Suddenly Gone

 

It is probably safe to say that most people see themselves as important and under the delusion that they will always exist and will make a positive impact on their world, their culture, and their social circles. Depending on your childhood, your parents, your extended family, and your education, and what you do with the details of your life, how you use your intelligence, your financial success and your social skills will hopefully make a positive impact on those you know.

Each person passes through various stages of life: childhood, teen years, college years, and adulthood. As someone transitions from a time of life when they seem to have limitless energy and motivation to accomplish great things, eventually they will come to understand that old age will eventually catch up with them and they will become weak and need the help of others.

Over the last many millennia, there are very few people who are remembered and known as having an impact on the world in general. If you spend your time, your energy, and money on making yourself comfortable and distracted, then you are failing in your efforts to be a good influence and leaving a mark in history.

One day you will repose and a funeral will be held for you and hopefully there are many people who will attend that funeral and say good things about you. Will they remember your home, your car, your clothing, or will they remember you as the good person who was generous and willing to support others?

Unfortunately, sometimes funerals are held and no one attends them. There is a practice in the Netherlands called “the lonely funeral”. In this instance, someone reposes, and no one attends the funeral, but a poet is hired to write a poem about the deceased and reads the poem even though there is no one there to hear the poetic offering of the person’s life.

Think carefully about your life, and put in the effort to be the good person who is concerned with the wellbeing of others. Hopefully when a funeral is held for you, there will be many in attendance and they will say good things about you. Don’t be the person that everyone sees as selfish, comfortable, and lazy, but instead be the one who is generous, is loving, and sees the image of God in others, making sacrifices upon yourself so others can be cared for.

Misusing Authority

 

Authority is an actual situation under which we will always find ourselves. We can be the one with authority, or we can be one who is under someone else’s authority. Having a role of authority can easily be misused or abused, if you have others under your authority, you need to understand the responsibility of your role and the position those under you find themselves.

When someone becomes married and begins having children, those children are completely dependent upon their parents, they have needs both physical, emotional, and mental, if the parent is not selfish, is not thoughtless, and understand that everything they say and do will be observed by the child. The parent needs to understand that the child will see hypocrisy and will be confused if the words of the parent and the actions of the parent contradict one another. Children need to be loved, need to be protected, and need to be led toward a life of self-sacrifice and a focus of concern for others.

If you are an employee with a boss who is only focused on seeing success for themselves, hopefully you will recognize that you are in an unfortunate situation. If the boss always takes credit for the success of the people who are under his direction, then he is not a good person, he his not concerned about overall success for everyone, and is foundationally a selfish and greedy person.

When someone is in a position of authority, for example, the police, hopefully this person will not take advantage of his position of power and will be focused on doing what is right, what is legal, and what is in agreement with the current legal system. It is possible that one can find himself in a situation where those in authority are manipulating the facts of whatever situation. This is why it is important to have several witnesses to any situation, so that the facts of the case can be correctly identified and articulated.

When someone is young, when someone is weak, when someone is fully dependent upon someone else, the person with this responsibility needs to be loving, thoughtful, and concerned about the wellbeing of others and not simply focused on his own interests, his own pleasure, or his personal success. Love those around you, protect those around you, and always do what is right and good for those under your authority.

Taking advantage of someone who is weak, who is unable to care for themselves, and is doing all they can to simply survive and thrive. Our goal in interacting with others should be focused on helping others to pursue love, to pursue holiness, and to become good, holy people. If someone is fully dependent upon us, then we need to not be solely concerned with our own satisfaction but we should be doing all we can to help them.

Bringing Joy

 

Be willing to be critical of yourself, how you use your time, how you use your money, how you talk to people, and how you talk about people to other people. The foundational question here is do you bring light, life, joy, and happiness into the lives of other people? Do you exist to make the world a better place, do you improve the quality of life in your culture, in your social circles, in your family, and in your extended family?

Do not judge others for their failings, for their life choices, or for the way they speak, act, or treat other people. Be the first to judge yourself, find your weaknesses, find the areas of life in which you have failed, and begin to make adjustments to these so that you bring joy and excellence to those around you.

If you are a parent, are your words and your actions in agreement with one another. The way you raise your children, the way you live and the way you speak will form your children into something that will most likely correspond with your life choices. Are you striving to be holy, are you striving to be different from the culture in which you live, and are you putting in great effort to be contrary to the corruption that surrounds you?

Pay careful attention to what you take into yourself, like food, like exercise, and your use of time, are you putting beauty, health, and quality into yourself? Or are you finding yourself entertained by the vain and empty Hollywood mindset? Do not settle for childish things, do not allow yourself to be filled with foolishness and mindless violence. Find excellence, find quality, and fill yourself with these things, do not allow yourself to be distracted by entertainment that is directed toward children or those who are immature.

Roles and Responsibilities

 

We can all think of different people, different responsibilities, and different roles in many different areas of our lives. The traditional family is made up of father, mother, and children. The extended family includes grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. It is incredibly important that each person involved in the family fulfill their responsibilities by providing, by loving, by protecting, and by training their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to love God, to love their neighbor, and to pursue holiness.

Father and mother have an incredible amount of work before them, which includes living a life that is a good example for their children. When children see their parents speaking and acting in certain ways, they will likely imitate them. The responsibility of the parent is to live a life that is a pursuit of holiness, walking a path that the child will see as worthy of imitating. If one or both of the parents are involved in any kind of immoral or depraved behavior, the child will become confused and will wonder why their behavior does not align with their professed belief.

A parent that abuses their child, does not protect their child, or introduces depravity, sensuality, or perversion to their children are certainly failing for the work that has been set before them. A child should feel safe, feel protected, and know that they are loved by their parents, and should not need to look elsewhere to feel safe and loved.

If a child lives in fear of what their parent may do to them every day, that child will be miserable and terrified about the quality of his or her life. When a child is happy, content, and is excited about spending time with their family, then you can know that the parents are doing something right. It is when a child is frightened of being alone with a parent or other family member that something is seriously wrong.

Psychology experts talk about recognizing behavioral signs or speech patterns in children. It is important to know your child well, to understand if they are happy and content, and if they are not then you need to put in extra effort to help that child feel safe and loved. If you see strange behavior in your child when they are around certain people, you need to uncover what is happening that would make them respond in such a way.

Possibly the most important aspect of being a parent is to train your children to love others, to serve others, and to treat others with respect and honor. Just as Jesus did not live for himself but instead, he sacrificed himself to save mankind from the corruption of sin and death. When a child sees their parents acting and speaking in love toward and about others, the child will imitate them.

