Category: General

Unleashed

Andrzej Otrębski

What would you be like if you were utterly and completely unleashed? No restraints, no inhibitions, no one putting on the brakes or thwarting your efforts; you are absolutely in control! What would you be like? Who would you be? What would you do? What potential has lain dormant within, long awaiting an opportunity to burst forth? What dreams would realize their fulfillment? What fears set free?

Would you buy everything you’ve ever dreamed of? Would you give away large sums of money to worthwhile projects and people? Would you set up an organization to feed the world’s impoverished, to rid our world of tyrannical régimes, warlords, unethical politicians and businessmen? Would you promote “pure religion, undefiled?” How much good might you be able to accomplish given the possibility that there was nothing, nothing holding you back? Right now…, dream about it. What would you do if nothing could stop you?

Of course, most of us live a life of limitations. Commitments, responsibilities, mortgages, rent, college loans, car loans, even TV loans! Daily obligations swirl around us like a tornado, spinning us deeper into a vortex of the ever increasing winds of captivity. Prometheus Bound. We seem never strong enough to break free from the chains that bind us. To be sure, much of our bondage stems from financial over-commitment. What was that adage? “Expenses rise to meet income.” Far too many of us passed that marker long ago.

Now it must be stated emphatically that being truly unleashed is not simply about being financially affluent; it is not all about money. Rather, it is more a matter of consistently removing yourself from Position #1, and intentionally relegating yourself to a lower place along the human food chain. Position #2 is a good start; but why not Position #14, or #79? To become genuinely unleashed you must learn to place the needs, the brokenness, and the pain of others ahead of your own. The amount of our wealth, energy, and time do we reinvest into our family, our neighbors, and our society will have a direct bearing on the shackles that bind us If our bottom line continues to be profit, our chain will hold us ever more tightly to Prometheus’ Rock. And, like Prometheus, it will repetitively eat away at us.

Relaxing our clutch on those external things that we grasp for security has a peculiar side effect— it breaks our vice-grip on the non-essentials that bind our hearts and spirits within. We become something other than once we were. We become truly free. A continual releasing of things comes with a surprise; we might awake one morning and feel we are genuinely unleashed. Now we can grab life and give it all we have! But it all starts with stepping down from being #1.

Koutouing,

Gary

the invention of God

It has been postulated that one of the corollaries of the evolutionary process, inevitably, would be the invention of God. This hypothesis theorizes that the transition between homo erectus and homo sapiens brought about our ability to observe the heavens and muse about the formation of everything we observed. Mental inquisitiveness, unfortunately, preceded mental capacity and technological contraptions. Thus, the only recourse left to our ancient ancestors was to posit a divine entity as the creator, sustainer, and primal causeof everything. But of course! It just makes sense. Right?!?

What is odd is that most ancient peoples postulated God with similar characteristics. All powerful, determining the seasons, controlling natural phenomenon, providing rewards for worship, punishment for disobedience, etc. Almost certainly this was mere coincidence, given their observations of similarly unexplained wonders. Yet as homo sapiens developed communities they invented different regional names for God—  Ra, Adi Purush, Zeus, Thor, I AM WHO I AM, Jesus, Allah, YHWH (יהוה), Baha, Ahura Mazda. To this day, there are ancient animistic deities yet being discovered. Each “religion” then created initiation rites, ritual celebrations, and taboos (sins).

Religion dominated both the ancient world, stemming from some common root in a time before recorded history, and continued developing in civilizations such as Egypt, Teutonic Europe, Mesoamerica, and Asia. Except for a brief period when the Greeks blended religion and science, religion’s prominence, at least in the West, held firm until the 15th century. Then the Renaissance in art and the Enlightenment in science supplanted religion and seized center-stage as the rational explanation of the universe and its mechanisms. The Modern Era was launched. “God” and the church became overshadowed by the “scientific method.”

However, today, as I snatch moments to ponder our universe and the religious wonderings in our past, I wonder…, I wonder if our ancient ancestors didn’t know something about the universe, the stars, and creation that we, in this postmodern, postChristian world, have lost? Were they in closer proximity to an actual Creator than we might imagine? Maybe they were not trying to explain the universe through “religion” but simply reporting, with some variation, what they already comprehended and understood as the true nature of things.

Maybe it wasn’t God who was invented…, but us.

