The Beginning Is Here!

“It's the best possible time of being alive, when almost everything you thought you knew is wrong.”

― Tom Stoppard, platwright, screenwriter, Arcadia

I love the fact that I was born when I was.  Discovery and technology were beginning to move at such a rapid pace it would soon be hard to keep up. Hand-crank adding machines would soon give way to electric calculators which would give way to solar calculators which would give way to scientific calculators and computers, and each would become smaller than its predecessor.  Faster, smaller, easier, it became hard for me to keep up with and it, finally, would define me as a "techno boob" due to my inability to keep up with the learning curve.  I would find that being smart was not the same as being intelligent, and those few who were blessed to be both seemed to sacrifice a bit of the each for the ability.    

This is the new world where I would constantly discover that almost everything we thought we knew is probably wrong.  The ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, stated:  "The only thing that is constant is change."  And, down through the centuries which followed, many "intelligent" people would ignore this statement of truth.  Definitive statements from intelligent people would give way to statements with a bit of "wiggle room" which allow the, almost certain, possibility for change to be taken into account.  I would love to be intelligent, but not at the expense of being smart.  

“The artist is always beginning. Any work of art which is not a beginning, an invention, a discovery is of little worth.”

-- Ezra Pound (1885-1972), poet

The impossible concepts of nuclear power, space travel, are now a reality.  The impossible concepts of time travel, faster than light speed, and even anti-gravity are all moving over to the possible column, and world governments are admitting to the existence of unidentified flying objects and the possibility of alien life in the universe.  The existence of God is denied by some folks, questioned by others, and a matter of faith for the rest of us.  Contrary to what socialist educational systems would demand, the majority of humankind has learned to question everything.  When the intelligentsia makes definitive statements you can put down good money on someone proving them wrong.  You'd think, after centuries of being made to look like know-nothings, they would learn to be more open-minded to possibilities.

Each and every morning is a new day for discovery and learning.  If you're waiting for the beginning, waiting for the start, the beginning isn't near - the beginning is here! 

“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.”

-- Meister Eckhart (1260-1328), theologian, philosopher, mystic

I constantly remind folks that what is past is done and what brings is not written.  The only moment in which we can affect change is in the present, the now.  If you're doing something to affect tomorrow, you are doing it in the now.  We need to stop concerning our selves with the past as anything more than a lesson for today.  We need to stop worrying over a future which is not written.  Now is when we can affect real, substantial, and meaningful change.

The ancient Greek philosopher Plato said, "The beginning is the most important part of the work."  You have to start before anything can be accomplished, and if not now, then when?

“The beginning is always today.”

-- Mary Shelley (1797-1851), novelist

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.