Transition

 

There are two types of people in the world. One, there are “the people of God”, that is, the Church, and two, there are “the not-people-of-God”, that is the world and any other religion. When someone is baptized into the one, holy, Apostolic Church, there should be a radical transformation that takes place in their life. This is about transition from living in a worldly manner like the culture in which you currently reside. To living in a way that is focused on loving God, loving your neighbor, and pursuing holiness.

This concept needs to be given careful and articulate thought. Drive away from your mind the image of the typical American Evangelical church, which is really just a showy performance, usually led by a rock band performing for the audience to watch. This so called “worship music” is then followed by an inspirational and typically money based “sermon”, where the speaker is emotionally, and psychologically manipulating those in attendance.

If you are careful and thoughtful about the history of the one, holy, Apostolic Church, you will see that what is sold today as American Evangelicalism is nothing like how the Church has worshipped over the last twenty centuries. A genuine worship service is based around prayer, the reading of Scripture, beautiful music, candles, incense, and beautiful icons. The worship service is not about being entertained, listening to a long sermon, and simply watching others perform.

Historically speaking, the one, holy, Apostolic Church did not have long wooden benches upon which to sit. Instead, everyone stood and there were a few places to sit for those who are elderly or handicapped. The entire service is about being involved in worship, in singing, and in communal prayer. One of the most important aspects of the worship service is about staying focused on what is being said, what is being prayed, and what is being sung. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by worldly thoughts, vain entertainment, or concerns about what you will be doing the rest of the week.

Think of your mind like an airport, if or when airplanes arrive, you do not need to watch them, think about them, or entertain their distraction. Focus on your love for God, your desire for holiness, and the hundreds of images around the sanctuary, which are a cloud of witnesses, who have lived lives that are a good example for you to imitate. Do not be like the world who allow themselves to be distracted by vanity, wealth, comfort or pleasure.

Raising Children

 

It is an unfortunate reality that most people give very little thought to the way in which they form and structure their home life. The way we spend our time, our money, and how we interact with our children will have a direct impact upon the quality of the lives of our children. What kind of people they will become when they take on lives where they need to make all of their own decisions.

How we discipline our children, how we talk about other people in the presence of our children, how we use our money, and how we use our time will certainly shape their thoughts, their lives, and their passions in life. In most cases, all of these things will become serious influences upon how they choose to approach life, how they will think about other people, and how they will raise and discipline their own children.

Whatever form of discipline we use on our children will direct and control how our children will raise and discipline their own children. It is safe to say that our children will imitate us as they begin to approach life and make decisions. It is not unreasonable to acknowledge that our children will still ask us for help, for direction, and for advice as they begin to move through life as an adult.

As we live our lives, we need to recognize that the way we spend our time, how we spend our money, will communicate to our children what we consider important. If our time and money is spent strictly on ourselves and our comforts and pleasures, it is highly likely that they will imitate us as they move into adulthood. It needs to be a big portion of your life where you show your children by example about caring for and helping others.

What we say, what we do, and how we use our money will communicate to our children the things that we consider important. If you want to be a good person, and if you want your children to be good people, use this opportunity to direct them on a good path of love and concern for others.

Passion

 

Passion is a very strong word with a great number of possible definitions. If you begin a conversation with just about anyone, you can probably learn the one thing that they are passionate about, the thing that is most important in their life. Some people are passionate about being wealthy, some are passionate about being healthy, some are passionate about gaining fame and being well known, while others greatest passion is to be known as someone who is loving and kind.

Whenever you or I meet someone and we learn about their passion, learning this will tell us a great deal about that person, and what kind of person they are. The person who is only and constantly focused on themselves, on being comfortable, on being wealthy, and on being well known, is a person who is selfish and self-centered.

If you can find someone who’s greatest passion is to do good in the world, to help others, and to make their social circles and community a good and safe place, then you have found someone unusual. This is the kind of person you should closely connect with, to allow to influence you and make you a better person.

If you have something of value that you can contribute to those around you and make them, the culture, and this society a better place, then you should make that effort to positively influence as much as possible. If you walk into a room full of people and the room is swallowed in absolute darkness, if you have a flashlight, you can use that light to make everything better for everyone. Bring light, bring life, bring joy, and bring excellence into every social situation in which you find yourself.

Be the person that everyone likes to have present, who likes to associate with, and gain the reputation of being the person that contributes wisdom, guidance, and quality to every conversation.

Focus

 

            It is an important exercise in self-criticism, introspection, and review of how one spends their time, their money, and what captures their attention. There is nothing more important than loving God, loving your neighbor, and pursuing holiness. If you take a few months to review how you live, how you speak to others, and how you treat others, what will you uncover and learn about yourself?

               If everything in your life is about you, about being comfortable, about being entertained, and regularly going on vacation, then you are being foundationally selfish and are lacking the importance of caring for others, helping others, and improving your community and social circles.

               Choose a portion of time each day to document your life and be willing to be critical of yourself as you ponder how you live. After two or three months of this introspection, force yourself to be honest about how you live, how you spend your time and money, and if you are actually doing anything to make your community and society a better place.

               The concept here is focus, upon what are you focused, upon what do you spend your time and money, and are you helping others rather than being selfish and a lover of pleasure? I would encourage you to honestly assess yourself, and most likely re-focus yourself on being a good and loving person.

Forms of Death

 

I believe that most people would agree that death is unnatural and brings pain for those who have been left behind. Most people have attended a funeral, felt grief at the loss of a friend, and remain behind seeing only the empty space that your friend once filled. If those who remain behind after a loved one has departed into eternity, he or she may realize that this unfortunate cessation of life was the best possible end.

Death comes in many forms, when someone leaves this life to go into eternity, we can look at the quality of life in which they existed and we will come to realize that they were suffering, they felt empty, they existed only in despair and grief. To avoid being selfish, we can look at their life and know that they are now in a better place, are now content and safe, and are no longer suffering.

Physical death is the separation of a loved one from his friends and family. While emotional death or mental death bring a different type of separation. When someone’s mind begins to crumble and drifts into delusion without their understanding of what is happening to them, those around them feel sorry for the person as they are no longer who they formerly were.

Sometimes people will give up, will turn away and will take on a different form of life, leaving behind former loved ones, with only concern for their own selfish preferences. If something like this happens to you, it is wisest to allow this person to continue into their life of selfish pursuits. It will bring no satisfaction to you, to them, or to anyone else if you continue seeking to restore the relationship that was lost.

It Feels Dead

 

If someone is careful and thoughtful about each and every social interaction, relationship, or conversation, he will be able to determine the health of these by reading non-verbals, by catching subtle comments, and noticing how the other person speaks about others. This person should be able to identify if this relationship is alive, beneficial, or productive for them or for the other person.

By watching details, listening to comments, one should be able to accurately label the state of the relationship in front of them. One can apply a label to this relationship by thinking in terms of “does this person provide anything of value” or “this relationship feels dead” or “this person makes me a better person” or “I believe that if I continue in this relationship I can offer help, assistance, and benefit to the other.”