Have a nice week,

Gary

spring cleaning

Chuck Marean

After much perpetual prodding from my wife I was guilted into facing the greatest challenge of my life— cleaning out my Study. Mind you, this is no small matter. Centuries of books line the walls like added insulation. When I gave myself to address the volumes of history I found copies of the US Constitution, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and papyri from the Library at Alexandria. In the dust collected I discovered micro-organisms which linked directly to the Big Bang. Together, my wife and I even found strands of hair from “the Missing Link.” (She mused if I might be shedding.) We decided that attempting to complete the task should be stretched out over a couple weeks to protect my delicately imbalanced psychological structure.

As I inhaled dust particles from before the last Ice Age it became apparent that a great battle was taking place. Deciding what should go and what could stay was hard enough; but it was more than that. I was at war with myself. I had to decide to let go of history, of meaningful parts of my very life that at one time were my very essence. Never mind that I held captive some of the most influential books ever written, even rare books! Some had to go: some could stay. I was re-experiencing The Agony and the Ecstasy as I dug deeper into the ancient manuscripts to determine if they held any significance for my present life-situation.

Letting go. Why do we have such a hard time with it? There’s safety in the past. Really!?! Do you know the saying—

Nothing is more responsible for the good old days

than the passage of time and a bad memory.  [Franklin Pierce Adams]

We hang on to our past because we fear the future. We neither want to live up to the demands of life NOW, nor face the challenges of an uncertain future. Uncertainty is frightening. No argument there. But what if…, what if, we could face it with less baggage? What if we let the past lie there, in the past? None of us can afford to rust on our laurels or go back to the way it used to be. The only choice before us is to learn from the past, to live in the present, and to plan for the future. We can do it with either anxious fear or anticipation and excitement.

Enjoying the present and trusting God for the future is a great beginning! But, unless you are an archeologist, hanging on to the past will only weight you down. It’s gone. Time for a little Spring Cleaning.

Have a nice week,

Gary

truncated truth— the abridged version

Do you ever wonder if our government tells us the truth? Or, just how much “truth in advertising” there is, actually? It’s no wonder our court system swears in witnesses with the charge— “Do you swear to tell the truth, the WHOLE truth, and nothing but the truth.” We’ve become a people who are content with convenient truth, mostly true, “half-truths,” and “truthiness.” Yet these descriptors are only applicable when the truth, or parts of it, suits our purposes. We demand the whole truth from other people. [How dare they hide the truth from us!?!]

You’ve heard the saying— If something sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t. That’s what religion and car salesmen sound like to me— too good to be true. They’re quite earnest in telling us what is so good, even fantastic, about their car or their faith, but they shy away from telling us the whole truth, the whole story. CarFax, remember? Maybe the Bible or the Qur’an or the myriad of Vedas have some fine print that is only visible to the faithful, to the select few. But my guess is that they don’t want us to know there are commitments and sacrifices their faith calls on us to make.

There are probably some beliefs they want us to accept that are a little weird: like the deity of their founder or prophet. In the Christian religion I know that “Christians” are expected to love God, who they cannot even see, and to “love thy neighbor.” Does God even know my neighbor!?! He can be a real pain in the butt. Loving him is going to take some work. There are so many unlovable types in my life I can hardly keep count. And then God expects me to love Him too; AND to express it. Pushing it.

There is safety in adhering to an abridged version of the truth. Reading further just complicates things, forces us to think. Life should be simple: it’s easier to stick to a simple faith, to that “old-time religion.” Leave the deep stuff for those who want to read the complete version of faith, unabridged.

Of course, in the real world, life isn’t quite so simple, is it? Most likely, you’ll probably do more than just kick the tires the next time you’re buying a new car.

Have a nice week,

Gary

gut feelings

Most human beings have them at one time or another throughout their life. Some of us trust our gut feelings more; others, less. Some of us go into Risk Assessment mode: others simply make a snap decision and implement. Gut Feelings are the simple result of the blending of intuition and discernment based on accumulated knowledge and past experience. In other words, living life. These processes operate subconsciously until needed; then they percolate to the surface to play their part in our decision-making process. Thus the question before us becomes—  To what degree can we trust our gut feelings?

The question points us back to at least two other questions about ourselves.

1.      To what degree do I feel safe in life?

2.      To what degree do I trust anything, or, anyone (for that matter)?

Having a sense of personal safety lays a broad foundation for so much of life’s quirky situations. If you feel safe within yourself, you are more prone to serve others, to make decisions more readily, to be able to care even when the road ahead becomes unclear. Developing an ability to trust people— as dangerous as it might often prove, is still our best ally in times of need, or when teamwork is essential to get the job done. It is also an essential thread in the very fabric of human relationships.

