please start at the beginning
The Weight Upon Us, As On Atlas.
Somewhere, somehow, we lost the vision of our ancestors who made actual sacrifices to provide a better world and nations for our generations. We have allowed ourselves to become a self-centered generation, expecting governments to legislate to our wills and whims, provide for us what we cannot or will not achieve on our own. Now we are seeing the truth and our collective errors.
Our collective demands upon our nations are beyond the abilities of society to fulfill. We wanted and expected more than 'they' could produce. Understanding we were supposed to always stay focused towards laying foundations for the next generations becomes the weight we must bear. The generations before us gladly bore the weight. We cast it off and now upon our shoulders, unaccustomed to being burdened, it will feel heavy.
We can't say we'd rather not get involved. We're not given a choice. Either we provide a better future for the next generations, or provide less than that. Either way, what we leave as a legacy is all they inherit.
If we leave them with debts for our excesses and political issues that have been procrastinated for too long is up to us. If we choose to leave them a better world I cannot begin to envision the sacrifices, sweat and labors we will have to endure. I just know that I am willing to begin. Maybe I have already begun and don't realize it yet.
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Honoring and Dishonoring God or Man
I hope your cup is empty. This is bitter tea. This tea will be particularly bitter if you have squandered and wasted what had been handed down to you from those before us. You have. I have. We all have. We have all thanked God for giving us so much for so long. We let ourselves believe he'd blessed us. No. It had nothing to do with God. It had to do with us losing our purpose and vision. It had to do with politics and leaders who only led us where we asked them to lead us. It had to do with us forgetting why we are here on this earth and pretending the future doesn't matter. Either God or the government would take care of everything. No, God had nothing to do with this.
Not a day goes by that I don't hear or read someone invoking the name of God in the incomprehensible struggle before us. You probably hear and see it as much as I do. It angers me to witness this because these are likely the same people who praised God, and prayed for more and more from society as they produced less and less. I don't hold them at fault. They knew no better. I hope they have become wiser.
I deprive myself of prayer as I struggle to find the path back to all things we have forgotten. The answers aren't in Scriptures. God didn't mislead us. We should find our ways back and not call His name for help. I hope he never answers prayers from those seeking guidance through the collapse of a nation and society. I believe God will have pride in us each as individuals and a nation for bravery and conviction to face all obstacles and overcome this.
This will also compel us to grow, become more reliant on ourselves. A parent who runs too quick to the aid of a child only deprives the child the opportunity to grow and prosper from experiences. I think of my own son, at three who couldn't wipe himself until one day he grew tired waiting on me to get there. He did it himself, found new pride and I learned from it. Even the smallest accomplishments can bring pride and deserve praise.
We should go to God, not to beg help or forgiveness, but for his praise, acceptance and blessings for our accomplishments and strengths. I cannot go to God as a man in need of forgiveness, but as a man who strives never to need it. I cannot go to God as a man in fear for the fate of his soul, but as one assured of it.
I will not go to God for aid and help. I will go to offer mine.
Eternity holds no mysteries for me, but, still I have no less a monumental task ahead of myself, as do each of you. With or without others I am going to work to preserve, repair and enrich all of this world, society and government that I can. Seven generations from now I want people to honor my name for what I will have done for them. That is the closest one can achieve to a sense of eternity on this planet. Perhaps my efforts will be enough to make me worthy for more than that understanding of eternity on earth. I will accept it, but never ask for it or expect it in return for my efforts.
I've endeavored slowly over years to develop a sense of personal ethics higher than religions' codified moralities. It was not intentional in the beginning. It started with reading the works of Ayn Rand who referred to asking for forgiveness as being the same as 'asking for permission... after a transgression.'
From there I began learning to live a life in which I would do nothing that would warrant the need to ask forgiveness. It meant controlling my temper to avoid speaking harsh words I'd later regret. That in turned led me to understand anger and find its root. Once I'd found the common denominator for all anger it was easy to control. All anger towards people comes from one's own disappointment in the actions or words of others. Only those people of whom we expect most can anger us when they ail to live up to the expectations we impose on them.
My word, my oath and promise giving a commitment of my actions or support is my most treasured possession, and thus given carefully. Everyone should feel their oath to be so important and make it so.
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A Casual Observation and Questions
The Ankh; Egyptian symbol of eternity, so we're told. Eternity in any conception of it, is far away and an unimaginable duration of time. This symbol has been assigned many explanations and origins. Most of them have overlooked the obvious, the simplest.
The path to eternity is a journey of unknown perils and miles. The Egyptians went to great lengths to provide the dead with all they would need on the road to the afterlife. What purpose could this abstract symbol have served towards that end? 
But then, why are we assuming it is an abstract symbol and not a depiction of something that would be needed and vital on the long journey?
Here is an example of the understanding capable through 'an empty cup.' A mind filled with its own preconceptions and misconceptions will find what it expects, or doesn't expect to find. It makes more sense than other explanations. It is simple and obvious. On the longest of journeys what could be more important to an Egyptian than a strapped sandal?
What else do you really need?
email: exitnextright@fmail.co.uk
email: exitnextright@fmail.co.uk
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