If one is careful and thoughtful about social interaction, he should be able to determine if continuing a relationship with this person is a benefit for himself or for the other. When you interact with someone, you should be able to know if they are willing to hear you, follow your advice, or put in the effort to become a better person. Sadly, we sometimes offer good advice and the recipient of this offer will directly and intentionally reject your comments and offer of help.

Think of social interaction as you would similar to diet, exercise, and sensory input. A wise person will be thoughtful about what they take into themselves, whether it be good food, quality entertainment, good company, or consistent exercise. Be thoughtful, be deliberate, and be consistent in what you take into yourself. Always aim for good quality, excellence, and people of good character.

Doing the Right Thing

 

In some situations, someone will do something unkind, cruel, or selfish to us. Our usual response is to respond in kind, we are inclined to respond with similar unkindness, anger, or violence. The opposite response will usually elicit a confused observation, which should reveal your true nature, if you want someone to be kind to you, then you need to be kind to them and to everyone else in your life.

Some people have great wealth, great comfort, and healthy connections with good people, all of these things can and should be used to make life better for us, for our families, for our loved ones, and for others who we may not know. How we use our time, how we use our money, and how we interact with others reveals the true nature of our hearts, our souls, and our minds.

If everything in your life is about you, is about your comfort, and about making life as easy as possible, then you are probably approaching life in the wrong way. Take a few moments, hours, days or weeks to consider how you live, how you speak, and how you spend your money. Sometimes we will find ourselves in a situation where we see someone merely existing and not having what is needed for a good and healthy life.

Find a notebook, create a list, identify how and where you spend your time and money, and consider what this says about you as a person. Do you buy things that you don’t really need, while there are others you know who are suffering and live a life from which they cannot escape? Set aside your own comforts, your own pleasures, and your empty distraction, doing so will allow you to help others who have genuine needs.

Defining and Articulating Success

 

Everyone knows a large number of people and it is uncommon to find a common definition of success among these people. As we form our thinking, our actions, and our plans for the future, we need to find good, wise, and excellent people to influence, direct us, and guide us as we do our best to move forward in life.

Don’t allow the emptiness, the vanity, and the shallowness of the culture around you to control and direct how you think, how you live, and how you define the words that will directly impact how you move in life. Learn how to put in effort, put in energy, how you spend your money and how you spend your time, all of these will directly impact the quality of your life.

Be aggressive and forthright in how you think, how you act, and how you define words. If you can succinctly define success and learn how to pursue that success for the rest of your life, your intentionality will allow you to achieve your desired goals. Take several hours, days, or weeks to think about how you define success, and when you have specifically articulated this definition, write it down, share it with others who are wise and successful, and then put in the effort to achieve your definition of success.

Success needs to be more than simply being wealthy, being comfortable, and being distracted by empty pleasure and entertainment. Learn to be content with having your basic needs met, learn how to provide for and support others, and learn to be generous to make your culture and your social circles good and strong.

Input and Output

 

            There are many different metaphors that can be used to communicate the outcome from what you put into yourself. Food is a very good example of this, if you eat fast food, highly processed foods, soda, high salt and high fat foods, you will not enjoy a body that is healthy, that is strong, or that will give you the energy you need to successfully reach your desired goals. Your diet should not be based on ease, on simplicity, or on whatever is the least expensive. Pursue and take into yourself that which will give you nutrition, strength, and all of the vitamins, fiber, oils, and quality that will make you healthy.

               If you find yourself spending most of your time being distracted by social media, by mindless and silly entertainment, it would be wise to make positive changes to your mental diet, which will give you the strength you need to achieve your goals. Instead of snacking, doom scrolling, or watching numberless videos online, go outside, enjoy the fresh air, walk for a few miles each day and spend time interacting with people of good character.

               A good pattern to develop for your use of time and energy can be found by documenting how you spend your time, how you spend your money, and with whom you interact. Be diligent in documenting what you do with your time, choose a notebook devoted solely to recording your activities and use of time. Be faithful in what you take into your body in terms of diet, what you take into your mind in terms of entertainment, and what you spend your free time thinking about.

               After documenting these things for at least a month, be strong and brave enough to share your findings with someone who is older, wiser, and more responsible than you, so as to receive input from them. Do not allow pride to control your path forward, instead be willing to make changes in your use of time, in whatever you take into yourself, and be willing to become better, stronger, and wiser than you are at this moment. Humility is one of the best attitudes to take on, it is when you realize that you need to become someone better and wiser than life will improve.

A Path Where Light Doesn't End

 

When someone reaches their teenage years, decisions need to be made and hopefully when one finds themself in this situation, they will seek input from others, knowing that the man who has only himself as a teacher will be bound to make mistakes. Every person moves out of one social circle and into another one, and will find himself in multiple social circles, interacting with many different types of people. Unfortunately, everyone we meet will not necessarily be honest about their response to you, their opinion of you, and will put themselves first rather than offer something of value to help you improve.

When someone is walking in the darkness, he may stumble, he may accidentally drive his toe into a piece of furniture, or he may step on something that remained obscure because of the darkness. There is very little worse than stepping on a Lego while wearing socks or being barefoot. The one who is wise will seek guidance from others, will pursue a path that is well lit, and that will lead to love, peace, joy, and glory.

It is a sad reality that some people will choose to engage in the use of substances that will negatively influence their ability to think clearly and make good choices. In very much the same way, some people will follow input and direction from others who lack wisdom, who lack experience and if one views the quality of their life, one can see that their decisions have only led to failure and confusion.

Find the path that will lead to love, peace, joy, and success. Unless you have immersed yourself in seeking knowledge, seeking wisdom, and seeking experience, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can figure it out on your own. There have been thousands and thousands of people all throughout history from whom we can learn, who we can imitate, and who create a great example for us to follow.

One does not look to others who have declined into a state of abject failure, poverty, and suffering. Find those who exhibit wise choices, live a good life, and pursue a lifestyle that is not focused on comfort and wealth. Love others like you love yourself.

Pretending Everything is Alright

 

            Social interaction is a normal part of everyday life. We see friends, we see relatives, we see acquaintances and neighbors make decisions that impact themselves and impact others. Sometimes those decisions are made for all the wrong reasons, oftentimes those decisions come from a foundation of selfishness and greed.

               Looking in from the outside, we can see that one of these people look back and regret the choices they have made, and see the consequences of those decisions. Aside from self-deception, those of us who are watching from a distance can see that these people are simply pretending like everything is good, alright, and acceptable.

