The Curmudgeon - Treating People Badly

"There are people who have an appetite for grief..."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Met any curmudgeons in your lifetime?  Some people think you have to be old to be curmudgeonly, and usually this is the case, but in today's society you can be one at any age.  You don't know what a curmudgeon is?  Well, I could give you the dictionary definition of one except that the description is based on who we use to call a curmudgeon.  I found an infinitely more interesting description of curmudgeons on hogsatemysister.com called Curmudgeons 'R' Us:

"I am pleased to announce that I have been elected President of Curmudgeons 'R' Us.At least I would be pleased, except that club rules prohibit that.  We are not allowed to be pleased, happy or giddy.  And there is NO smiling.  Unless beer is involved.And we are doing the antler dance.

I always thought that you had to be really old, like maybe 80, before you could be a curmudgeon.  Turns out that age has nothing to do with it.  It’s what’s inside that counts.  Like a laptop.  Except curmudgeons don’t have an Intel chip inside.  We have hemorrhoids.  Really, huge ones.  About the size of a garden hose.  And don’t EVEN get us started on our enormous prostates.  'Way too much damn information' is our motto.  And this is our logo."  (Note of warning from me: Yes, the logo is a bit... off color, so you actually have to click on 'our logo' to see the logo. If you don't wish to view it, then don't click on it. Now that you've been warned, don't click on it and get offended, then become a curmudgeon and rag my happy tush. Just saying.) 

The epitome of curmudgeons, in my humble view, are those members of my favorite group to post about, the League of the Perpetually Offended.  But, there are so many other folks around us which meet the criteria as set forth in Curmudgeons 'R' Us.  

I allow the great majority of curmudgeons a wide birth, knowing that any confrontation would undoubtedly result in two jackasses braying at each other.  However, the one situation I can't help but getting in someone's face over (by becoming the second braying jackass) is when the first jackass is treating people badly.  This is especially true if I care about the particular someone being treated badly, but I'll take the stand regardless.  I was taught to treat people as I would want to be treated, and if I were to be treating people badly then I'd expect to have someone like me up in my grill braying about the poor treatment.  It is the consequence of poor decision making, and poor decision making is generally the purview of the first jackass.  Bringing a knife to a gunfight, would be an unfortunate consequence of being an "unprepared" second jackass.

Older men hate to be thought of as transparent.  They have spent their entire lives learning, they thought, how not to be transparent.  If you've ever called a senior citizen on something they've done or said which they thought was subtle but was, in fact, blatantly obvious to almost everyone, you'll know what I'm talking about.  They get defensive, then they get argumentative, then they get pissed off and walk away.  I never want to get that old, and I'm sorry I know people who have.

"Men hate to be misunderstood, and to be understood makes them furious."

-- Edgar Saltus (1855-1921), writer, author

As you get into old age, if life has taught you anything, you get anchored into what you learned.  You become closed minded to the changes in society which create issues for the young not common back in the day. One glaring example is why the young don't save money.  Well, in the early 1980s the prime interest rate was 20%.  Before the rate tanked, at the turn of the century, it had fallen to 7-10%.  Just a few years later it had fallen to .05%.  Savings accounts don't pay any interest.  Back in the day you could put money away and watch your savings grow toward a nice retirement.  Jobs became scarce, medical care went through the roof, gas went up, yadda, yadda, yadda, and the old people stopped teaching the young how to get over the hump.  Our parents were really loud, in the day, touting that what they were doing was leaving the world better than they found it, a brighter future for their children.  Is it any wonder those parents became closed minded?  They wallow in denial of a world that is no better, and worse in some respects and in spite of their efforts, and refuse to understand why the young can't follow their sage advice which has no bearing in current reality.  

A cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

-- Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), poet, playwright

I think this is why civilization is declining into societies full of whining babies;  the last generation failed then proclaimed success, and the younger generation saw right through the bullshit and stopped listening to their elders because elders lost all credibility with the young who bought into the hype left to them concerning credit cards, revolving charge accounts, balloon payments, and no-money-down mortgages.  Children of our children run amok in the streets because both parents have to work and were never taught how to parent through two jobs, not to mention an inability to teach ethics and morality which took a nose dive into the toilet along with good Christian values. 

Because of all this bullshit, we start becoming curmudgeons at a significantly younger age.  Many simply stop trying to get ahead, and many fall into the League of the Perpetually Offended.  Old people seem to be perpetually offended by anyone younger than they are who can't manage to do everything they could, forgetting that life was much simpler back in the day; work hard, save your money, make a life.  Really?  What happened to the lessons about what to do when everything you were taught by your elders falls apart, when "The Great Society" isn't so much anymore?

Now you struggle to find any job, much less one that pays enough to save some of the paycheck in a bank account which pays no interest.  Now you need a job which pays enough to invest some of the cash in a stock market, which few know how to navigate, and end up giving their hard earned cash to an investment firm which takes a fee for the privilege of losing all that hard earned cash.  People become attuned to the reality they may never get ahead, and we wonder why emotions run high and people treat other people badly.  Now, consider all of this and be 65 years old looking for employment because the last 45 years of your life just didn't pan out, and Social Security isn't all you hoped it would be.  Now, consider that you're even mildly disabled, not a veteran, and recent technology leapt ahead to fast for your old brain to keep up.  Good luck.

