A Question of Life

“Nothing that happens to you was meant to be. The only thing about you that was meant to be is you. Blaze your own trail.”

-- George Alexiou, author

Where do you see yourself in 2 hours?

Well, that was an hour ago, and I was exactly where I was supposed to be, having bourbon at the cigar bar with friends.

Why did I have a harder time getting over someone I’ve never dated than my actual breakups?

You might be beating yourself up for not asking them out on a date, or for not telling them how you feel. For most of us, it would seem there is a modicum of guilt we saddle ourselves with when we don’t do something we might have thought we should. Dating and breaking up gives you a basis for denying this guilt. There are cause and effect, and you’ve made a choice to go your separate ways.

Why would a deputy lie when asked if someone you know is still a deputy? It's a small department. One older deputy barked out "never heard of him, nobody by that name". Another said, "Oh, he retired last week." No room left for detail.

Undercover work? Deep undercover work, that might last many months. Perhaps the guise of “dirty cop” is in play. I would leave this alone.

What is the meaning of growth is evidence of life?

Someone was trying to make a point, and this may have been taken out of context. Crystals grow, yet they are not evidence of “organic” life. It could be the quote is, however, all-encompassing in meaning everything in the universe is born, grows, and dies, in its own way, inorganic matter included.

Correction, my mistake, not out of context. This was a “poetic” license. Poet and theologian, John Henry Newman (1801–1890), wrote this. By the way, poetry isn’t necessarily evidence of scientific context, much less reality.

False facts are highly injurious to the progress of science, for they often endure long; but false views, if supported by some evidence, do little harm, for every one takes a salutary pleasure in proving their falseness. 

-- Charles Darwin (1809-1882), naturalist, geologist, biologist

What split-second decision did you have to make today?

Whether or not to smoke two pork shoulders for next weekend, a week early, due to a scheduling issue at the local pub. I decided at 6:00 this morning it would be better to smoke it now than risking the raw meat to make it through to mid-week. I can salvage the cooked pork if it dries out a bit, but it shouldn’t be an issue for a humble grillmaster like me. What? You were looking for something important? I’m retired. This is it.

What kind of life would you like to live?

I have lived it. Well, all but the nasty divorce part of it. I can’t think of a thing, but the marriage, I would change. What we’d like is sometimes worse than what is. A country singer once wrote, “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” I have found this to be very true. I was given a path to follow, and I have done that. I’ve made good choices and bad. But, life is all about learning, not necessarily about getting what we want.

If everyone in the world could know one thing and hold it as a truth - what would you want that to be?

The existence of God. 

“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”

--  Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), philosopher, theologian, poet

What was the one moment that made you realize that 2020 was not going to be a positive year?

The “China Virus,” Covid-19 coming out of Wuhan. As retired military intelligence, this was not going to end well, for some time to come.

How do you balance focus and benefit from unexpected opportunities?

There’s nothing to balance. You focus for a reason, and if an “unexpected” opportunity presents itself, you benefit from it. But, this is accepting focus and benefit, not balancing focus or benefit. With focus or benefit, Now if there's a choice to make, focus or benefit, and even here, there is no balancing. It is a choice.

What would you want to do for the rest of your life if there were no restrictions or barriers?

Run a floating hot dog stand on a party boat in the middle of a large recreation lake.  Beer, sodas, and dogs, oh my!  Life vests required!

If you had a choice of colors, would you choose another?

We will have to confront the perpetually offended hate groups regardless of color, so it really doesn’t matter. Antifa, Black Lives Matter, the KKK, and other politically tolerated hate groups will murder anyone who disagrees with them. We all bleed the same color. Better if we sit down and learn to get along as a family instead of changing color.

Oh, but there's more.  This person doesn't see Antifa, Black Lives Matter, or the KKK as hate groups, which all of them are.  And given the recent rioting, burning, and looting, one can take the question at face value and not understand what colors they're discussing, or make a logical guess given the environment of domestic terrorism we're being confronted with.  It is hell trying to be in denial while tripping all over the truth.  This reminds me of the kind of question the League of the Perpetually Offended would use as bait, and I almost didn't nibble.  But, then, what fun is that?  The person who broached the question said this about my answer:

Comment:  Your so called “hate groups” (which all of them are not) have nothing to do with the question. Nor politics.  It’s a make believe scenario for a survey question.

My reply:  My apologies, but if you have to explain this question given today's environment, how good of a question, for a survey of all things, is it? 

Comment:  Hypothetical scenarios are not often based on real events or current political environments

My reply:  Not often, but it does happen, more and more it seems. Again, my apologies.

“You are not just white, but a rainbow of colors. You are not just black, but golden. You are not just a nationality, but a citizen of the world. You are not just for the right or left, but for what is right over the wrong. You are not just rich or poor, but always wealthy in the mind and heart. You are not perfect, but flawed. You are flawed, but you are just. You may just be human, but you are also a magnificent reflection of God.”

-- Suzy Kassem, writer, poet, philosopher

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 the 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 a chaplain at the regional medical center.