               There are at least two responses to situations like this, one, we can be critical, we can be judgmental, and we can condemn them for being focused only on their own desires without concern for the impact of their decisions upon others. Two, we can remain silent and watch them decline into despair and regret, knowing that any words we offer will be rejected.

               The imagination is a terrible thing; everyone imagines a possible reality in which all of their problems disappear and are resolved by the promises that someone else made to them. Too many people think of themselves as flawless, wise, and on a path that will lead to happiness and fulfillment. The person who begins down a path toward an imaginary end, will one day realize that they made multiple bad choices, that they burned bridges that cannot be repaired with a goal of satisfying themselves while ignoring others.

A Vessel Void of Value

 

            If someone takes a few minutes and searches through their home, they will find a great number of containers that are designed to hold specific things, and other vessels that you would only use in certain situations and not for storing other things. We see an example of this throughout the Old Testament; some things were designed and identified to be used only for holy use and not for common use.

               The tabernacle that was designed by God and given to the people of Israel to be used during worship and sacrifice could only be used for religious purposes. The ark of the covenant was not even to be touched by human hands and was only for containing the written law, Aaron’s rod that budded, and was topped by two golden angels.

               We have a similar situation in the New Testament regarding the Virgin Mary; YHWH sent the angel Gabriel to communicate the message that she was chosen to be the vessel for bringing about the incarnation of the Son of God. Just like one would not use containers in one’s kitchen for holding unclean items but only for food items.

               I encourage everyone reading this brief collection of thoughts to consider your own life, and what you put in your heart and mind. You need to understand that if you have been baptized into the people of God, you are no longer your own and should only be taking into yourself those things that are holy and will identify you as different from the culture around you.

               Sometimes it is a sad reality that some people will make the decision to label themselves as a follower of Christ, but then live a life that is not holy, pure, or righteous. What kind of vessel are you? Are you filled with and contain only those things that are holy, or do you allow corruption, perversion, and hatred within yourself? Work hard to be faithful to your claims about yourself and be a vessel used only for those things of value.

Our Words and Our Actions

 

            Unfortunately, far too many people only think of themselves when they speak or when they act. The things we say and the things we do will have an impact on those around us. Because we do not know the way others were raised, the way others treated them when they were children, or if others had parents who loved them, we need to remember that those in our social circles did not necessarily have the benefits, the love, and the care from others.

               If you spend all of your time, your energy, and your money only on making your own life more pleasant, you are living a life that is selfish and incorrectly directed. As we are seeing in the news from the UK, the ‘Gang Rape Inquiry’ that was recently published and made available for anyone to read, the psychological, emotional, and physical trauma that these 250,000 white British girls endured for the past seventy years is very difficult to comprehend.

               These decades of abuse are a great example of how someone’s worldview directly impacts the quality of life of those around them. These decades of selfishness and contrary worldview to the West have destroyed the joy and the reality of a good life for a massive number of girls and their families. For someone to be abducted from the street and abused for multiple months by large group of strangers will obviously have a seriously negative impact on their overall wellbeing.

               On a much smaller scale, the words we speak to others and the way we treat others will have an impact upon them, but not to the same degree as what we have recently learned what has been taking place in the UK for so many decades. We all need to consider our goals, our plans, and what we hope to achieve as we move through life. If we are seeking to only please ourselves, find satisfaction for ourselves, at the expense of the wellbeing of others, then we are aligning our lives in a very bad way.

               Destroying the psychology, emotions, and health of someone else just so that we can feed our own pleasures and end goals exposes a terrible way to live one’s life. One could easily say that when someone introduces a destructive approach to life that is contrary to the normal life of the culture in which you live, he ought not be part of that culture and should relocate himself somewhere else that is in agreement with his preferred approach to life.

Only in Nightmares

            All of us live and move through multiple social circles and it is a rare instance that everyone in these social circles is a pleasure to be with and interact with. Regardless of the social circle, we occasionally will meet someone, interact with someone, and while we watch them act and speak, and sometimes we wonder ‘how are they able to be successful in any manner when they are borderline mentally handicapped’.

               People will say and do things without giving much depth of thought to their actions or words. Sadly, too many people don’t reflect on what they’ve spoken or done, while we may replay the conversation over and over in our memory long after the interaction was complete. Often these are palm to face moments, where we are left dumbfounded with what someone else said or did. Unfortunately, we will think of a better response, minutes or hours later and wish that we could go back in time and respond appropriately.

               Those with whom we interact are very much like the food we eat, the money we spend, and whatever we choose to entertain us. If you desire to be strong and healthy, you will avoid fast food, processed foods, and empty calories. A better alternative would be to eat high quality food, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and homemade bread products. In addition to this you should be getting some exercise each day to be in control of your body.

               When we associate with shallow, empty-headed, and low culture people, we will be influenced by them. On the contrary, it is much better to find those who are older, wiser, and have more experience than we do, and make an effort to draw them into our lives to be a positive influence upon us. When wisdom, high culture, and excellence become our goals in life, we will be better, stronger, wiser and have the opportunity to positively influence those around us.

               To make good progress in becoming an excellent person, you should study history and find those in the past who made good decisions to be a light to those around them. These people will be focused on loving others, rather than entertaining themselves with childish whims or games. The person who refuses to be controlled and directed by worldly passions will be the one who makes a positive influence on their culture. A common phrase or idea is that silence is better than noise and gossip. Be the wise person that others will seek out for direction and assistance as they move through life.

Nothing Left to Say

 

            Everyone knows a wide variety of people in many different situations, with different types of relationships. If you are wise and attentive to the reality of how some people think and behave, you will be careful in what you are willing to share and discuss. Betrayal comes in many different forms; some will squeeze information and details from you in order to use this information to try to control you or ruin how others view you.

               You may think that you know someone, after having interacted with them for many years but then later learn that this specific person has been speaking poorly of you, criticizing you to others, and has been planning for a long time to destroy your name and reputation. With this in mind, be careful about what you share and what you reveal.

               It gives one a good feeling to believe that you can know and trust someone but then when everything falls apart and the long-lasting deception is finally revealed, you are left with anger, frustration, and disbelief. When those you love and who you believe loved you turn against you and begin speaking deception, you must make a decision on how you respond.

               You can respond with anger and give a reciprocal response of seeking to reveal their deception or you can respond with love and not allow this other person to win the small battle they have begun against you. As the historic Christian Church has always taught, no matter what others do or say about you, you are to respond with love and not anger or revenge.

               When you respond with love, you will find that the other person will be left with nothing to say or they may invent other deception to continue to try to destroy your image. Let your words and your actions tell the truth about you rather than what someone else is inventing in their imagination. When everyone else hears your words, and sees your actions they will hopefully come to understand that you are not shaped like what the person has invented.

