"Thank you, God, for another glorious day in paradise and another chance to excel in life!" This is the way I greet every morning when the new day begins, and the way I greet each group I talk to every week at the medical center's S.T.A.R. (Stress, Trauma, Addiction, Recovery) Wellness Program. The people I address range in age from around 20 and on up. Why are they in the unit? Their reasons are as varied as the folks who sit before me. They are every color, men and women, active and retired military, civilian, gay and straight, religious, spiritual and not so much. For each group I let them know, right from the start, I cannot teach them anything, I am only there to open their minds to possibilities; to help them to think. Thus starts my hour with them and my goal for getting each of them to go from, "Why am I listening to this guy?" to being engaged in listening and participating. This can often be the challenge, and I love a challenge.
Most of them do a mental shut down when they discover I'm the lead chaplain for the medical center. They roll their eyes and prepare to be browbeaten with religious scripture, hell and damnation, the vengeful God, and about how they have failed God, and other such rot as may come to mind. They don't know me, obviously, but they will before I've finished.
We talk about faith. We talk about their faith in themselves and in others. We discuss that you can't have true faith in others, or in God, without first having faith in yourself. But, aren't you suppose to get that help to find faith in God? Think about this question. You want to give God faith which you are asking God to provide. How about finding faith and then offering it up unto God? Doesn't this make more sense? You can't try to heal others without, first healing yourself. You can't truly love others without, first, loving yourself. Faith is a lesson we all must learn before we can really acknowledge we have it. And so, we also discuss faith as being a belief in something for which there is little or no proof, to begin with. We can find faith and lose faith, question faith strengthen faith, and we can also help people along by sharing our faith, especially the faith in ourselves. When we show the faith in ourselves we stand as a beacon of truth which others can learn and draw from, it increases our credibility to those looking for honesty and assistance.
Many have stopped believing in themselves, stop having faith in themselves, and given up on being more than they are or in being happy in life. Life, for many, has ceased to have any good meaning, and many are many are constantly judged. The question I often hear them concerned with is, "What happened?" The question I tell them they might want to ask instead of this is, "Why?"
Our lives are the product of our circumstances caused by our choices. Our choices, good or bad, are often associated, in some manner, with time. We discuss the misguided focus we often have with time and how time is a human construct we developed to give life structure, structure which usually does more damage than good if not understood. I think that, in order to understand this structure we need to first understand how we fail at time. We talk about time wasted, and the time we think we have left, and why we need to understand that our "life" does not end when our time expires at the end of this existence. And herein lies some of what we miss.
"Time," as many of us have come to understand it, ends when our shell expires. Many of us feel, as we get much older, our lives have been wasted in many different ways, and this may be very true for this existence. A bonus for people of faith is the hope of a life after this, heaven, reincarnation, another plane of existence, and the like. Basically, it's another chance for us to be more, another chance to excel. If we truly wrap our minds around the concept, we truly wrap our minds around a faith which will guide our lives from one tick of the clock to the next - we learn to live in the moment, not for the moment. Living for the moment is planning for the next moment - what will be, will be. Living in the moment - it is what it is, so deal with whatever it is. And, the past is simply memories of lessons which assist us in the now. The choices we make in the now are what will affect any future which presents itself in the now. This concept of leaving the past behind, not concerning ourselves with the future, and focusing on simply making better choices in the now seems to have great effect on my audiences, and the conversation usually switches to the idea of "living life between the ticks of the clock."
Our lives are the product of our circumstances caused by our choices. Our choices, good or bad, are often associated, in some manner, with time. We discuss the misguided focus we often have with time and how time is a human construct we developed to give life structure, structure which usually does more damage than good if not understood. I think that, in order to understand this structure we need to first understand how we fail at time. We talk about time wasted, and the time we think we have left, and why we need to understand that our "life" does not end when our time expires at the end of this existence. And herein lies some of what we miss.
"Time," as many of us have come to understand it, ends when our shell expires. Many of us feel, as we get much older, our lives have been wasted in many different ways, and this may be very true for this existence. A bonus for people of faith is the hope of a life after this, heaven, reincarnation, another plane of existence, and the like. Basically, it's another chance for us to be more, another chance to excel. If we truly wrap our minds around the concept, we truly wrap our minds around a faith which will guide our lives from one tick of the clock to the next - we learn to live in the moment, not for the moment. Living for the moment is planning for the next moment - what will be, will be. Living in the moment - it is what it is, so deal with whatever it is. And, the past is simply memories of lessons which assist us in the now. The choices we make in the now are what will affect any future which presents itself in the now. This concept of leaving the past behind, not concerning ourselves with the future, and focusing on simply making better choices in the now seems to have great effect on my audiences, and the conversation usually switches to the idea of "living life between the ticks of the clock."