"Nothing begins, and nothing ends,

That is not paid with moan;

For we are born in others' pain,

And perish in our own."

~Francis Thompson (1859-1907), poet, writer, mystic

Curmudgeons tend to disavow knowledge of anyone who hasn't made it in life.  They find fault, not understanding, and certainly not compassion.  They are perpetually offended by anyone they feel is lesser than they, not realizing how much lesser than everyone else this attitude makes them.  They feel they have risen above as they wallow in their sad pit of ego and pride due to the fact they feel they have "made it" even though they lost their soul in the process.  Of what value is the soul to someone who has lost all sense of what is truly valuable?

There are some mortals who are never happy save when they have some hurt feelings to enjoy.

-- Anonymous

What of the young?  Young people fall prey to the same curmudgeonly attitudes, and not necessarily because of faux ego or pride.  Many feel they've been shorted on a birthright, some promise they feel was made and not kept by the elder curmudgeons, you know, the ones who thought everything would be rosy for generations to come.  The promise of a "war to end all wars" and a chicken in every pot, a car in every garage, a job for everyone who wanted to work, and "Social Security" they would pay into and receive back for retirement.  Somehow, this "Social Security" program they are forced to pay into, for their own good, is trying to be redefined by certain politicians, as an "entitlement."   This allows the federal government to claim it and, once again, screw hard working citizens.  Another government promise in the toilet?  And we wonder why they young seem perpetually offended as some of our retired elderly even find themselves frequenting soup kitchens and used clothing stores, trying to make ends meet.

"The dignity of man lies in his ability to face reality in all its meaninglessness."

--Martin Esslin (1918-2002), dramatist, journalist, scholar

Through all of this, the curmudgeons amongst us still find the need to look down their nose and judge others regardless of financial status, race, creed, color, spiritual belief, sexual identity or preference, all of which are targets for their "holier than thou" judgement of those they choose not to approve of.  It is so much easier to judge than to show compassion and understanding, tolerance or, God forbid, acceptance.  It is easier for a curmudgeon to turn their backs and recite their motto of "way to damned much information," than to deal with the reality of their own failures and shortcomings of which are usually too numerous to excuse with any expectation of belief by anyone else which, in itself, is another reason for the curmudgeon to live life perpetually pissed off and offended.

"A man is also known by the company he dodges."

-- Robert Elliott Gonzales (1888-1916), poet, writer, journalist, soldier

The ancient Greek philosopher and poet Homer is supposed to have written, "Nothing is more miserable than man, Of all upon the earth that breathes and creeps."  For the most part I would tend to agree, for all but one of man's positive attributes fall before his seemingly insatiable desire for misery.  Only his vast capacity for hope sets mankind apart from all other life, if mankind could only learn how to embrace it. 

"Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own."

-- Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), poet, cleric, essayist

We must stop looking at the world how it is and start imagining what it can become.  Niels Bohr, through his work in quantum theory, offers that nothing is real until we observe it, and there is no such thing as reality, only the potential for reality; reality depends on the observer.  I would offer that we would be better served to stop whining about each other, stop treating each other badly, and apply ourselves to a concerted effort of making the world everything marvelous that it has the potential to become.  

If we can imagine it, it becomes real.  Let us start imagining beauty, love, understanding, and forgiveness.  Let us see what it becomes.

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 while 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 learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday "New Year" Thought for 123117: Thank you, God!

"How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?"

-- Dr. Seuss (1904-1991), author, cartoonist, poet

Thank you, God!  Thank you so very much for this past year in your paradise.  Thank you for tempering beauty with a smattering of ugly to keep me humbled... which I'm sure was the point.  Thank you for new friends I've met, for family, for those I love, and for taking care of all those who have passed on to your care, animal and human alike.  Thank you for the blessing of another year with those dear to me, especially my father who continues to rage against the dying of the light.

On New Year's morning I will wake up, knock twice, and give my usual praise:  "Thank you, God, for another beautiful day in paradise and another chance to excel in life!"  The more things change, the more they stay the same; for those of us who have learned to make the most of experiences along our journey, this is not a bad thing.

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

-- Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa, 1910-1997), Nobel laureate

Time is a human construct which we mark by the passing of the sun, moon, and stars.  We march to the ticking of the clock; the nanoseconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years of our lives.  Like the ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates, those of us in the know are only certain of what we don't know, and we're not really sure of that.  We use to say that the only thing certain in life was death, but for those of us believing in a life after death, even this adage seems unable to stand in the face of faith, for we are, indeed, timeless beings bound to this realm by organic prisons which are slowly putrefying under the blessing of a shelf life, a "use by" date which reminds us to make the most of our short existence in this ethereal plane.

Time is a created thing. To say "I don’t have time," is like saying, "I don’t want to.”