Peace Rather Than Passion

 

            Everyone lives a different life with different interests and with different ideas about right, wrong, and how to treat others. Every person has different influences in their life, have different childhoods, different parents who may or may not have spanked them for their bad behavior. Some children were bullied as they grew up, some children were bullies when they grew up, some children chose the path of being kind to others, and some children chose the path of rebellion and violence.

               All of these things form a person into who they are today. Everyone has different levels of stress in their lives based on what they do for work, with whom they associate, and how they interact with their spouse, if they have one. Most people prefer to have less stress, less opposition, and less animosity from others. If you take a survey with questions built on one’s preference for peace or strife, in most cases people will prefer to have peace in their lives.

               Unless someone is retired, he or she will go to work, or will stay at home and take care of their children, organize their home and deal with the everyday stress of normal life. In most cases it is unavoidable to not have stressful interaction with co-workers, with spam callers, or with random people approaching our front door to share something they believe to be important.

               Life is better for you, for others, and for everyone involved if peace is the foundation in every interaction. When each person only focuses on their passions, their desires for themselves, and being entertained and distracted, the surrounding culture becomes nothing but an exercise in selfishness. In short, seek after peace, seek after doing good for others, and focus on being a good and kind person rather than being selfish.

It's All About Love

 

                If a person is honest with themselves, they should be able to review their life, their interests, how they spend their money, and how they spend their time. An honest review of these things will reveal what we love, what we find important, and what is the focus of our attention. Yes, it is true that we have needs that need to be taken care of, loved ones that need our assistance, and the reality of philanthropy.

               As we see in Holy Scripture, the follower of Christ is called to love God, love his neighbor, and pursue holiness. Is this what we find when we honestly examine and critique our lives, our time, and our use of money? I offer up the challenge to document how you spend your time, how you spend your money, and what you use to entertain yourself. If you are spending more time on social media, on television, or on entertainment in general than you do in worship, in prayer, or in reading Scripture, then you have something terribly misaligned in your life.

               The foundational question in all of this is, “What do you love?” This is easily answered by documenting time, attention, and money. An even better way to approach this question is to bring someone else into the discussion and allow them to draw the conclusion and answer. Another important aspect of this discussion is that of humility, if you are willing to allow someone else to critique your use of time, money, and attention, you will need to be humble and be willing to accept direction and guidance from someone wiser and more experienced than you.

Rejecting Grief

 

            If you have something or someone in your life that is actively moving you away from beauty, away from holiness, and away from personal sacrifice, why would you continue to wallow in grief at their departure? Because we as humans are very limited in our perspective, in our understanding, and in wisdom, we cannot see the long-term goal that God has in place for us. Sometimes things or people will depart, which over a long period of time will prove to be to our benefit.

               Like the athlete who only sees the pain, the discomfort and the struggle of overcoming weight loss, overcoming weakness, and feeling frustration at not making fast enough progress, we need to remember that what is happening at the moment is for our good, for our benefit, and is moving toward a better goal than we can have ever imagined.

               If we can learn to step outside of ourselves, and look at the details from a different perspective, it is wise to gain wisdom and understanding from others who have more experience, more knowledge, and greater wisdom that we do. We need to learn to not see only what we desire and learn to see the change in path, in direction, and the new goal which will make us a better and stronger person.

               This is a matter of humility and acknowledging what we lack. Be very careful from whom you take and follow advice, there are many people who consider themselves wise and experienced, if these people are not helping you move toward goodness, kindness, love, holiness, and concern for others, then you need to step away from them, and find someone who is genuinely wise and experienced.

               Prepare yourself to reject the grief that follows from the loss of someone who you believed to be helping you. To continue to wallow in grief over the loss of someone who has been dragging you down, corrupting you, and feeding your weakness is a foolish position to take. Instead embrace the joy of moving on to something bigger and better, knowing that God is bringing about what is for your benefit.

Intentional Deception

 

            There are at least two versions of ourselves, one of these we put on display for others to see, the other one we keep hidden within ourselves because we are often ashamed of that second version. Most people want others to think well of them, want others to think that everything is going well, and that we are stable, loving, kind, and considerate, rather than self-centered and selfish. With this in mind, we present the best version of ourselves to keep everyone thinking that we have everything together and our lives are in good shape.

               We encounter many different types of people as we move through different social circles, different places of work, and our interaction with our relatives. Thankfully, we often keep our hidden desires from expressing themselves in reality, we do this in order not to get arrested for reacting to how some people treat us. To put it in the simplest of terms, we intentionally deceive others so they think well of us, think highly of us, and do not think poorly of us because of our honest response to unkind words or unkind actions toward us.

               This is where the importance of prayer is vital for our wellbeing. When criminal or abusive ideas drop into our minds, we need to immediately drive away this corruption away from us as quickly as possible. We do this by calling out to God through the intercession of Jesus Christ on our behalf, through the prayers of our guardian angels, and the prayers of others. It is a dangerous thing to dwell on corruption, to dwell on cruelty, or to allow wickedness to seep into us, all of which draws us away from beauty, from light, from love, and from kindness to others.

               Instead of thoughts of hostility, instead of unkind or cruel actions against those who intentionally oppress us, the best response is prayer for this person that they would move away from a life of corruption, away from a life of blind selfishness, and away from perversion and idolatry. Our prayers, our words, and our actions are all tools for positively influencing those around us.

               Do not allow the thoughts, the ideas, and the suggestions of cruelty from the evil ones that surround us move us to impose ugliness or sin toward others. Reject thoughts of evil and instead respond with love, with kindness, and with actions that move others toward that which is good, is right, is beautiful, and is kind.

Will It Be Seen as Beautiful?

 

            The most common response when someone reviews and critiques their own life, their life choices, and their interaction with others typically tends toward forgiveness of self and harsh words and attitude toward others. Historically, the Church has taught that we must be more critical of ourselves and not critical of others. We need to think of others as holier than ourselves, for we know our own weaknesses and we do not know what formed others into who they are today.

               It is a sad reality that others will speak well of us at our funeral, after we have already left behind those we love and possibly departing for eternity before we have completed what we desired to do before we pass into eternity. The Church has always taught us that God gives us every day to repent, to confess, and to strive after holiness and that we must not waste that time in pursuit of pleasure and passions.

               I strongly recommend that you spend a few minutes each day documenting what you have accomplished, how you have positively impacted others, and if you are genuinely on a path toward holiness. Over the last twenty centuries of Christian history, we have learned from holy men and holy women that we do not know how much time we have before we are taken into the presence of God.

               One day we will stand before the dread judgment seat of Christ and will need to answer for everything we did and did not do. Did you spend your time, your energy, and your money on promoting holiness, pursuing righteousness, and pursuing truth? After you have reposed, will others look back on your life and see beauty, see truth, see holiness, and see love? Do you see Jesus in every person that you meet?

