Questioning Choices

 

“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

Am I the one that is to blame?

Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’  -- John 8:10-11

Did you do anything, even the smallest of things to bring about whatever happened? If you have nothing to atone for, then how can you be to blame? Any judgment placed upon you will be of your own choice. In your heart, you will grapple with this, if you are to blame.

If you decide you might have done something, ask forgiveness from those you think you might have wronged. Jesus answers this best, ‘Neither do I condemn you.’ It is the purview of these others to grant forgiveness, as they should if they see you are honestly contrite.

When all is said and done, keep this kind of drama from your life and strive to be happy always.

Why can the media say what they want while individuals are put down for it?

Truth has no meaning in today’s journalism, nor is it any concern of today's government. If the government is free to rewrite the truth, and “journalism” is in lockstep with what they do, who will dare accuse them? Welcome to socialism.  The real truth is meaningless and your opinion, if contrary, is cause for sanction.

What would you do if you discovered that there was a god above and more powerful than the god that you worshiped?

There is only one God, to be held above all others. I may have chosen poorly. However, if you give your praise to this “God above all others” you are giving your acknowledgment of the ultimate power in the universe. There is nothing more powerful. My faith in this ultimate power tells me I have nothing to fear. Since there is the ultimate power, then I cannot be wrong.

“When his life was ruined, his family killed, his farm destroyed, Job knelt down on the ground and yelled up to the heavens, "Why god? Why me?" and the thundering voice of God answered, There's just something about you that pisses me off.”

-- Stephen King

What is a stand you took with someone who was rude to you that you will never apologize for?

Any time I stand up against something wrong, the need for an apology is theirs, not mine. I do not apologize for being right. I may apologize for taking their head off, but not for my opinion, if I’m in the right.

Must someone be inspired before having the ability to speak, write, tell or express the truth?

If you aren’t inspired, it’s best to just listen until you are. In this way, you are more apt to make a valid and cogent point when you finally choose to open your pie hole and speak, put pen to paper, or convince others you’re addressing that you’re not just another bald-faced liar. Politicians would be well-served to adopt this practice.

What are easy and good ways to stay professionally detached from the things you do and the people you speak to?

Don’t tell people what you do, professionally. Good luck with that. It will always rear its head in conversation. So, don’t talk to people. Oh, that’s the whole point of the question. Again, good luck with that.

You can't escape who and what you are.  You can try to avoid it, but people will wonder why.  And, if you're a doctor, first responder, pastor, priest, chaplain, etc., you will always be the first to carry out your oath of service.  It is, after all, who and what you are.  Embrace it, and just let others know you're on sabbatical and want to relax... until there's an emergency.

“Detachment is ... Not lack of love, but a lack of dependency.
Not lack of passion, but a lack of attachment to permanency.
Not lack of security, but a lack of anxiety in uncertainty.”

-- Drishti Bablani

How is it okay not to be okay?

Define “okay” for yourself? Are you using the definition provided to you by family, friends, church, society, or some other screwed-up entity? Now, define what it means to you. Are you going with a definition provided by one of these “entities” because you feel the need to please, or because it is who you are? 

It isn’t okay to not be okay for yourself, and as long as you aren’t breaking any morally ethical laws, you shouldn’t feel a responsibility to meet anyone else’s definition, unless you choose to and, then, refer back to “morally ethical.”

What should I do? I’m sending my boyfriend money to fly here. I pay for the hotels and spoil him with gifts. He says he loves me but I feel used. Does he love me?

You’re asking the question, so you feel used. Stop spoiling him. If he distances himself, I don’t care how good the sex is, feel used. Hell, even if the sex is great, I’d still feel used. Is feeling used worth loving someone? Isn't love two-way? If you feel it’s not so much... feel used.

Who would you not give your life for?

I would not give my life willingly for anyone. If I’m given a choice to die in the place of “someone else”, “someone else” is going to be killed anyway because they’re a witness, and I’m dead anyway because they made the threat.

If I’m rescuing someone, I don’t willingly plan to lose my life, I plan to save theirs. In any scenario, I don’t ever plan to freely give up my life for anyone. I will fight tooth and nail, but if it happens it happens.

“Self-sacrifice? But it is precisely the self that cannot and must not be sacrificed.”

-- Ayn Rand

Do you ever lie to yourself to protect your ego?

I do, but I’ve taken enough psychology to let it pass. I usually laugh at myself and confront the truth. Ego’s just another way to say dumbass.

What are the criteria for making sense?

Are we making good sense, bad sense, or no sense whatsoever? It matters if we’re developing criteria. “Common” sense is coming back into vogue again, it isn’t good, but it is common. I’ve never witnessed so many people making bad sense and not having a cogent explanation for it. I mean, really. All lives don’t matter, abortions are commonplace, we don’t need police, and the vicious mob and I are going to burn your city to the ground because, well, who's going to stop us? The courts? They’re not even going to charge us. There is no “sense” when the world is insane, and there is certainly no criteria. That ship sailed.

Why should one limit something that has no limits?

You shouldn’t and, realistically, you can’t. You can limit it on paper, in your mind, convince others, but it is still without limits and now you look foolish.

“If you have sugarcane, you can make sugar or jaggery. You can't turn it into rice.  Accept the limits of your limited self so that your limitless inner self can take you to the rice field.”

-- Shunya

What was your excuse to finally get back with your ex?

I cannot make an excuse that wouldn’t sound absolutely stupid. The very idea is incomprehensible.

What are the steps to becoming a US president?

Alzheimer's is in there, somewhere.  I know, I'm not supposed to judge but... damn!  The President and Congress?  All is lost...

I recently went for a run and had people mock me. I can't understand why people are like this, especially when someone is doing something to better themselves?

It says more about them than about you. You're making a good choice.  Keep up the good workouts!

“You cannot control the behavior of others, but you can always choose how you respond to it.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

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 volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.