I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing...

Some of you might recognize this quote, it’s from the first Star Wars movie, Darth Vader says it as he force chokes an Imperial officer for chiding him that the Force is not enough against the rebels.

 This post is not about Star Wars but about my own lack of faith which I find... disturbing.

 As the events unfold in the shooting in San Bernardino, CA my heart sinks as it is has been proven to be an act of radical Islam. In light of this, the folks on the right are feeling a sense of justification for their fear and this will boost anyone that has an “us vs. them” world view.

 That is pretty much guaranteed. For me it takes a darker turn. I lose faith, what little I have left, that there is a God out there and that He cares at all about what goes on down here.

 I know there are those that say that we are responsible for all this evil in this world, but what about innocent people?

 They don't deserve this and I refuse to be made to feel guilty by believing that it is my sin or my lack of faith that is at fault. I don't know, things look dark for now, but hey... you gotta have faith that things will turn around I guess.

Now What?

So you work really hard.  Like REALLY hard.  You work more than one job to somehow get ahead of just having enough money to pay your rent, bills, food etc.  Some people work at the same company for years and just work their way up the ladder.  You get to the top, then what?

Some times I get frustrated because I find myself asking "now What?"  I'm here, I'm making good money, I'm looking for a house, my cars are paid of and my student loans, which I acquired late in life, are almost paid off so I should be living the dream... Welp, I'm not feeling it.

I don't want to be ungrateful, I have a great job, just not particularly fulfilling at times.  I just have a feeling of being underwhelmed.  I'm almost 50, I should be at my prime but yet I feel more is yet to come.  There has got to be more to life than this.

Why People Think I'm Smart

By the subject of this post you might think that I'm writing this just to toot my own horn but I can assure you its not.  I believe most people in my family think I am some sort of genius however in my opinion I just like researching and using Google A LOT.

 If that makes me smarter than the average person than so be it.  I can't fathom living in a world in which I don't answer any question that I have.  With the Internet at our finger tips how is it possible not to answer a question you have or dig deeper for an understanding in concepts you don't get.

It appears that most people don't give a crap.  They just remain in ignorant bliss when the answer is just a few clicks away.  Granted with so many heavily biased and opinionated blogs ( I ain't even gonna lie, my opinions are my own and by no way dictate a truth just my perception of it) it takes some digging to get to the 'Truth".

I think its extremely important that at the very least listen to both sides of a position and try your very best to think outside of your own belief system which I admit is a lot harder than it sounds.  My advice is to keep in open mind and realize that we share this planet with other people who have other viewpoints and and experiences.  T

hat doesn't mean you need to agree with everyone you just need to accept that not everyone is EVER going to agree on everything and don't focus on imposing your beliefs on others but on helping them understand why you believe what you do.

Who knows maybe it will lead you to God forbid change your mind and come to a new understanding :).

Haters Gonna Hate...

That saying use to bother the heck outta me but you know what?  It's true!  There are some people who are always going to find the bad in whatever you do or say.  There is nothing you can do to change their mind.  Face it, these kinda folks can be toxic and you should try to steer clear of them whenever possible.  Please don't confuse this with friends giving you honest advice either.

 Good friends will and should let you know if you are doing something dumb however naysayers will find fault in EVERYTHING you do.  Do not try to placate them...just slowly move away.  I read some where not to shoot down anyone's dream, it may be the only thing that keeps them going.  Be supportive when you can, make sure all criticism is followed up with something constructive, and if you can't say anything nice...shut the hell up :).

Learn Something Every Day

I know the title is not really original but man is it true.  Every day can and should be a learning experience, and not just as in learning a new skill.  Sometimes you'll learn something about someone you know that you didn't know before.  A side of them that is seldom seen.  You know the type of person that may always seem that they have it together. They may let their guard down for a moment and you see insecurities that we all share.  We can never forget that we are ALL people and have the same feelings.  There are some that may have a handle at expressing them or hiding them better than others.  As I'm sure you have heard the saying that the ties that bind us are stronger then the things that tear us apart.  Always try and learn from one another each and every day.  Love All, Serve All.

Hmmmm

So.... Anybody ever get tired of the same old grind?  I suppose sometimes its better than the alternative of not knowing where you will get your next meal from or where you are going to sleep.  I think sometimes we have so much stuff we tend to forget about how easy we may have it compared to the less fortunate.

One of the biggest issues I've seen when 2 people are arguing is that they are either unable or refuse to see where their opponent is coming from.  When I say unable I mean they have not had the same experiences the other person has had so they think that they must be wrong or are lying.

The point I'm trying to make is unless we can empathize with other people and feel what they are feeling how can we ever hope to understand them.  We don't have to agree with what others might say but maybe just maybe we can start a dialogue and find some common ground. Just some stuff I have been thinking about...

Peace

Who do I write to?

I'm in a bit of a dilemma...  I really really want to be a writer but I don;t feel I have anything to write about that anyone else would give a damn about.  I have read that you need to write for the sake of writing first and then the rest will come.  Well, I'm waiting and still the words don't seem to come.  I'm going to keep waiting I guess...  My time will come and when it does I hope I can change the world, mind at a time.