               What will others say about you after you have moved into eternity? Were you a good person, did you pursue holiness, did you love and provide for others or were you self-centered, selfish, and a lover of pleasure? After you have begun documenting how you have spent your time, your energy, and your money, do you need to make a change in your life path? If so, start with that change immediately because you do not know if today is your last day.

The Parts That Are Ignored

 

                Most people spend their time distracting themselves from things uncomfortable, from things awkward, and from interacting with strangers. At the same time, we do not know what is taking place in someone’s mind, in someone’s heart, and in the secret lives of others. In many cases, people don’t want to be a burden on others and will wear a mask that shows happiness, contentment, and satisfaction with one’s current life situation.

               The cold, the sad, the miserable, and the shriveled soul desires to remain hidden and unknown to others. Frequently when someone comes into a room, they want to be the center of attention, the one that people enjoy interacting with, and the one who tells the good stories, and the funny jokes. Every person wants to be seen as the friendly, the loving, and the attractive one that draws everyone’s attention and preference for interaction.

               Are you the one to whom people go for encouragement, for energy, and for wisdom? If you are, do you have someone from whom you can gain these things when you are in need? Each person has only so much strength, so much wisdom and so much energy to share, eventually these things will deplete, will run out, and will leave you feeling empty when you give it all away to others. If you drain yourself, you will be miserable, you will be lonely and there is a good chance that when that happens, you will have nothing left to keep yourself going.

               When we meet someone, sometimes that person will communicate their miserable state by their words, the look in their eyes and their actions. Don’t be the only one giving, be the one who gives, encourages, and supports but also find someone from whom you can be strengthened and encouraged, so that you are not left empty and alone.

               In most cases, people need input, need love, need interaction, and have a passion for peace. There are a few people out there who are crushed by the oppression of social interaction, the drain of putting out too much, and find that solitude creates a setting for them to find peace, find happiness, and find joy, without having to consistently push back against others who only want to drain them so as to build themselves up.

               Do not feel guilty if you need quiet time, if you need solitude, and you need peace rather than pretending to enjoy social interaction and wearing a fake mask so that others think that everything is good with you. Don’t be the one who only puts out, who always depletes yourself so that others can be built up and encouraged. Find someone to help you so that you can be genuine with who you truly are.

               Honesty is always better because deception against yourself and against others does no one any good. Identify your weaknesses, find someone who can help you grow, who can help you overcome those things that are corrupting and polluting your life, so that you can grow, be strong, and become a better person.

Secrets You Don't Know

 

                Everyone has weaknesses, has faults, is self-centered and egotistical, with this sort of mind in place that controls us, we will tend to judge others who are different from us, we look upon the sins and faults of others and condemn them for their bad choices. At the same time, we fail to see our own weaknesses, our own faults, our own downfalls, and the offenses we commit in the sight of God, forgetting that our sins are our responsibility. The sins that others embrace and practice are none of our business, unless this person asks for our input, guidance, or thoughts.

               The first error we make when we look upon others, when we judge others, and when we condemn others, we forget that each person had a childhood, had interaction with others, and often times suffered under the hands of someone who was supposed to care for them. If you enjoyed a childhood free of abuse, free of neglect, and filled with love and protection, you need to remember that not everyone enjoyed that kind of love and safety.

               When we see someone else acting, speaking, or thinking in a certain way, we need to remember that they are thinking, speaking, and acting in this way because of how they were formed, how they were raised, and how others spoke to them while they transitioned through childhood and into adulthood. It should be common sense to understand that those with whom we interact will not share the secrets, the abuses, and the torments they endured as a child.

               The metaphor of art can be used to understand why someone is the way they are, why they think, speak, and act the way they do. If someone gives you a lump of clay and instructs you to make something out of it, it is your responsibility to make something, hopefully something beautiful. If you are ignorant, mean spirited, and uncultured, your creation will likely not be beautiful. The fruit of your work will be a reflection of the state of your heart, soul, and mind.

               If you meet someone, or interact with someone who is socially inept, who seems incapable of expressing love and kindness, then it is very likely that you may be the one person who can love them, help them, and draw them toward that which is good, right, and beautiful. If everything they experienced in their childhood was abuse, unkindness and neglect, do your best to be a display of love and kindness so that they can become a different and better person.

               Historically, the Church has communicated that every person that we meet is an image of Jesus Christ, therefore we need to see them, help them, direct them, and love them. Every person is made in the image of God and deserves to be loved, deserves to be protected, and deserves kind words regardless of how difficult it may be to give kindness and love in the face of anger, disdain, and hatred. The Christian faith is summarized with two simple phrases: love God and love your neighbor. If you cannot love your neighbor, then you cannot love God.

               Ask yourself a simple question, how do you want others to treat you? Do you want disdain, anger, and unkindness poured out upon you. Most people have the tendency to downplay their own sins, downplay their own weaknesses, and are quick to judge and condemn others for their sins. Be the person in someone else’s life who will encourage them, who will build them up, and will draw them toward holiness and a change of life toward something good and beautiful.

Surrounded

                Historically speaking, the historic Christian Church speaks about being surrounded in two ways. First, as is mentioned in Holy Scripture, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. This is referring to everyone who is part of the people of God, either physically alive or reposed. This concept is clearly seen in the use of icons in the Church for the last twenty centuries. Acknowledging and using icons in the Church services and in prayer communicates the truth that those who have physically reposed are still part of the one, true, holy, apostolic Church.

               Second, all of mankind is constantly surrounded by angelic powers and by demonic powers. The angelic powers are present to protect us, guard us, and drive away the attacks of the evil ones. When a man sins, he is creating a barrier between himself and the angelic powers. Sin is something that goodness, holiness, and purity cannot stand to see or face. The idea that sin is contrary to life, contrary to holiness, and contrary to pursing the path of that which is good, right, and true needs to be kept in the forefront of one’s mind.

               Even now as you are reading this, you are surrounded by the people of God, either physically alive or physically reposed. You are also surrounded by angelic powers who are seeking to protect you and guard you from the attacks of evil. You are also surrounded by demonic powers who will use every opportunity to corrupt you and drive you toward wicked behavior, wicked thoughts, and wicked words.

               Think of your mind like a funnel, into which demonic powers will try to cast ugly, sinful, and corrupt thoughts in an effort to keep you away from holiness, to keep you away from developing a loving relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Do not allow anyone or anything to move you away from holiness, move you away from love and move you toward that which is ugly, perverse, and corrupt.

               Life is a constant battle, a constant war, and unending temptation to do what is contrary to human life. Man was not made to sin, made was made to love God, to love his neighbor, and to do good to those around him. Think of sin like you think of fast food, it provides nothing of value for you, for those around you, or any benefit for you in the long term. Yes, the desire to do something may sound appealing in the moment, but the long-term impact of doing something morally wrong will drive you further away from the Holy Trinity, creating a barrier and a distance between you and our Savior. 

Death of a Loved One

 

                Most of us have gone through the suffering of losing a loved one, physical death means permanent separation from someone we love, someone whose company we enjoy, and the recurring emptiness of their absence. In most cases, when someone we love physically dies, the suffering we experience is based on selfishness, on not being able to interact with them any longer, but in some cases, when someone passes, we understand that their sudden departure is a means for their suffering to come to an end.

               From a Christian perspective, when death takes someone, it is never incidental or accidental, everyone has “x” amount of days to live and the number of those days is different for everyone. If we step away from our own selfish grief, we may recognize and understand that our loved one has departed because it was the right time for them to transition into eternity.

               In some cases, we may see our loved one begin down a self-destructive path, and when their time finally comes when they cease to physically exist, we should see that everything is better for them to make that transition at this moment, rather than continuing to suffer, to be overwhelmed with grief, or to continue to descend into loss and despair.

               Everyone makes choices in life, choices that directly impact the quality of their existence, and the number of days that they have to continue living and hopefully continue being loving, productive, and positively impacting those around them. When someone begins making choices in isolation, they may make bad choices which will negatively impact them, and the lives of those around them.

               One’s use of time, one’s use of substances, and one’s use of people will all directly impact their life, the lives of those who love them, and the potential for continued positive impact on their social circles. Life needs to be seen as a time when we can pursue holiness, pursue love, and help those around us. One’s life is a time for repentance, so that one does not continue building up a mountain of corruption, hatred, ugliness, and sin, all of which will pollute one’s life and negatively impact those around him.

The historic Christian faith understands and promotes the idea of using one’s time to struggle against sin, to struggle against those things that will make one’s life continually dark and corrupt. The more one repents, the better one’s life will be as he continues down the path in the pursuit of holiness.

Through Suffering

 

The metaphor of the athlete is often used to describe the value of struggle, of suffering, and of hard work to accomplish a goal. Anyone with common sense, with the ability to think clearly, and the ability to see the consequences of one’s actions will understand that in order to reach a goal you have set for yourself, working hard, gaining knowledge, gaining understanding and gaining wisdom are requirements for success.

To successfully complete running a marathon, one must exercise and practice for months or years in advance. To succeed in any sporting event or any athletic endeavor one must practice, rehearse, work hard, and struggle against the desire to take the easy path. To succeed as a musician, as a vocalist, or in any other field of choice, great effort, struggle, and passion are required to be acknowledged and recognized as one worthy of attention.

When a challenge works its way into our life, into our path, or within our mind, we need to understand the challenge, understand the consequences of not dealing with or conquering the challenge if we are hoping to be successful. Taking control of our bodies, forcing ourselves to not take the easy path of laziness or distraction is difficult work to achieve.

Our minds are like our bodies in this same regard. Think of your mind like a funnel, if someone throws something at you, the natural response is to try to avoid being hit by the projectile. Too often most people will embrace whatever thought comes into their mind, run with it, dwell on it, and make it the bulk of their attention.

Even better, when corrupt, perverse, ugly, or illegal thoughts come into our minds, we need to redirect our thoughts onto something good, right, and beautiful so that we are not willfully corrupting ourselves. Very much like our diet, if we want to be healthy, we eat fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, low salt, low fat, and high-quality food. A steady diet of fast food, snacks, and soda will not lead to a strong, healthy body.

Be thoughtful, be wise, and be intelligent about what you allow to take control of your mind, your heart, and your attention. Seek after that which is good, right, and beautiful. It is through hard work, struggle, and suffering that we will become better, stronger, and wiser. Success does not come from taking the easy path, the lazy path, or a life of distraction.

Not Immortal

 

                Despite our best intentions, no one will live forever on this earth. At some point in one’s life, our mortal bodies begin to slow down, wear out, and drift toward an unavoidable end. Our metabolism slows down, we begin to gain weight, we lose muscle mass and we cannot do the things we did when we were in our twenties and thirties.

               Time has a frightening way of catching up with us. At best, each person may live to reach one hundred years or possibly one hundred and twenty. Staying active, staying attentive, and always adding to our pool of learning, we can continue to be good, holy, and righteous people, making sacrifices for those we love, and for those we do not know.

               Learning to be humble, learning to put others first, and thinking better of others than we think of ourselves will lead us down the right path. Focusing on and feeding our lust for power, our lust for pleasure, and our desire to be comfortable will not bring us to where we need to be to be prepared for eternity.

               We need to remember to live in the present, to live in the moment, and to always speak with kindness, with love, with compassion, and with the goal of making the lives of others better than it is at the current moment. If we focus on being good right now, being holy right now, and seeking after beauty and truth, we are pushing ourselves toward that which is for our benefit and the benefit of others.

               The manner that we shape our hearts, our thinking, and our passions will determine our final outcome and the state we will experience in eternity. If we focus on pleasure, on comfort, and on distraction while we live on this earth, we will find that our eternity will be miserable, as we have neglected to pursue the love of holiness and beauty.

               Learning from those who lived lives of holiness before us, will make our lives better, will make our eternity better, and will make us a valuable contributor to those around us. Do not let yourself be distracted by the silliness and inanity of your current culture, focus on truth, on beauty, on holiness, and on righteousness. Love God, love your neighbor, and pursue holiness.

Changing Trajectory

 

                Being brutally honest about your state of mind, the state of your heart, and the path you are currently traveling is rare to find in someone. A really good approach to documenting yourself, what you think about, what you fabricate in your heart and mind, is to write these things down when they come to you. This is a frightening practice to undertake, to see in writing what goes on in your mind, what you enjoy thinking about, and how you spend your time.

               Another good approach to understanding reality is to visit places that are stricken with poverty, immersed in corruption, and socially/culturally failing. We can look at others, see the choices they make, and know that these choices will often lead to failure. Does the image we create for others to see align with what actually goes on in our hearts and minds?

               One can or should visit those in prison to see what life choices will lead to, result in, and end with. Are our thoughts good, right and beautiful, or are they corrupt, perverse, and ugly. Anyone who is reasonable will not act on whatever thoughts come into their minds, if these thoughts are criminal. Find those in the past and those around you who are wise, and imitate them, so that you do not end up destroying everything you have built this far into your life.

               If you are honest with yourself, and you can see the likely end result of continuing on the path you currently tread, then change your thoughts, change your words, and change your actions so that you reach a good and positive end. It is not difficult to study the lives of others who have succeeded as they travel through life, doing so should create a new mindset in us, that will draw us away from failure and corruption.