Being safe (personal security) and trusting others are both outgrowths of practice and knowing your core values. The more you can define your core values, beliefs, and personhood, the more safety and trust will be able to function freely in your life. Thus, gut feelings join our inner and outward selves into a unified presentation to others of who we truly are. Gut feelings align with confidence and accomplishment to forge our character and to create a stronger person, one whose assurance in making correct decisions proves true. Then, other people are more comfortable trusting us, more comfortable following our leadership.

Now let’s throw trusting God into the mix. Acting on a gut feeling about trusting Him can add a great deal of certitude to your overall confidence in facing a difficult dilemma. Try it. You’ll like it. [Except for the first time. That’s scary.]

Take the plunge,

Gary

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choosing what is right…choosing what is easy

Our society seems full of people who refuse to choose. We put it off; hoping someone else will take the responsibility of making the decision. Thus are we able to comply or complain. Keeping our options open is always the preferred path. Heaven forbid that anyone should hurt anybody else.

If the choice should come to a ethical issue, choosing what is right too often gives way to that which is easy. Choosing what is right often involves moral judgment, even if it be between the lesser of two evils. Doing what is right can bring criticism and condemnation from any and all who disagree with our idea of what right is. [… and where do we get our ideas of right and wrong, anyway?] We can be viewed as narrow-minded, intolerant, “conservative” (never liberal, by the way), dogmatic, and certainly as prejudicial. God forgive us for actually believing humanity has an innate moral consciousness that underlies our ethical sensitivities, religious beliefs, and public actions.

If you’ve lived long enough you well know that all choices have consequences, one way or another. Some choices are life threatening; most are not quite. Whatever choices we make, right, or easy, they add up to forge our path in life with all its blessings and/or curses. That’s just the way it is.

I end with a poem by Robert Frost (1874-1963), to remind us all of our intrinsic responsibility to choose wisely.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Did I mention that not to choose is also a choice? Easier? Maybe. You cannot just sit there.

Have a nice journey,

Gary

The Search for Sloth

Def. – sloth (noun)

1. habitual disinclination to exertion; indolence; laziness.

2. any of several slow-moving, arboreal, tropical American edentates of the family Bradypodidae, having a long, coarse, grayish-brown coat often of a greenish cast caused by algae, and long, hooklike claws used in gripping tree branches while hanging or moving along in a habitual upside-down position. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sloth]

I’ve never actually seen a sloth. Have you? I have wondered how they might feel about having one of the Seven Deadly Sins named after them. And what’s up with their hanging upside-down to do just about everything!?! Perpetual preteens?

We seem to be evolving into a society of sloth. Do as little as possible to get by. Move slowly so the work will last. Or, “this isn’t in my department.” Don’t exert yourself too much. Couch potatoes. Remote controls. Automatic this & that. Even doors that open when we approach them. Pre-cooked meals at the grocery store. If we continue on this path we will become a society that has forgotten how to DO, let alone how to THINK.

When asked a question some of us immediately respond, “I don’t know.”  Though we might actually know, it is just easier to respond that we don’t so we will not have to put our mind in gear to think about an answer. Too much effort. Just let it slide; somebody else can put up the effort. At least “Huh?” implies a modicum of feigned attention.

We seem constantly to be in search of the easiest way to do things, demanding the least possible effort on our part. Too many of us cannot wait to get out of work, to get home, to do…— nothing. Of course, we would never define ourselves as slothful; we’re just relaxing. As a nation, we seem to be doing it more and more and more. Complacency reigns.

By now you should be genuinely depressed, disgusted, and even angry at these accusations. Good! You’re ticked off! Now prove me wrong. I’d be tickled pink.

That’s enough energy expended for one day. (Yawn!)

Have a nice week,

Gary

Glider Pilot

Aleksander Markin

Ever wonder what it’s like? Silently slipping through the thermals at 3000’–5000’? Just you. No strings attached; the tether to the aerotow plane, severed moments ago, now seems like forever; or just the blink of an eye. The majesty of the earth moves slowly below you; the horizon’s expanse stretches 360º; the sky above, brilliantly blinding! You are suspended between two worlds and you never want to land. Your spirit soars! You are free.  …if only for a moment.

Most of us need an experience where we soar above our everyday circumstances to regain perspective on how to function in the daily warp ‘n woof of life. It is too easy to simply get caught up in our activities. Yet purpose and productivity, whether raising strong-willed children, running a Fortune 500 company, or starting out as a mechanic in a garage all demand that we check in with ourselves periodically to regain a sense of where we are in process.