-- Lao Tzu

In October of 2018 I will turn 65 years of age.  I plan on celebrating that day with friends, a good cigar, and a glass of bourbon; nothing much different than what I do every week, and this is a good thing.  Birthdays come and go; I've never held them in any great regard.  I prefer to mark time with the people I love, my friends, my family, and my faith in things greater than myself.

We pay way to much attention to ensuring the continuation of senseless drama in life.  I really don't care who you voted for, for better or worse, we have to live with the result.  I really don't care if you have racial or sexual identity issues, everyone has shit to deal with - no one really cares what you want to be so shut your pie hole and suck it up so we can move on.  We're all in this together, and if you really think being a racist is the answer you're going to be crushed under the senseless weight of your own asinine bigotry.

"The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."

-- William Faulkner

We have real problems in the world that we all need to pull together and confront, like late-term abortions, the murder of innocence for the almighty dollar.  We continue to redefine when life begins as a way to excuse the killing of the unborn.  The First Lady was correct when she stated there is a "special place in hell" for people who intentionally harm children.  The perpetrators of genocide continue to fill other special places in hell, just not fast enough to suit most of us.  And religious persecution continues, even as the mainstream religions build new multi-million dollar churches and icons to the greater glory of God with money better used to feed, clothe, and house the poor and homeless, or to teach them all to fish; you know, all those things religion was suppose to pay attention to.

These are just a few of the lessons we, the people of earth, have been tasked with.  We will not persevere in these tasks through religion, though many would believe so.  No, we will overcome these obstacles to becoming more than we are through our faith in everything which is good.  Through faith we can move mountains, but we have to pick up a rock to start.

"I believe in the light at the end of the tunnel, I believe in a brighter future, I believe faith can move mountains. I believe in hope."

-- Anonymous

We are timeless, spiritual beings and, as such, have an eternity to set things right.  Of course, we might blow the planet up first, but we'll deal with that little unpleasantness when it occurs, or after.  Reality is a funny thing that way; it happens whether time exists, or not, and regardless of our how we define the passage of it.  

If we had no concept of time we would still exist; reality simply is, and we have a power greater than ourselves to thank for it; a power greater than ourselves to thank for all that has ever been, is now, and forever shall be.  It is existence without end.  All matter in the universe exists because of it and is created in its image.  Nothing in the universe ever ceases to exist, it simply morphs into something else or returns to its natural state as part of the power from whence it came.  We are, all of us, created from this power, in its image, utilizing its atomic structure to create what we are.  When we return to the origin we will bring with us all which we have learned and experienced.  We will share our knowledge and await our next iteration, our next life, version umpteen-point-whatever.  How marvelous is this, a life without end?

“For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice."

-- T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), playwright, social critic, poet

Happy New Year!  How did it get so late so soon?  We keep looking at the clock, living by the ticks of it instead of between them.  Time exists because we haven't accepted that it doesn't.  Reality isn't late so soon, it simply is... in tune.

So, I wish you all another happy tomorrow and the all the best for the next 365 days until I get to wish you all the same, yet again.  Most of all, I will, each morning when I wake, thank God for another glorious day in paradise and another chance to excel in life.

What say you?

“The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.”

-- G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), theologian, philosopher, poet

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 while 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 learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance as a response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen.  He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, for which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal spiritual path toward peace and the final destination waiting for us all. He is currently retired on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and volunteers as the Chaplain Program Liaison at a major regional medical center.

My Christmas Thought for 122517: Merry "Feast of the Nativity"

"In essence, the Mass is the ceremonial slaying of Jesus Christ over and over again, followed by the eating of his flesh and the drinking of his blood. The Mass is the death sacrifice, and the "Host" is the victim. This is official Roman Catholic doctrine, and "Christmas" is a word that they invented. Again, I ask, what is so merry about the pain, bleeding, suffering and death of Jesus Christ? Satan has done quite a job of getting millions of so-called "Christians" to blaspheme."

-- "The True Meaning of Christ-Mass," lasttrumpetministries.org

God save us all from the League of the Perpetually Offended!  Christmas, for all its detractors, has suffered from a less than laudable past.  I have read, as stated in the opening quote, the name itself is a misnomer as it means the death sacrifice of Christ.  If so, wouldn't we be better served to observe Christmas at Christ's death vice His birth?  Per religious scholars, Jesus was probably born in the springtime, anyway.  There is absolutely no reason for December 25 to be the date other than crowding Easter, and Pope Julius I pulling the date out of his scarlet undies at random.

In reality, "mass" is from the Latin "missa," the celebration of the Eucharist, a Christian rite given by Christ to his followers during the Last Supper, which is why it is also called "The Lord's Supper."  Of course, trying to explain this to someone hell bent on being offended would be pointless.  They will continue to believe it is Catholic in origin and not handed down by Christ.

Christmas has been the on-again off-again celebration, depending on who ruled the land, even here in America.  Only after 1870, when it was declared a federal holiday, did it begin to take hold with some vigor and yet, even then, it had already taken on the trappings of materialism thanks to writers like Washington Irving and Charles Dickens.  

In 1843 a government worker (go figure) in England came up with the idea of "Christmas cards" as a way of getting the common man to patronize the new idea of a post office.  We continue to blow money on cards with sentiment we, in all probably, lacked the talent, and time, to write.  We also blow a hefty sum on stamps, and extra postage for the large cards.  By the way, have you sent a package lately?  More debt.  

