-respect - the bank does.!  Truth be told, if we were to remove everything around you that you really don't own you'd be...well, we would finally see you; the real you.  Take away the toys you don't own, take away the big house you don't own, the fancy clothes you don't own, the jewelry, computer, television, stereo, and your precious cell phone, and what are you left with?   Whatever it is, you own it.  You own it.  And, if you own it, the bank doesn't.  Now that is something to be really proud of.  Now you have self-respect.  Now you are free.

The next time a commercial asks you, "What's in your wallet?" ask yourself who's bitch you are.  Better yet, tomorrow when you get up and look in that mirror (which you probably don't own) ask yourself, "Who owns me today?"  When you decide you don't like the answer; when you decide you don't want to work for someone just to get out from under working for someone; when you decide you really want to get off of the revolving charge account you humorlessly refer to as a life, maybe you will find what real happiness is all about.  Oh, and, until you make this decision, stop praying to God for assistance.  God helps those that help themselves.  There really is no free lunch.

How good does it feel to be debt free?  How good does it feel not to be someone's slave; an indentured servant?  I can answer that.  It feels pretty good.  It feels good because it is actually easier to get rid of all the debt than it is to accrue it.  You just have to want it; want freedom more than servitude.  There are plenty of financial advisers out there to help, and many of those are free.  The question isn't what is in your wallet, it's who?  Who owns you?  Who's your daddy today?  How much do you pay each month to keep the "image" alive, that facade of freedom?

When you finally pay off your debt, you'll find it is much easier to work on your soul.  After the monetary debt you still have the debt you owe yourself - salvation.  

Now, salvation is where the work really begins!  Are you up for it, or do you like having self-respect that doesn't belong to you?  Hey, if it doesn't bother you it sure won't bother all the rest of your friends that also don't own theirs.  If you have to wallow in debt, best to do it with friends who are also in debt, right?  Birds of a feather and all that.  Debt really is the best kept secret, that everybody knows.

Who's in your wallet?

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, and instructor. He is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path," which offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination.