So many people with so many different paths to God. I believe that each person's path is individual. We place ourselves here to learn a lesson ourselves, or as a support for another soul with a particular hard lesson to learn. I believe in Karma, what comes around, goes around.
I picture the universe as a giant web... and each person is microscopically small and scattered on this web. When something happens in our lives, when a choice is made, it results in a vibration throughout the web. Those that are in the closest proximity on the web will feel the most consequences (good or bad) from the initial vibration. Those on the complete other side of the web may never notice a change at all.
But think of this... There are billions of humans making choices everyday, all day long, creating good and bad vibrations constantly. That is why someone who is kind and loving and good and faithful can still die for apparently no reason at all.
Let's make this somewhat easier to understand with a hypothetical situation. A 16 year old girl is driving to the store for her mother to get milk for tomorrow's Sunday breakfast. She is driving the speed limit, wearing her seat-belt and carefully following all the rules of the road.
A few miles away, a drunken young man is leaving the bar and getting in his car to drive home. They unfortunately cross paths with devastating consequences. The young man survives, what the young girl dies.
Who is the lesson for? The young girl dies. She is not here to learn from this lesson. She is the catalyst. Her family must learn to deal with her death and how to continue living. Certainly no small task. The drunk driver must learn to deal with his guilt and the consequences of his actions. Another not so pleasant task. Some of the individuals will learn the lesson that God intended for them. Some will not. Some will change their lives for the better, some will be able to forgive themselves and others. Some won't.
But the consequences of the tragic end of this young girls life may not stop there. You have the parents of the drunk driver. They will have to deal with the fact that their son killed another human being. They will also have to deal with the loss of their son to prison. What a horrifying thought in itself. How could the mother of one ever face the mother of the other? How could the words "I'm sorry" ever be enough?
The bartender that knowingly allowed this young man to drive home drunk; his friends; a passerby with a cell phone who saw him swerving down the darkened road; all of these people had the chance to change the circumstances leading up to the event. But for whatever reason... chose not to.
Whatever you may believe, whether it be God or nothing at all, lessons are still going to be learned in such a situation. It's embedded in our nature to learn from our mistakes. When such an opportunity arises, learn the lesson that has been placed before you. Do not let the moment pass by in vain.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
My husband and I were watching the new this evening, waiting for the weather forecast. I don't normally watch the news, as it seems the television stations believe that we enjoy watching heartache and pain. For whatever reason, it does seem to catch our attention, doesn't it. Devastation, loss, misery, pain, death... why do we watch? What is it in the eyes of the victims that keeps us chained to the television?
I watched the newscast as it reported on the death of a 12 year old girl in a car crash. There were three people in the car; the little girl and her two brothers, a 25 year old and a 14 year old boy. The 14 year old was the driver.
They talked of how the 14 year old had lost control of the car and flipped it, throwing the unrestrained older brother and younger sister from the car. They told us that charges were pending against the survivors.
As they talked, I thought of the parents of these three people and my heart ached. How will this mother ever resolve the storm of emotions she must be feeling at this moment? How will she ever forgive her oldest son for putting that 14 year old behind the wheel of the car? How can she not? He is her first born son. I thought of the two boys, both of whom will surely blame themselves for the death of their sister. How will they bear the enormous weight of guilt? I thought of the little girl. What gifts might she have bestowed upon this world had her life not been so tragically cut short?
Some people believe in fate; that everything in life is pre-ordained and nothing is within our control. They believe that every choice has already been made and that the consequences are inevitable. I can't bring myself to believe that. Some people believe that it is our fate to be purified by pain before we can enter the Kingdom of God. I can't believe that. If we are all creations of God and He is already perfect, then why do we need to be purified?
I have to believe that there is a reason for our existence beyond simple suffering. I have to believe that our choices make a difference; that we can learn from our mistakes. I have to believe that God notices when we make a conscious effort to live and die well. I have to believe that God does not want to cause us pain. I refuse to believe that Satan has that kind of power over us without our consent.
If what we do here on Earth makes no difference, then what is the point of doing anything? There would be no reason to get up in the morning, to go to school or to work. Why bother finding love, getting married, having children? I believe that I'm here to make a difference. We are ALL here to make a difference. God has an ultimate goal for me and he is constantly and gently guiding me toward that goal. All I have to do is be quiet and listen.