We spoil our children like we are wealthy the English noblemen.  We add to our annual personal debt by purchasing more toys for them than they could possibly ever enjoy (and usually don't for long) and we buy baubles for our women in hopes of some horizontal deep breathing exercises later in the evening, all while the true reason for the season gets lost in the lap of some fat old bearded boozer in a red velvet outfit who cons parents into letting their children sit in his lap under the premise of whispering their selfish Christmas desires for yet more useless crap (this is wrong on more than a few levels).  Christ is all but forgotten except when the occasional glitter coated tacky plastic star sneaks in as a tree topper, though the people who put it there probably can't remember why and opted for it over Snoopy in a Santa suit because of a family tradition they almost remember... then it's gone.

I send money to my kids and hope they do right with it.  The bulk of my Christmas giving goes to our local soup kitchen which I also try to support at Thanksgiving.  This year I will show up at the medical center on Sunday, in my guise as medical center chaplain, to visit the Post-Traumatic Stress patients.  I will visit again on Christmas morning, in the medical center chapel, to address the staff and offer a prayer of thanks for the birth of our prophet and savior.  I will remember the birth of Christ and celebrate it appropriately, as I will invite others to do with me.

What we call this day is of little importance, as is what the detractors, and the perpetually offended, would offer concerning it.  What is of much greater importance is not forgetting the spirit of the day and the reason for the season, and the gifts?  It is a time to renew our faith and our love for our fellow man.  It is a time of giving to those in need, and to remember fondly those no longer with us.  It is a time to lift up our hearts and praise God for life.  Perhaps by referring to the day as the Feast of the Nativity, we might remember why we celebrate it.

I know I will.

To all my faithful readers, thank you for another glorious year and allowing me to play around in your hearts and minds.  I wish you the merriest Feast of the Nativity!

And a merry, merry Christmas to all! 

(Did you really think I'd sign off without taking a Christmas shot across the bow of the perpetually offended?  Be real.)

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 while 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 learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Christmas Eve Thought for 122417: To Escape From These Things

"Be watching at all times, therefore, and praying that you will be worthy to escape from these things which are going to occur, and to stand before The Son of Man.”

-- Luke 21:36

Luke must be speaking of cowards without conscience when he talked about being worthy to escape, to run away, and then, in some way, not be thought less of when you stand before anyone, much less the Son of Man.

Personally, I feel that, for the truly righteous and worthy, there is no "escape from these things which are going to occur" as long as you have knowledge and faith that whatever is coming will, in fact, occur; you will never be able to escape your knowledge or your faith in the inevitable. If you were to "escape" you would always live under the weight of the knowledge and guilt of your own weakness, the chains of your own cowardice, in the face of evil. And, if it is God's wrath you somehow hope to escape, why would you fear punishment, deserved or not, from a loving God? Then there's just the thought that you could actually escape an omnipotent being who always knows where you are and what you're going to do before you do it. 

Even for those without conscience, there will always be karma which will re-level the playing field and leave you to ask why something horrible happened to you, or why you were being punished.  For the clueless among us, I would definitely look to karma for answers to things we think happen to us for no reason.  

As for me, I prefer to pray that I am worthy to stand beside The Son of Man in times of trial and tribulation, and for the strength to endure and, in doing so, to grow. What will happen will happen, and there is no escape. "Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins."  Before we consider running away, perhaps we might be better served considering who shows more of what the Lord needs, he who dons the armor of God and flees or he who dons the armor and fearlessly, with all humility, stands ground in the face of adversity. “There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his friends.”

I hear the "faithful" around me as they continually try to make a deal with God; they constantly try to bargain or buy their way into salvation through some form of sacrifice.  A good deed does not a good person make; a good deed is self-defining.  If you truly want to be good, to be "faithful," then be.  Since I started this post quoting Luke, I might as well swing over to Star Wars and quote Master Yoda as well:  "Do.  Or do not.  There is no try."  StarWars.com tells us of Yoda's line in the movie, "the line has become a modern slogan — a reminder to commit oneself to something completely, win or lose."

If you are putting dirt and rocks into a pile to create a mountain and someone asks what you're doing, you don't respond by saying you're trying to create a mountain - you state that you're creating a mountain.  How big that mountain will be is completely dependent on you.  A pile to some might be a hill to others, and a hill to some is a mountain to others.  How tall the mountain becomes relies entirely on the commitment invested by the creator; regardless of its size, there is going to be a mountain.  In this respect there can be no win or lose.  The same holds true if you're digging a hole; you don't say you're trying to dig a hole if you're already putting spade to dirt.  We must learn to walk the walk.  Stop saying you will try and start saying you will do.  As we do, we will surely stumble and fall.  When we fall, we have not failed.  Get back up and do again, and keep on doing until you get it right.  In this way there is no trying, there is only continual doing.  Will you be perfect?  No, but you will be.  To be or not to be, isn't this the real lesson God wants us to learn?    

We must, in fact, always give God what God needs and not constantly be considering what it is we think God wants.  What God needs is so much easier and immediate to provide, as it requires little, if any, consideration.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

Matthew 22:36-37

This Christmas, and for the new year, we can all make time during our busy schedule to simply relax and take a walk out in the world with God, to talk with God, and to listen.  It usually pays for the caretaker to speak with the "Owner" every now and again, if just to show appreciation for a glorious day in His paradise and another opportunity which the Owner has given us to excel in His gift of life.

Why would anyone want to escape from these things?

"And he walks with me and he talks with me

And he tells me I am his own

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known."

-- Merle Haggard, "In the Garden"

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 while 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 learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 121717: Just Another Material Day

Sacrilege is only so if it doesn't make a point in favor of the sacred, right?  So, one has to ask, when did Saint Nick die for our sins?  If Jesus is the reason for the season, why do we allow the reason to be hijacked by the faithless masses for the express purpose of selling mass quantities of future garage sale items, the stuff we already have, don't really need, or don't even want?  Maybe, for them, it is... just another material day.  It seems to be a day in which we praise Santa for giving more than Jesus and, yet, I have to repeat the question:  When did Santa die for our salvation?

No one is without sin, not one.  We look to the atheists, to the pagan, to Wicca, and we rarely look to our own house for discovery of all the broken glass.  Even the faithful fail their God, even the clergy.  Our greatest failure is to constantly give our all... for all the wrong reasons.

We say, “Lord, I’ll do anything you want. You name your price. You want a missionary? I’m ready to go. You want me to be married or to stay single, I’m you man. Lord, I’ll be a preacher or a pastor. I’ll be a deacon or an elder. I’ll pray every day and read my Bible. Whatever you want from me, that’s what I’ll do.” So what’s wrong with these? Those answers only deal with the outside. God wants your heart. You can be a missionary and have a hard heart. You can be married or single and have a rebellious heart. You can be very religious and yet far away from God.

-- Dr. Ray Pritchard, author, minister

Every one of us need to look within, each and every day, to ask ourselves if this is just another material day or if it will be something more.  Every day we need to take a moment to walk with God, not to "be not like the pretenders who like to stand in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets to pray, that they may be seen by the children of men," but to walk with God along His beach, by His waters, listening to His birds, and giving honest, humble praise for the life He has gifted you.

Perhaps we would be better served during these holy days, and throughout the year, to take our faith into the streets and minister to those in true need of love and understanding, tolerance and acceptance, forgiveness and salvation.  Ask of ourselves, of what use is faith behind closed doors, the closed minds of a religious denomination?  True faith cannot be named, any more than God can be described, without misinterpretation.

We are not supposed to be Catholic or Protestant any more than we are supposed to be Christian.  Christian is simply a way of trying to explain to all that we follow a particular set of philosophies which we would follow regardless of the label. We can, however, more easily describe our faith so all, everyone, can understand the simplicity of a philosophy which can lead to the salvation of a person's soul:   Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Put your scripture away, take to the streets, and minister from your heart, in your own words.  Tell all those who would listen of the two greatest commandments and those who would listen will surely hear.  I always advise people who are confused as they seek answers in scripture to fall back on the only guidance from God, the only WORD of God which is written in stone.  When all else eludes you, refer to the Ten Commandments and there you will find truth, not interpretation; do or do not.  For the millennials in our midst, it is a philosophy touted by Master Yoda:  "Do or do not.  There is no try."

This is not just another material day, this is the Lord's day, God's day, and so is tomorrow, and the next, and so on.

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 while 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 learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 121017: Sucking the Good from Life

One can't wander the aisles of a local supermarket without seeing the fun and goodness of life being sucked away.  For goodness sake, would someone please tell me what "no-sodium" salt is?  Grocery shelves are being re-stocked with "low-sodium" this and that; Spam Lite, "reduced fat" Vienna sausage, and "fat-free" Greek yogurt.  Oh my, yes!  Like fat-free bacon, fat-free buttermilk, and the fat-free hot dog, fat-free Greek yogurt is another perfect example of going too far in our hope for a few more months of miserably deprived living.

You almost can't find a brand of yogurt with all of the essential milk fat which your body needs, craves, and actually knows how to process.  What you do find is yogurt slurry of fruit and sugar.  We leave the poisonous monosodium glutamate (MSG) in foods, yet we remove beneficial milk fat from Greek yogurt and add fattening sugar and real "fruit" that I'm not so sure isn't just strawberry preserves.  Does anyone really know what Greek yogurt is supposed to be?  MILK FAT!  It's the entire point of that kind of yogurt.  Nonfat Greek yogurt, well, isn't Greek yogurt any more than thick crust Sicilian pizza is Sicilian, or a vegetarian hamburger is a hamburger.  Oh, and, baked French fries are French bakes, not fries.  Nonfat Greek yogurt isn't even considered healthy by doctors and dieticians.  Have you ever bought a can of "no salt" tomatoes to make marinara sauce?  If so, then you know how much salt you have to add back in just to make the sauce palatable.  Better to just use fresh tomatoes, if you can afford to, the salt is going to be added before you finish cooking the sauce, anyway.

If you have to make something so delicious taste like flavorless cardboard, then what's the point, other than to suck all the goodness and fun out of life?  Don't get me wrong, I'm all about living to a ripe old age, I'd just like to do it with a plate of greasy, sauce slathered, ribs.  Let's face it, heart pounding rockus sex probably won't be any good for me either at the ripe old age of 90, but I'd rather have my heart explode trying to relive my youth than trying to plant my tired old ass in an Adirondack chair I'll never be able to get out of as I uncontrollably soil my underwear and consider which flavor of "all natural" baby food I'll be eating for lunch, all the while complaining about a bucket list left wanting.

“The only real conflict you will ever have in your life won’t be with others, but with yourself.”

-- Shannon L. Alder, author, blogger, philosopher

The yogurt notwithstanding, healthier food is, in fact, healthier for us.  In a society where obesity, high blood pressure, heart attacks and stroke have become the accepted avenues for an early departure from this mortal plane we call life.  People mistakenly believe they can pop a pill for high blood pressure or cholesterol and they're okay to graze through the all-you-can-eat bar-b-que smorgasbord at the local casino.  No, you really can't.  There is better living through chemistry providing said chemistry doesn't kill you better.  In our zeal to save us from our own gluttonous selves, we have sucked all the flavorful fun from life.  We will now die healthy, a few years latter, though not necessarily happier.  So, what do we do?  Don't be gluttonous!  Eat the good tasting bad crap in life with a bit of moderation; have the hamburger, just not the triple-decker with extra cheese, bacon, and whatever crap is in that delicious secret sauce.  Moderation and exercise will help to keep us physically healthier, but what about being socially, mentally, and spiritually healthier?

This country, America, was founded on principles like majority rule, religious freedom, the inalienable right of people to pursue these lawful freedoms like liberty, justice, happiness, and eating a triple decker with bacon, cheese, and pickles.  We have a Supreme Court to ensure these freedoms, rights, and principles are protected.  You actually do have the God given right to order the triple decker burger with everything on it, along with the supersized fries and diet soda.  A diet soda?  Why, of course, this is the way we try to convince everyone we're on a diet, and excuse being offended when everyone suggests we're fat. Really?  

There are also those among us who are offended by everything, constantly.  I have always referred to these unhappy folks as members of the League of the Perpetually Offended.  The League exists to test the resolve of our laws and our faith, our patriotism, our Constitution, and our very right to seek our own happiness which continues to elude the selfishly offended.

"The kids aged, but never grew up. A baby can whine if it does not like something because it doesn't know better. What's your excuse? Stop getting offended whenever the wind blows your hair the wrong way! We will get nowhere if we continue to avoid truths to avoid offense. Speak your mind and do not be afraid of stepping on toes. The truth can be ugly, and that's what makes it so beautiful. Speak your mind, but don't take this as a chance to lose respect either. Always keep respect. If someone then still claims to be offended, it is not because of you, nor is it your fault. They simply don't like the taste of the bittersweet truth."

-- Caitlyn Paige

The blood sucking leeches of society, the League of the Perpetually Offended, the LPO, exist for the express purpose of draining the lifeblood of happiness, of anything worthwhile and meaningful, from anyone else. Extreme examples of the LPO would be racists and Nazis. More recently, should we, now, include Black Lives Matter (BLM) in this group? They seem to have shown themselves to be an organization calling for more rights and equality than those already protected, for everyone, by law; laws which BLM seems to reject, and rights and equality which they have stated they feel they deserve more of and, yet, would deny everyone else. They evidence themselves to be misguided neo-fascist racists led by anarchists who have learned nothing from history and want to tear up the Constitution. The leadership is now writing editorials calling for the genocide of all white people. This is not racist?

But, this is just them talking, right?  Freedom of speech?  So was Adolf Hitler's freedom of speech in the 1930s, just talk.  The fallout from ignoring that little unpleasant sociopath cost the world 3% of the world population, about 60 million people.  It would seem BLM would have us revisit this holocaust with one of their making.  This is what happens when individuals or groups create misery, perpetuate it, then use it as an excuse for being offended.  How sad it is when people spend more time dividing than bringing together, destroying than building; more time being miserable and assigning misguided fault than rising above their feelings of offense to become better members of society, better people?

BLM and the LPO are society's in-your-face reminder of how good life can be when you actually have constructive things to do, like seek happiness.  They are the sodium, the lard, the monosodium glutamate of civilization; everything bad for us, and yet reminding us of just how good life truly is.  Can we live without them?  Certainly, and probably much healthier and longer, but we will sacrifice everything which is bad and gives so much more meaning to everything which is better.

“The more leeches there are affixed to a host, the less resources there are to siphon from said hosts, per parasite. The ability to only absorb energy, without the ability or desire to reproduce it in a productive manner, is a dangerous, unsustainable, albeit attractive long term method of collapse and decline.”

-- Justin K. McFarlane Beau 

The LPO, as a whole, are the never-to-be-happy losers of society who, even if they were to win, would find offense in their own victory.  The offended can never be happy as they are much too busy being offended than to waste any time seeking happiness.  I actually feel sorry for them, as they will never find true happiness in misery.  They would rather waste their short life on this plane leeching everything good out of everyone else's life while trying to drag us all into their self-made pit of anger, pity, and despair.  They are the terrorists of life, the leaders of whom would easily strap a bomb to their followers and sacrifice them to achieve the LPO's only possible, albeit selfish, end - life in a world populated only by the perpetually offended, a world of only one, and that one suffering from undeniable self-offense, contemplating suicide as an end to the pain and loneliness.  The LPO are a sad reflection of who we all might be; all of the freedoms, rights, and liberties we would all lose, should the LPO ever become the majority... of one.

I guess my point is, its better to simply enjoy all the good life has to offer, than to suck all the fun away from it.  Instead of leeching life from life, how about constructively adding to the fun and beauty of it?  If you feel offended, make sure the offense was intended, and if it wasn't you might try working out an amenable solution for the happiness of all, not just to appease the selfishness of you.

No dictatorship can have any other aim but that of self-perpetuation, and it can beget only slavery in the people tolerating it; freedom can be created only by freedom, that is, by a universal rebellion on the part of the people and free organization of the toiling masses from the bottom up.

-- Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876), founder of collectivist anarchism

By in large, most people act like asses; they usually don't mean to, but they come off as such.  The League of the Perpetually Offended, however, go out of their way to be asses; they live for the opportunity and relish taking advantage of the opportunity when it's presented.  Why, because it's easier to be an ass than to be an understanding, forgiving, reasonable, tolerant, loving, and positively creative member of society?  It is easier to be selfish than to be giving.  Who would a thought?

For the most part, I think I understand the LPO.  I'm willing to be tolerant, forgiving, yadda, yadda, yadda, et al.  I also wish for the unthinkable, that these perpetually offended will get onboard and learn to live with the rest of humanity, but, then, I do think I understand them.  They can't and, therefore, won't even deign to try.  Why does a scorpion sting?  Its what they do, and I can appreciate that.  Their opinion is relevant, to those who care.

As for Black Lives Matter, I have many friends of color, and the violence put forward by BLM just pisses me off.  Their actions do nothing to enhance race relations in this country.  On the contrary, they seek to set fire to everything civilized people have worked for since the days of Rev. King.  Their offense is relevant only in that it shows how small they are in not realizing that all lives matter, even theirs, and violence against society accomplishes little except to burn your own neighborhood down around your ears.

Society is not perfect, but at least we try to rise above... and bring everyone with us.  Naysayers, the offended, are the obstructionists to happiness and life.

“No matter what you do, no matter what you say, someone out there will proclaim how outraged they are, because they think it's their job to be offended by every God d##n thing. It makes people feel important. It makes them feel powerful. It makes them feel like their opinion is relevant.”

-- Oliver Markus Malloy, author

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 while 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 learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 120317: Out of the Box and Beyond Tomorrow

“Time is that by which at every moment all things become as nothing in our hands, and thereby lose all their true value.”

-- Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher, academic

I often reference my agreement in a belief that time is a human construct required by the limitations of our physical form. It exists only as a tool of measurement, a foundation which supports and adds structure to mankind's endeavors. I have stated many times how wonderful it would be if we could all learn to let go of the linear concept of time and live in between the ticks of the clock; some call it call it an "extra-dimensional perspective." I will expand on this by stating it is, indeed, an extra-dimensional perspective... of our existence in the universe which frees us to move beyond this anchor of our physical shell into the metaphysical world of, "What if...?"

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

-- Shakespeare, "Hamlet" (1.5.167-8)

What if the past, present, and future existed are part of the same connecting point, a "zero point," whereby they become interconnected and not independent of each other? What if, knowing this, we could, eventually, access any point in spacetime? How would this redefine our knowledge of reality? What if this knowledge brought with it the understanding that our consciousness is infinite and forever; a life of continuous rebirth and creation; knowledge of the universe accessible to all who learn to open the files? Before mankind's narrow concept of time, was such information written into the cosmos as a record of past, present, and possibly even future events?  Some have referred to this legendary tome as the Book of Life.  Is this the "book," referred to in Genesis, which will endow us with everlasting life?

Are our lives preordained?  Is what we do "written down" as a roadmap of our path through the universe?  Is there no chance for us to change our course, or is that change already a future paragraph, a footnote in this Book of Life?  If so, why would the book need to be opened if the contents were already known prior to one's life being lived?  Scripture tells us that our lives are preordained, and then this same scripture goes back on itself by stating what we do here on earth will be judged from the book, by our deeds, after our death.  Well, which is it?  Let's look at a few passages: 

Then Moses returned to the LORD, and said, "Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. "But now, if You will, forgive their sin-- and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!" The LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book...

-- Exodus 32:31-33

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

-- Psalm 139:16

"A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened.

-- Daniel 7:10 

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.

