Questions of "Meaningful Things"

 

“I have learned over a period of time to be almost unconsciously grateful--as a child is--for a sunny day, blue water, flowers in a vase, a tree turning red. I have learned to be glad at dawn and when the sky is dark. Only children and a few spiritually evolved people are born to feel gratitude as naturally as they breathe, without even thinking. Most of us come to it step by painful step, to discover that gratitude is a form of acceptance.”

-- Faith Baldwin (1893-1978), author

Why do we have to be so superficial in the real world? It is not like we have to talk about depressing stuff all the time, just more meaningful things for once.

Unfortunately, right now, those “meaningful” things are depressing. We don’t have to be superficial in the “real” world to understand this and be a big part of it. Whether we are superficial or not has no bearing on what’s going on around us. Coming together as a meaningful society might help solve the issues currently before us, but this would require working together which the anarchists will certainly not allow.

Perhaps it would be better for all of us to just be happy always. I strive for this, constantly, but especially while I oil my firearms and ensure I have ample ammunition. It is, after all, the world we live in. It is what it is until it isn’t.

What calls you up but never answers back?

Destiny.

People should never be satisfied with what they have. They should always want something new and something different. Do you agree or disagree?

Never be told that you must be satisfied with what you have. If what you have makes you exceedingly happy, so be it. This is your choice, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, if you desire something more in your life, this is also your choice, and no one should stop you from pursuing it. Satisfaction and happiness are personal choices we must decide on for ourselves.  What is happiness for one may not be happiness for another.  One must strive to be happy always.

“Somehow, we'll find it. The balance between whom we wish to be and who we need to be. But for now, we simply have to be satisfied with who we are.”

-- Brandon Sanderson, author, "The Hero of Ages" 

How do I not lose interest in something as someone who tends to lose interest quickly?

Stop becoming interested in things that don’t really interest you. My family has an undiagnosed history of “Attention Deficit Disorder” that we grow out of by finding that one thing that holds our interest.

When I was 12 years of age I filled a wall map with map tacks that denoted every UFO sighting in the United States. I had running communication with corporations and government agencies who sent me information on the subject. I ended up with a complete set of “Project Blue Book” reports. The subject interested me more than schoolwork. Teach me what I want to learn, not what you think I need. Theoretical physics would have piqued my interest at the age of 12, not woodshop.

When I finally, barely, graduated from high school, I became interested in psychology and made a 3.2 GPA for the two years I studied it in college. Get involved with things that really interest you.

What matters most in my life?

Your life! The most important thing in life is life itself. Without life you have nothing. Without life, what matters, matters not at all to you.

What is one of the most common problems when setting goals?

Poor planning and focus. You have to fully and clearly identify the goal and when you expect to achieve it. Once you have this, you have to lay out a reasonable plan to achieve it in the timeline given. You also need to plan for the “unforeseeable” bumps in the road, and how you will continue. And then you need to begin.

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” 

-- Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), painter, sculptor, artist

What happens if we stop masturbation permanently?

God forbid! I have it on good authority that the “DSB” would set in, followed by ADD.

Should I try to be perfect? Why or why not?

There is nothing “perfect” in reality. There is certainly nothing perfect in religion. Anything humans have a hand in is subject to corruption, including the “WORD” of God. Try to be the best you can be, this is all we can expect of ourselves. In doing so, be humble and selfless. Have a sense of moral ethics. All of this will bring you to as close to perfection as anyone can hope.

When do we say that there is learning?

When there is understanding. When a student seems like a “pig looking at a wristwatch,” there is no understanding and certainly no learning (my sincere apologies to swine). Students must have their own “aha” moment that puts the gleam of understanding in their eyes. They must be able to ask questions that evidence they’re on the right track to understanding a concept.

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”

-- Albert Einstein (1879-1955), theoretical phycisist

How will you know you have been loved by someone?

If you don’t know, you haven’t been loved very well by someone. If you have been loved at all it is pretty obvious, unless they have kept quiet about their feelings which is selfish and cowardly on their part. Love is about honesty, requited, or not. You will never know if the love is mutual unless you dare put a voice to it.

How many chances are there that someone who has betrayed your trust will do it again, and why?

It is hard to teach a dog new tricks. If a dog bites you what are the chances you’ll put your fingers near the dog’s mouth, Stumpy? Trust is something that should be hard-won, even for friends. When you lose it, therefore, it should be very hard to get back, if ever. The problem is the “old dog” adage. People who gossip will gossip. People who lie will lie. Rattlesnakes will strike and scorpions will sting. For some, it is just in their nature. For others, there is heartfelt self-admonition for what they have done. They cherished few will go out of their way to get back in your good graces and change the negative view people may have of them. They might just become the best of those around you.

What type of situation is training the least useful?

When you’ve fallen out of an aircraft, without a parachute.

Out of ten thousand feet of fall, always remember that the last half inch hurts the most.

-- Charles W. Purcell, skydiver, writer

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.