There are a variety of areas where regaining clear perspective is critical. Here’s my list—

  1. A clear conscious and a clean heart.
  2. Healthy relationships with those around you.
  3. Juggling your time with wisdom.
  4. Realistically defining your strengths and weaknesses.
  5. Use of your discretionary cash.
  6. Actually planning for the unexpected…, & the expected.
  7. Knowing your place in the universe.  [a.k.a.— knowing your place before God.]
  8. Listening to learn more from others.
  9. Developing the arts of sacrifice & service.
  10. Slowing your soul.

Pick five. Get to work. You might find yourself just as free on the earth as gliding above it.

Have a nice week,

Gary

lilting opacity

Light. It illuminates whatever it touches…, mostly. [It can burn too.] Light clarifies, brightens, melts the cold, and pierces the darkness. Light is necessary for sight to work. It is necessary for organic life to grow on the surface of this small planet, dangling in space. Light shines! And it soothes all those basking in it to its radiance and warmth.

Solid objects block light— buildings, window shades, trees, and definitely mountains (unless you are standing on top of one, of course). Some people block light too. They block light coming into them— dense. They block light issuing from them— dark. There is something about them that dims the light around them and grows darker the closer we approach. To know them intimately is not to know them at all—their true self lies veiled somewhere within their shroud of darkness. They do little to shed light on the truth, on others, and even on themselves.

Opacity describes the capacity to block light or to allow it to shine through. Opacity diffuses intense light into a spectrum of gentleness that is soft to the touch, soothing the eyes, and caressing the beholder. It may be how the Lord God actually veils himself to us, protecting us from his grandeur. Lilting describes the ability of a musical score, a breeze, or a swaying motion, to lift the spirit, to grant it fleeting lightness and a whimsical feeling of soaring. It is the bearable lightness of being. Melding these two images into one presents us a visage of our ability to become vessels of light, lifting the spirits of others to pass through whatever darkness they may reside and to grasp the hope needed to rise above their personal mire, loss, pain, or emptiness.

We have a choice, you and I— to cloak the light granted to us in inner darkness, or to rise above our bitterness, grief, and regret, to allow that Light, infused within us by the Lord God Creator, to glow through every crevice of our being, thus drawing other people out of their own dark night of the soul. A note of warning:  light does have the power to burn as well. It may sear you to let your light so shine. So make sure that the source of your light is a friendly one. The Light may still singe you as it glitters and grows brighter; but, then again, some things have need to be burned away to make a way for the clear light to shine through.

Have a nice week,

Gary

A Closed Mind

There are three kinds of people in this world…, those who make up their minds once & for-all about everything, and those who are so opened minded that their brains fall out. For those who come to final conclusions early in life, congratulations! The rest of your life will be a simple flow of new information feeding through a predisposed filter with no further consideration needed. This is truly a wonderful way to live! There are no longer variables in the questions of life, merely pre-established conclusions. For those who chose to remain open-minded on most topics, there will be a constant reconsideration of new information without a critical foundation by which to make an assessment. The wheel is spinning but the rat is dead. The third kind of people just never bother with any deeper thought than large or small fries.

Clearly, no one is singularly one or the other. [Actually, I recant that. I have met some people who have truly relinquished all critical thought; they lie in both of the aforementioned categories.] Nonetheless, it seems prudent to keep an open mind on some issues, but to construct some kind of value-screen whereby information and experiences can be measured, evaluated, (categorized?), and considered for significance and reliability.

We live in a milieu of pluralism where it is supposedly politically correct to keep your options open; to keep an open mind about things. But we also live in a mosaic of cultures where some have opted to close their minds on anything outside their immediate subcultural network. Tunnel vision would be a step to the left. These groups have been denoted as Republicans, the religious right, the evangelicals; or, if you will, Democrats, the radical left, liberals, the 1%, and even the arrogant elitist aristocracy. No matter where you find these people they all have one thing in common— they have closed their minds to any consideration of new data or any reconsideration of established presuppositions.

If I might, I’d like to come-out. I am a genuine Christian; I am not plastic, superficial, or judgmental of other faiths or philosophies; nor do I attempt to convert people to my way of believing. I leave that to God. AND I am open to the possibility that I MIGHT BE WRONG. The principles I adhere to are known as the Christian faith, by the way. I cannot prove what I believe is true. You cannot prove your presuppositional origin either.

So will you agree with me that it is time we confessed we are not as certain about things as we pretend, and open our minds to listen intently to other points of view? If we do so our beliefs will be challenged: then they will be affirmed more vigorously or drawn into a reexamination of our basic beliefs. How can we go wrong!?! Subsequent discussion over a fine glass of Shiraz preferred.

Have a nice week,

Gary