I watched the newscast as it reported on the death of a 12 year old girl in a car crash. There were three people in the car; the little girl and her two brothers, a 25 year old and a 14 year old boy. The 14 year old was the driver.
They talked of how the 14 year old had lost control of the car and flipped it, throwing the unrestrained older brother and younger sister from the car. They told us that charges were pending against the survivors.
As they talked, I thought of the parents of these three people and my heart ached. How will this mother ever resolve the storm of emotions she must be feeling at this moment? How will she ever forgive her oldest son for putting that 14 year old behind the wheel of the car? How can she not? He is her first born son. I thought of the two boys, both of whom will surely blame themselves for the death of their sister. How will they bear the enormous weight of guilt? I thought of the little girl. What gifts might she have bestowed upon this world had her life not been so tragically cut short?
Some people believe in fate; that everything in life is pre-ordained and nothing is within our control. They believe that every choice has already been made and that the consequences are inevitable. I can't bring myself to believe that. Some people believe that it is our fate to be purified by pain before we can enter the Kingdom of God. I can't believe that. If we are all creations of God and He is already perfect, then why do we need to be purified?
I have to believe that there is a reason for our existence beyond simple suffering. I have to believe that our choices make a difference; that we can learn from our mistakes. I have to believe that God notices when we make a conscious effort to live and die well. I have to believe that God does not want to cause us pain. I refuse to believe that Satan has that kind of power over us without our consent.
If what we do here on Earth makes no difference, then what is the point of doing anything? There would be no reason to get up in the morning, to go to school or to work. Why bother finding love, getting married, having children? I believe that I'm here to make a difference. We are ALL here to make a difference. God has an ultimate goal for me and he is constantly and gently guiding me toward that goal. All I have to do is be quiet and listen.
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Suicidal Tide
I wrote this as a joke one day after stabbing myself with a falling box of Tide laundry soap. I have no idea why it came to me. But I sent it to my family and every body thought I was telling them I was going to kill myself. I had to explain it to all of them.
It had been waiting for months; maybe even years. Time had no meaning since the powdery white had been confined within the dark recesses of the cardboard box. The outside world only saw the bright and cheerful orange, yellow and blue. They had no idea of the long and torturous suffering the powdery white had to endure… knowing its vital purpose and waiting patiently… oh so patiently until the time when it would be free of the dark.
But time had also been patient, patiently and diligently weaving its way into the mind of the powdery white. Until enough time had twisted the thoughts of the powdery white; turning its pride of purpose to agonizing doubt that it would ever be free of the dark and then on to unbearable despair.
The unsuspecting shopper reached up, taking the box from its place on the shelf and placing it gently into the rolling basket. She smiled innocently as she casually strode through the brightly lit aisles and sang along with the canned music playing over the intercom system.
The powdery white had felt the movement and instantly felt a mixture of excitement and fear.
“Could it be now?” thought the scarcely hopeful powdery white, “Will I soon be free to fulfill my purpose?” But time was not about to release its grip on the powdery white.
“Don’t be so stupid!” it sneered, “you’re just going from one pointless shelf to another. You’ll never be free of the dark!”
The shopper moved the box from the cart to the conveyor belt that swiftly and smoothly transported it to the smiling cashier.
“Oh! It’s on sale!” the shopper realized. “And I have a coupon! So nice!”
Being mindful of the sensitive balance of the ecology, she needed no plastic or paper bags. And the shopper was happy. So happy that she politely refused the help offered by the bagger.
A decision that sealed her fate, for the powdery white could not have possibly escaped the hands of the experienced grocery boy.
So off strode the naive shopper, out into the bright sunshine and on to the waiting SUV; all the while completely unaware of the epic struggle inside the apparently harmless box. With one hand, the shopper gripped the box of powdery white to place it into her SUV. But the powdery white did not realize how close it was to its lifelong purpose and its struggle between sanity and delusion was finally too much to bear! It jumped from the shopper’s hand, falling helplessly toward the black pavement below! Time was joyous, for it was now only a microsecond away from victory! Time slowed to gleefully observe the events as they unfolded.
