On the Cusp of Forever... or Infinity?

"It does not necessarily follow that, if you love someone 'forever' you must love them infinitely. I love many people 'forever' and, yet, I love very few of them infinitely."

Consider, if you will, the following definitions:

for·ev·er/fəˈrevər/
adverb1.for all future time; for always.
"she would love him forever"
2.continually.
"she was forever pushing her hair out of her eyes"
synonyms: continually, continuously, constantly, perpetually, incessantly, endlessly, persistently, repeatedly, regularly; More
adjective1.lasting or permanent.
"these puppies need a forever home"

in·fin·i·ty/inˈfinədē/
noun1.  the state or quality of being infinite.
"the infinity of space"
synonyms: endlessness, infinitude, infiniteness, boundlessness, limitlessness, unlimitedness, extensiveness, vastness, immensity; infinite distance
"she stared out into the infinity of space"
2.  MATHEMATICS
a number greater than any assignable quantity or countable number (symbol ∞).

I have found myself in a quandary, not for the first time and it certainly won't be the last.  I had to give a name to that place which I find myself when I think, meditate, or dream; that place which causes me to wax philosophical or poetic, to contemplate those things beyond my understanding, and to lose myself in a meditative realm which I cannot adequately describe in words.  It is a place I use as the muse for my writing when all else fails me.  The best way I've described it is to be standing on the edge of an abyss and staring across it to the cusp of what I could only describe as "forever," and herein lies my quandary.

"In the tenth and final dimension, we arrive at the point in which everything possible and imaginable is covered. Beyond this, nothing can be imagined by us lowly mortals, which makes it the natural limitation of what we can conceive in terms of dimensions."

-- Matt Williams, Universe Today, writer, author

I can't call it the "Cusp of Forever" if I believe, as I do, that time doesn't exist as anything but a human construct created to give our reality structure.  To call this the Cusp of Forever would be calling it the edge of time, and you can see how this simply won't do.  Infinity, on the other hand, is more about something "greater than any assignable quantity or countable number."  The "Cusp of Infinity" would, therefore, describe being on the edge of everything, the infinite vastness of the universe and beyond limitless possibilities.  I think I can define my "Cusp of Infinity" as the threshold to that theoretical realm which quantum physicists refer to as the 10th Dimension. 

10th Dimension: Infinite potentiality, everything that is possible exists in some form or another, worlds obey differential and infinite arrays of physical laws and attributes, including the depths of the metaphysical level, think true infinity on a universal scale. The 10th dimension is the epitome of the multiverse theory and survives today through the endless research and pursuit from quantum physicists and scientists all attempting to compose a tome or scripture commonly referred to in the scientific community as the ‘theory of everything.’

-- M. Duvall, philosopher, blogger: The Existential Elevator

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.

Oh, Just Suck It Up!

"Sometimes, life is unfair, and you have to suck it up and move on and not use it as an excuse."

-- Robert Kraft, businessman, CEO "Kraft Group"

Suck it up, Buttercup!

My goodness, I get so tired of listening to the whiners.  It gets to the point where the constant rebuttals to the whining and complaining become a droning whine all its own.  Again, I could be wrong, but I find the drone of whine and rebuttal has become significantly more pronounced and deafening, during the current age.  Which age?  Well, in general, I'd say Gen Y and Z.  What about the rebuttal?  Well, that would be coming from people who actually work hard for a living, and from retired people who also worked to get where they are.  Is it perfect?  No.  But it is what we work hard to make of it.

Baby Boomers: Born 1944 to 1964. Currently 54-74 years old.

Gen X: Born 1965 to 1979. Currently 39-53 years old.

Gen Y: "Millennials," born 1980 to 1994. Currently 24-38 years old.   
     Gen Y.1 = 24-28 years old.   
     Gen Y.2 = 28-38 years old.

Gen Z: Born between 1995 and 2015. Currently 3-23 years old.

After my post World War II generation of "Baby Boomers," I think Gen X was so lost they couldn't come up with an original idea.  So, it would seem they're dissatisfaction with government caused them to hijack the peace and freedom philosophy from the "Baby Boomer" counter-culture hippie movement of the 1960s and laid the future groundwork for "Millennial" socialism and the destruction of democracy in the United States. Why? Because few millennials, especially Gen Y.2 seemed to care about history. The majority of Gen Z are hell-bent on suicide by communism.  If you aren't with them, you're against them; roll out the guillotines and let's get to building gulags. My advice?  Be careful what you wish for, child.  The new generation, in general, seems to really have no clue.  Their learning curve will come at the all too possible expense of repeating, at their own peril, some of the darkest times in human history.

“No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.”

-- Frederick Douglass

First of all, you can't live life expecting everyone else to do for you.  You can't expect to be rewarded for not trying or trying just enough to squeak by.  Human beings strive to be more.  We reach for the stars.

Second, learn some damn history!  Historically, those who stand in the way of our freedom to be more, those who put their boot on our collective neck,  have paid a terrible price for presuming to be better and failing miserably.  The people who would put their boot on the neck of the rest of us are not the "one percent" of people who make all the money because they worked their asses off to get it.  Look around the world and look at who is being subjugated.  The poor being subjugated by other poor who rose up against those poor who worked to get more.  The new poor revolutionaries become worse than those who they ousted.  They become drunk with power by drinking from the same polluted waters as those who came before, and still, they miss the point.  There is no substitute for hard work!  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.  These are not just concepts.

You cannot hold freedom down any more than you can hold back knowledge.  My goodness, if an omnipotent God couldn't prevent Adam and Eve from acquiring knowledge, what chance does some piss-ant human think they stand at doing any better?  You have a God-given freedom to work hard and earn money; to become more than you are.  If you find yourself wanting, well, whose fault is that?  Don't look around for someone else to blame.  It's all on you, buttercup!

How about we all just shut the hell up and mind our own sad business?  Your life is probably crap because you spend all of your time whining and complaining and not enough time trying to work hard and better your circumstance.  You are, in essence, a lazy shit hole.  Either break out of this mold and learn to suck it up, or learn to embrace the lazy shit you are, but, either way, shut the hell up.  Those of us who work to better ourselves are tired of hearing from your dumb ass.

Just saying. 

“Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice.”

-- Wayne W. Dyer (1940-2015), author, motivational speaker

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.