               If you are struggling to find a good end or path for yourself, seek help from those older and wiser than you. Another good step to take is to identify and articulate how you want to enjoy the final years of your life. When this is in place, make changes to your current path so that you can achieve this end. All of our thoughts, our words, and our actions are under our control, but sometimes circumstances take place of which we cannot change. Do what you can to make yourself good, right, and true, don’t simply be a victim of your circumstances.

The Result of Your Efforts

 

As was stated many years ago, for every action there is a reaction, this is true in the physical world and is also true in the mental and emotional worlds. When you release something from your grip, it will fall to the ground and if it is designed in a certain way, it will possibly bounce back up toward you. The thoughts that pass through your mind and how you respond to those thoughts will have a direct impact upon the quality of your heart, soul and life.

A famous and holy monk once said that thoughts are like airplanes flying overhead, you can choose to pay attention to them, dwell on them and allow them to distract you from whatever it is that you were currently doing. Or even better yet, you can ignore those thoughts that draw you toward that which is dark and evil, which will be to your benefit.

The words you speak to others will have a direct impact upon those who hear you speak, if your words are good, beautiful and encouraging then speak them but withhold your opinions about the behavior of others, especially if they have not asked for your opinion or input in that regard.

The actions that you take will be influenced and directed by the thoughts that you choose to fill your head, the words that emerge from your mouth whether spoken to others or spoken only to yourself. Be focused and thoughtful about what you think, what you speak, and what you do, be considerate of the consequences of your thoughts, words, and actions.

Whatever you think, say, or do will lead you down a certain path. Gain wisdom and direction from those who are wiser than you, who have more experience than you, and who can help you move toward success and joy. When you plant a tree, that tree will bear fruit based on its genetic makeup, if you plant flowers, fruits, or vegetables, these will produce according to their kind.

Your thoughts, your words, and your actions will produce something as well, depending on what they are. Do not be surprised if your thoughts, words, and actions are centered around selfishness, anger, lust, or depravity, then produce consequences that lead you toward darkness, disappointment, and failure. If you want to see success in your life, then form your thoughts, your words, and your actions to produce that which is good, right, and beautiful.

The Shape of Your Soul

It is common all over the world for those who put great value in physical strength and overall health to try to imitate those who excel in these areas. This is not an unreasonable approach and mindset, both of these reveal what someone believes to be important. In a similar way, those who put great value in being wealthy, being comfortable, and enjoying the pleasures of life, will seek to imitate those who also succeed in these areas. Again, this is not unreasonable, if we want to succeed in either of these areas, it would make sense to find someone who can provide us with wisdom and guidance.

The tragic part of this story is that most people put a big emphasis on physical health and finances, while neglecting to give consideration to the shape and health of their heart and soul. If you step away from your approach to life, consider what you are doing and who you are imitating, what will you see? Are you just another faceless, nameless Westerner who is distracted by Hollywood, social media and vacuous entertainment?

This could be phrased as “what is the shape of your soul”? Over the last two thousand years, the historic Christian Church has encouraged its members to imitate the thoughts, the words, and the actions of Jesus Christ and the apostles. There is also the idea that we have thousands and thousands of holy men and women who were not distracted by the cultures in which they lived.

This is where we see great value in reading the lives of these holy people, so we have a good understanding of how we can approach life and form ourselves into something excellent, rather than being empty, hollow, and distracted. Look at how you use your time, your money, and where your thoughts focus in times when you are not in conversation with others. Do we dwell on and think about what we can do to be good, holy, and kind people, or do we allow ourselves to be distracted by silliness, inanity, and pointless entertainment that draws us toward that which is contrary to holiness?

An honest assessment of your thoughts, your words, and your actions will reveal what is actually important to you. Be honest with yourself, document how you think, how you speak, and how you treat others. Is your life one that exudes kindness, generosity, and love for others, or are you simply focused on your own comfort and pleasure?

The Chosen Path

 

                Everyone transitions or should transition from childhood to adulthood. This needs to be an intentional process, don’t simply “let life happen”. Most children have dreams and plans about what they want to be when they grow up. Sometimes these dreams become reality and sometimes they do not because of inability or lack of financial foundation.

               At some point after reaching adulthood, we make decisions that impact our direction in life, what we are able to achieve, and reveals opportunities of which we may take advantage. A foundational part of all of this is being willing to work hard, take on the next challenge, and not simply being content with the influence and impact of others upon us.

               Be the main influence in your own life, work hard, focus your energy, attention, and finances to making your life the best shape it can be. Every decision you make will direct and influence your life as well as the life of those under your authority. Someday you may have a spouse and children, and these decisions will impact them as well.

               When making decisions as you move through life, seek input from those wiser than you, with more experience than you, and a proven life of success, however you wish to define success. One does not seek out financial advice from someone who is living in a cardboard box in an alley, instead you make the effort to find someone who has financially succeeded in life.

               The other consideration to make is seeking advice from someone who is morally sound, ethically solid, and knows how to love others. The person who is selfish, self-centered, and concerned only with pleasure and comfort is not the best choice for seeking guidance. Find that person that is a good role model, who is loving, kind, ethical, and generous towards others.

               The goal in life ought to be how one can positively influence those in his social circles, positively influence his culture and community, and make life better for everyone with whom he interacts. Don’t merely think of your own comforts, your own pleasure, or your own distractions, be the one who makes all things good. Be the one to whom others come for advice and direction.

Passionate or Not

 

                The idea of passion is often overlooked and ignored. Without realizing it, most people don’t give much thought to what things about which they are passionate. Everyone is passionate about something, and this is easily identified by how they spend their time, how they spend their money, and towards what they direct their thoughts.

               Do you love money, do you love entertainment, do you love your family, do you love food, or do you love empty distraction so you don’t have to think about anything of value? This is an important subject that everyone should consider, as our use of time, our use of money and the use of our energies will speak the truth about what is actually important to us.

               The person who identifies with any particular religion should live a life that is in line with the beliefs of that religion. For the follower of Jesus Christ, attending church, prayer, fasting, and personal sacrifice should be the framework upon which his life is built. The life of the follower of Jesus Christ should look radically different than the average American citizen. The majority of people in the United States are focused on and distracted by sports, movies, music, or entertainment in general.

               A common phrase in the world around us is, “You cannot take it with you.” Putting great effort into being wealthy, being comfortable, and buying material things instead of focusing on being holy and preparing one’s soul for eternity is a grave mistake. To use a simple metaphor, if you have fifteen minutes to spend on making your future as good as possible, will you spend that time by doom scrolling, by watching YouTube videos, or will you put that time toward adding value to your life and the lives of your loved ones.

               To spin this metaphor around, knowing that you will one day pass away, will you spend the unknown amount of time on buying material things, being distracted by silly entertainment, or will you prepare yourself for eternity?