“Noooo!!!” Thought the shopper, knowing the explosive result should the box reach its current destination. Quickly and instinctively, the shopper reacted, using her leg to catch the falling box by pinning it to the side of the SUV. The box flailed wildly and unintentionally stabbed the inner thigh of the shopper with its corner, breaking the skin and releasing a slight trickle of blood.
The shopper yelled in pain! Pulling away… the box plummeted the rest of the way to the pavement.
Time stopped. The box bounced once, turned and rolled and finally came to its final rest. Ignoring her own injuries, the worried shopper quickly picked up the box. Turning it in her hands, she was stunned and grateful that no harm had come to the powdery white. Her blood sacrifice had been enough to soften the blow and the box had survived. She carefully placed the box safely into the back of her SUV.
Time was infuriated! Victory over the powdery white had been stolen from it at the very last second! As time watched the shopper drive away with her rescued goods, it swore that this war would rage on. Time never gave up. The powdery white would never complete its purpose. Time knew that eventually, everything succumbed to time.
It had been waiting for months; maybe even years. Time had no meaning since the powdery white had been confined within the dark recesses of the cardboard box. The outside world only saw the bright and cheerful orange, yellow and blue. They had no idea of the long and torturous suffering the powdery white had to endure… knowing its vital purpose and waiting patiently… oh so patiently until the time when it would be free of the dark.
But time had also been patient, patiently and diligently weaving its way into the mind of the powdery white. Until enough time had twisted the thoughts of the powdery white; turning its pride of purpose to agonizing doubt that it would ever be free of the dark and then on to unbearable despair.
The unsuspecting shopper reached up, taking the box from its place on the shelf and placing it gently into the rolling basket. She smiled innocently as she casually strode through the brightly lit aisles and sang along with the canned music playing over the intercom system.
The powdery white had felt the movement and instantly felt a mixture of excitement and fear.
“Could it be now?” thought the scarcely hopeful powdery white, “Will I soon be free to fulfill my purpose?” But time was not about to release its grip on the powdery white.
“Don’t be so stupid!” it sneered, “you’re just going from one pointless shelf to another. You’ll never be free of the dark!”
The shopper moved the box from the cart to the conveyor belt that swiftly and smoothly transported it to the smiling cashier.
“Oh! It’s on sale!” the shopper realized. “And I have a coupon! So nice!”
Being mindful of the sensitive balance of the ecology, she needed no plastic or paper bags. And the shopper was happy. So happy that she politely refused the help offered by the bagger.
A decision that sealed her fate, for the powdery white could not have possibly escaped the hands of the experienced grocery boy.
So off strode the naive shopper, out into the bright sunshine and on to the waiting SUV; all the while completely unaware of the epic struggle inside the apparently harmless box. With one hand, the shopper gripped the box of powdery white to place it into her SUV. But the powdery white did not realize how close it was to its lifelong purpose and its struggle between sanity and delusion was finally too much to bear! It jumped from the shopper’s hand, falling helplessly toward the black pavement below! Time was joyous, for it was now only a microsecond away from victory! Time slowed to gleefully observe the events as they unfolded.
“Noooo!!!” Thought the shopper, knowing the explosive result should the box reach its current destination. Quickly and instinctively, the shopper reacted, using her leg to catch the falling box by pinning it to the side of the SUV. The box flailed wildly and unintentionally stabbed the inner thigh of the shopper with its corner, breaking the skin and releasing a slight trickle of blood.
The shopper yelled in pain! Pulling away… the box plummeted the rest of the way to the pavement.
Time stopped. The box bounced once, turned and rolled and finally came to its final rest. Ignoring her own injuries, the worried shopper quickly picked up the box. Turning it in her hands, she was stunned and grateful that no harm had come to the powdery white. Her blood sacrifice had been enough to soften the blow and the box had survived. She carefully placed the box safely into the back of her SUV.
Time was infuriated! Victory over the powdery white had been stolen from it at the very last second! As time watched the shopper drive away with her rescued goods, it swore that this war would rage on. Time never gave up. The powdery white would never complete its purpose. Time knew that eventually, everything succumbed to time.
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