[Akira]

Hi all,

Oh boy... politics AND religion... we do get down and dirty here don't we? lol

I would like to offer some food for thought...

Religion is not the problem.... man's ego is...

Religion is the opiate of the masses = author = ????? (shame on me)

As I (used to) continually tell my sons... ALL things are either toys or tools... and even toys are tools... for having fun!

In my sojourn for Christ, I have used a variety of methods of "shocking" people out of their "rut" to try to get them to think. Over the years, I have used a variety of tools to do this.... some socially acceptable, and some not. Rather than seek the clean, wide and paved high road of understanding, I took the low road.. not because I didn't believe, but because I wanted to do more than just accept, I wanted to understand, so I went looking for the "Big Guy" myself.

Along the way I learned several profound yet simple truths, which I still carry today. I am under contract to share these with you... please indulge me for a moment, as I share three with you today.......


1) Whether quoting one of the great sages, using an occult tool such as astrology or tarot, seeking my spirit guide, or even the "Big Guy" and his Son directly for some knowledge, with which to shock my client out of their rut....

THESE THINGS ARE ALL TOOLS !!

A SURGEONS KNIFE CAN KILL OR CURE, IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHO IS WIELDING THE TOOL !!!

The knife, gun, car, religion, patriotism, occultism, contracts, corporations, money, and even your HANDS, are only TOOLS and as such are not inherently evil... they can't be... they have no choice, no energy, no free will... only man's heart / mind / soul bring this potential to the table.


2) A Master and his student were walking thru town.. the Master said

M: Do you see that man over there?

S: yes...

M: Do you know that man?

S: Sure.... that's the town drunk

M: Do you LOVE that man?

S: Heck no !! That's the TOWN DRUNK !!

M: Your inability to love him, is not his problem.... it's yours... the LACK is within YOU ! You must put your own needs, your own perceptions, your own perspective behind you and become selfless... then and only then, can you put yourself in his shoes, see things thru his eyes, feel his feelings, and begin to comprehend why he has made the choices he has made.... only this way, can we ever begin to understand him... to love him.


3) Most of us are perceptive enough to recognise lacks in other people or when people are having a bad time.

Let's continue with the town drunk.....

He's sitting there... on the sidewalk, leaning against a building... with his sign, and donation hat. He's filthy, his clothes are ragged, he has no place to live or sleep, and he hasn't had a meal in weeks that didn't come from a dumpster...

It doesn't take Einstein to see the lacks in this man, or his lifestyle.

Of course, if we are open to it.. he and his situation pull at our heartstrings, and we feel compelled to help...

So we whip a $10 bill out of our pocket and give it to him and say, " go get yourself a good meal" or, if we have been down this road before, we may buy him a meal, or give him a blanket....

Inevitably, the "drunk" accepts the new "resource" and trades it for a bottle... often right in front of us...

We take this as a slam or an affront and generally, the experience ruins our day... we feel hurt.

All of these are inspired gifts, percieved thru empathy and selflessness....

But what is REALLY happening here?

What ruined this pristine moment was OUR own inability to LOVE ! yep... read on...

We felt inspired and gave the gift... because we wanted to HELP HIM CHANGE... to put him back on the straight and narrow... to begin his new life, now.... RIGHT NOW !!

But he takes his newly found resource and trades it away... why? because he is NOT READY TO CHANGE !

Our own EGO, based on the perceptions of our five senses, (read false images), has decided "this is your moment"... but did we bother to ask him?

The fact is "No one ever changes until they're damn good and ready"... you can lead a horse to water, but....

When a person decides to change their life in a profound way, it is always a decision between themselves and their maker. When that moment arrives, and the person is truely humbled before God, then and only then are they ready to change. When at that humblest of moments, the person in need will not only NOT ASK for assistance, they won't have the strength to even look you in the eye! It is at that moment.. and from that moment on, that our gift will not only be accepted, but truely appreciated..

So, it really becomes a question of TIMING !!

The question is not whether they have lacks, or whether we have the resources and the ability to fulfill them, they question is " has the person in need made his covenant with God and made the decision to change... and can we recognise that moment? Only then will our gift NOT be tainted....

Not only that, when the person in need has reached that point, a meal, a blanket, or $10 is really overkill... all it really takes is a kind word and a smile....

To give our resources away before then, is a waste of resources ! The fact is... when someone approaches and says "hey, I need help, can you do me a favor? can you lend me $20?" they are only wimping out, looking for a shortcut, an easy way out, for someone to bail them out of their fix.

They always have other alternatives, they just don't like them for some reason, (pride / work) and why bother, when an easy "mark" like you is available?

Our Love is a Weapon of Truth !

First we must become selfless, then use our empathy to "get inside", to touch their soul, and discern whether that person has made their choice, then and only then, will the situation becomes a win-win for all...

Anything short of this is a waste of EVERYONE'S time and resources, even the Town Drunk's !!

And.... we actually have a DUTY to say "NO" !


For your consideration...


For HIS Glory,
Akira