Many in group expect some judgement from me, and they are happily disappointed to find this is not why I am there. "So, don't you want to know why I'm here?" they might ask. "Not my circus, not my monkey," is my usual answer; as long as they know why, that is all that's important. I want to make sure they don't dwell on what they already know happened, and start focusing on why it happened. The "why" of things usually adjusts targeting from everywhere else back to where it belongs, on us, and on the choices we made.
We make the choice to hang out with people who do us no good. We stay in jobs and relationships which make us unhappy. We make our debt by purchasing that which we cannot truly afford. All of this, and more, are choice we make that have dire consequences. What is the best thing about life? Tomorrow is a brand new day, and a chance to correct things in your life which really suck, badly.
I think some of my success in group is the honesty and frankness which I bring to bear. I am not afraid to say sonofabitch, dumbass, moron, and such. I call a spade a spade and color very little with the bullshit brush. I have been in supervision, management, and training, for most of my life. During all of this, by virtue of my career with military intelligence, I was a briefer and public speaker. I have found that people tend to respond better when they're not being talked at but, rather, talked to. They like it when you level the playing field, approach them as equals, and them their opinions and, most importantly, listen to what they have to contribute; speak, listen, respond, follow up, and then repeat.
By the last ten minutes of group, many want to hear my view of God and the Bible. I give them a history of scripture from before 10,000 B.C. to the King James Version, including the multiple interpretations caused by languages which do not translate directly into each other, and the hidden agendas of governments and church hierarchy in controlling the faithful. I usually end this segment, given all I have presented, with some questions for them to ponder: Is Holy Scripture really the undeniable WORD of God, or is it simply God inspired writings? Does it really matter? And, where is the proof we base our faith on, if not scripture? Isn't it more important to simply have faith, a belief, that there is something greater than us in the universe? Does it really matter what we call the ultimate power? My favorite question of late is, "Who has the responsibility of proving the existence of God, the faithful or the atheist?" This can get everyone's juices flowing.
One or two in each week's group arrive with a sleepy eyed unspoken message that they will be asleep in the back for the hour I am there. These are the proof of my success if, when I'm done, I have reached out to them so they leave shaking my hand and giving me a critique. Usually I hear no one has ever discussed these issues which concern their lives the way I have. They come expecting a sermon, and take away some ideas for a better way to live. This is my success, when it occurs, to touch minds in such a way as to open them up to constructive possibilities and opinions, especially when they form constructive opinions their own. Hopefully, they learn each day is a new day, a other beginning in an infinite existence, another chance to learn lessons which will help us to excel in this life and all of those yet to come. Yesterday is behind us, tomorrow is a mystery, and this current moment is to be lived. In the words of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, "Let us begin."
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 an alternate viewpoint.
We make the choice to hang out with people who do us no good. We stay in jobs and relationships which make us unhappy. We make our debt by purchasing that which we cannot truly afford. All of this, and more, are choice we make that have dire consequences. What is the best thing about life? Tomorrow is a brand new day, and a chance to correct things in your life which really suck, badly.
I think some of my success in group is the honesty and frankness which I bring to bear. I am not afraid to say sonofabitch, dumbass, moron, and such. I call a spade a spade and color very little with the bullshit brush. I have been in supervision, management, and training, for most of my life. During all of this, by virtue of my career with military intelligence, I was a briefer and public speaker. I have found that people tend to respond better when they're not being talked at but, rather, talked to. They like it when you level the playing field, approach them as equals, and them their opinions and, most importantly, listen to what they have to contribute; speak, listen, respond, follow up, and then repeat.
By the last ten minutes of group, many want to hear my view of God and the Bible. I give them a history of scripture from before 10,000 B.C. to the King James Version, including the multiple interpretations caused by languages which do not translate directly into each other, and the hidden agendas of governments and church hierarchy in controlling the faithful. I usually end this segment, given all I have presented, with some questions for them to ponder: Is Holy Scripture really the undeniable WORD of God, or is it simply God inspired writings? Does it really matter? And, where is the proof we base our faith on, if not scripture? Isn't it more important to simply have faith, a belief, that there is something greater than us in the universe? Does it really matter what we call the ultimate power? My favorite question of late is, "Who has the responsibility of proving the existence of God, the faithful or the atheist?" This can get everyone's juices flowing.
One or two in each week's group arrive with a sleepy eyed unspoken message that they will be asleep in the back for the hour I am there. These are the proof of my success if, when I'm done, I have reached out to them so they leave shaking my hand and giving me a critique. Usually I hear no one has ever discussed these issues which concern their lives the way I have. They come expecting a sermon, and take away some ideas for a better way to live. This is my success, when it occurs, to touch minds in such a way as to open them up to constructive possibilities and opinions, especially when they form constructive opinions their own. Hopefully, they learn each day is a new day, a other beginning in an infinite existence, another chance to learn lessons which will help us to excel in this life and all of those yet to come. Yesterday is behind us, tomorrow is a mystery, and this current moment is to be lived. In the words of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, "Let us begin."
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 an alternate viewpoint.
It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those 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 22 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 the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved 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, and wages 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 lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.
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