We give and receive a fair amount of unpleasantness in this life. My usual response to scowling and irritable people is to get through the encounter, with a minimum of retort, if any and to minimize my contact with them in the future.
This may be a good survival tool, but it is not what will bring about unity. I have thus made a fair effort to welcome such people, when they have crossed my path, over the last few months, and at least hear their story.
Some others have been forbearing with me, over the years, and I appreciate that, as it’s never been my object to discomfit or cause harm to anyone. When I have managed to make a mess of things, reflection brings to mind this intense song. https://groovelily.bandcamp.com/track/lightning-the-tree
DISCLAIMER: I never hurt my late wife, unlike the character in the song. I am merely referring to the concept of thoughtless behaviour, in general.
“Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself?”-Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words.
Many, the world over, believe in Original Sin, the notion that we were born with the sin of Adam and Eve wrapped around our necks , like an albatross of legend. I could get into that whole After the Fall thing, but I have much else to do today.
What I believe is this: Christ took care of people’s guilt over the Fall from Grace, by sacrificing His earthly life. His point was, and is, we are absolved. We have always been absolved. A poster from the ’70’s says “I know I’m somebody, ’cause God didn’t make no junk.”
We are noble. We are made in the image and likeness of the Creator-in terms of attributes, in terms of spiritual qualities.
“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations
and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”
―Bruce Lee
The biggest disappointments in our lives are often the result of misplaced expectations. This is especially true when it comes to our relationships and interactions with others.
Tempering your expectations of other people will greatly reduce unnecessary frustration and suffering, in both your life and theirs, and help you refocus on the things that truly matter.
Which means it’s time to…
* Stop expecting them to agree with you:-
You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live a life you are excited about. Don’t let the opinions of others make you forget that. You are not in this world to live up to the expectations of others, nor should you feel that others are here to live up to yours. In fact, the more you…
Every year, from March 2-20, until I reach the age of 70, my practice is to refrain from food and drink, between sunrise and sunset. The purpose is both physical and mental cleansing, which is something that could benefit anyone. Of course, if I am traveling long distances, engaged in strenuous work or become ill, the Fast gets modified somewhat.
Each of these nineteen days will feature a post that deals with spiritual matters- attributes and such, that help us meet challenges.
The first of these is trustworthiness. I haven’t always been deserving of trust. Last night, I dreamed of someone whose trust I broke, a few years back. In the dream, my charge was to deliver some mail to this person’s office, whilst she was, ostensibly, not there. I had a key to the office, which was to be returned to a third party, after the delivery. When I made the delivery, I saw the top of the person’s head, over a divider. I silently handed her one of the parcels, and left the others on a table in the front of the office. No words or gestures were exchanged, and I went on my way, delivering the keys to the third party, as planned.
Quirks and perceived needs can, and do, impinge on trustworthiness; so do skewed perceptions. Divided loyalties can enter into the matter, as well. The fact is, however, that once trust is broken, it can seldom, if ever, be wholly restored. There are those who have broken my trust, and those, like the aforementioned, whose trust i have broken. With one forgiving exception, of them are in my life anymore.
Going forward, my choice is to pursue every single encounter with a person, or group, very carefully. Trust is like glass.
Today was the first day of Ayyam-i-Ha, the Baha’i period of gift giving and gratitude for what we have.
I gifted an intentional community, north of here, with a stoneware baking dish, because they have been jerry-rigging their baking efforts. Plus, I love those kids.
Actually, I love all kids, and have for years. Even the ones that others call misfits and brats deserve love and encouragement, though not coddling. Nonviolent discipline is a vital part of love.
This generation, which some call The Founders, will have its work cut out for it. How much work, will depend on how much their parents’ and grandparents’ generations put up a fight against their efforts (see #CameraHogg and other noisome garbage that various “Old Guards” are spewing forth).
It will also depend on how seriously the children come to take their own pronouncements about inclusion. Splitting into cliques and putting up walls will just be more of the same.
“Hallelujah” and “The Sound of Silence” are among the most beautiful songs in the English language. They’ve been on my evening’s playlist. Then, there is this:
The Baha’i Nineteen-Day fast is coming up, starting Friday, and lasting until sundown on Tuesday, the twentieth of March. I will refrain, to the best of my ability, from eating or drinking, between sunrise and sunset, for those nineteen days.
Guns don’t kill; hate kills. Guns make killing easier, as do bombs and flammable liquids. The bottom line is, though, it’s a hate thing.
I could not live, easily, in a world without women. It started with Mom, and Grandma, in the early mists that I knew as Saugus, in the 1950’s. That brings up this:
The harbour lights and the campground lights have meant the same thing to me, over all these years: There is love and safety ahead.
Know this, my friends and family: There is not as fine a world, if not for you. Self-battery should never be an option.
I have spent two days, trying to catch up on my Reader. Sad to say, I will not get to everyone’s posts, every day. No harm, no foul. Life has to go on, so don’t take it personally.
People matter; black guns do not. Children and teens matter, greatly, because they will carry on, and these particular ones will have much to clean up. They have already started. Of course, some of the mess-makers will stick out their legs and try to trip everyone up. “Must keep things as they are, you know!” There are consequences, to anything one does. The consequences of a conspiracy theory are that no one believes you, and then, when the wolf does bite……
I have four places to be today. Sometime, in the middle of it all, I will go get a tire pressure gauge and find out the source of the Pressure Warning Light being on!!!! Well, it’s time to go to breakfast. The consequences of not eating are not pleasant.
A Sagittarian Seeker 