--Revelation 20:12

Could it be that the "Book of Life" writes itself as life unfolds for each of us? As psychic Edgar Cayce stated:

"Upon time and space is written the thoughts, the deeds, the activities of an entity – as in relationships to its environs, its hereditary influence; as directed – or judgment drawn by or according to what the entity's ideal is. Hence, as it has been oft called, the record is God's book of remembrance; and each entity, each soul – as the activities of a single day of an entity in the material world – either makes same good or bad or indifferent, depending upon the entity's application of self towards that which is the ideal manner for the use of time, opportunity and the expression of that for which each soul enters a material manifestation. The interpretation then as drawn here is with the desire and hope that, in opening this for the entity, the experience may be one of helpfulness and hopefulness."

-- Edgar Cayce Reading 1650-1

The Book of Life is also referred to, by many, as the Akashic records. As described in Wikipedia the Akashic records "are a compendium of all human events, thoughts, words, emotions, and intent ever to have occurred in the past, present, or future. They are believed by theosophists to be encoded in a non-physical plane of existence known as the etheric plane." Well, this all fits with what Edgar Cayce touts except for the addition of "future" to the mix, and that seems a bit odd considering Cayce's own predictions of the future.

The Akashic records seem more in line with a zero point theory, or perhaps the theory is more in line with the Akashic records.  Consider, if you will, "The Zero Point Perspective" as put forth by Metaphysics for Life":

"What we call zero point is the connecting point. It is that unmeasurable point in spacetime that connects all that is with all that could be. Some would say it is the gateway that connects the spacetime of Mind with the infinite intelligence of God."

-- Metaphysics for Life, "The Zero Point Perspective"

I offer that this "zero point perspective" is flawed, however, as it does not include everything that was.  Even though we shouldn't dwell on the past, it does have great bearing on what is now and will be.  Because of our linear construct of time, there can be no present or future without a past.  Even if it all exists simultaneously at the zero point, it would be hard to imagine one without the other two.  The Akashic records understand the need for this universal balance, this understanding that, since you can't have one without the others, they must all exist at the point in spacetime, the zero point.  What if...?

We have become lazy because of our physical form.  Our mind, our thought, at least has the capacity to consider transcending linear time to which we shackled ourselves so very long ago, while our science would seem to deny our capability to perform the feat; if it can't be measured, it doesn't exist.  We insist on looking at reality through the eyes of science, as if our science is some great discovery only now coming to light.  We view the past with an arrogance of superiority, yet we are constantly redefining what we don't know of our ancient past, including just how ancient that past might be.  What if...?

“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”

-- Mahatma Gandhi

We scoff at the notion, the ancient tales of flying carpets, telekinesis, telepathy, dragons, and all things "magic" and scientifically unproven, yet we have no idea if some long lost culture took all of this "magic" as a matter of daily course where the wave of a finger lit a candle, healed the sick, levitated carpets, or snapped a neck.  For all we know they may have been able to connect to the zero point and, thereby, also connect with their past and their future.  We just don't know, and science (re: government) might be holding humanity back from finding out our true potential lost.  This lost knowledge may threaten government control; if we're all gods... there will be no gods.  However, if we're all gods, maybe we can find peace through the simplistic lesson of Tic-Tac-Toe - there can be no winner; the best you can hope for is a draw.  What if...?

Someone wrote in a book I read just recently, "The past is more a part of the present than the moment we are actually in."  What went before are the black lines delineating one thing from another, as in a coloring book.  It is up to us, in the present, to make the choices which will color what our senses communicate to us about what the past has left.  How we color what we sense in the present may have some bearing on what tomorrow brings depending on how well we choose from the palette of our experience.  Since experience comes by doing, we should color away and not worry too much about tomorrow - there will always be another day in which to choose more wisely.

We look into the past for the answers to our future, answers we already know.  Everything we needfor our journey has been written across our hearts and our minds, written down in the cosmic records, our genetic link to the universe, and to infinity, left to us by the ancients to ensure our survival... and theirs.  The one answer which escapes us is how to use the link.  So, here we stand at the brink of forever, like a pig staring at a computer, not understanding, comprehending, realizing that technology and science are just confusing pieces of the larger puzzle, pieces which are limiting our mind's capacity to transcend reality which we are fully capable of doing if we could only remember how.  What if...? 

  

As with yesterday and today, tomorrow is all about the journey; pick a direction and take the first step.  In one respect we can't go back, yet I'm reminded of what the ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” You can go home again, but it won't seem like the home you remember because your mind has grown beyond it to realize that "home" is simply a place you hang your hat, a world you live in, your universe and your reality.  What if...?

What if mankind understood the unlimited potential, capacity, and capability of the human mind to transcend science, technology, religion, and reality?  I am also constantly reminded of what the Lord God said, according to Genesis, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing of good and evil..."  If we never walk in darkness how would we truly know the light,?  If we had not suffered, how would we know joy?  If we had not confronted true evil, how would we know victory of righteousness?  Many claim to be "holier than thou" just prior to running before the face of evil rather than risk their faith. .

What if...? 

And, having said all of this, I leave you will a final thought, My Sunday Thought:

Think in the past to remember;
Think in the present to learn;
Think in the future to create a better tomorrow and,
Above all,
Think beyond reality to that which might be,
Or might be again,
And make it so.

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 while 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 learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.