March 30, 2022
I swear that the last week
here in my little corner of Ontario has greatly resembled a live re-enactment
of a movie flashback scene. And the substance of that scene has been the
weather from every season for the past year, except summer.
We had cold, damp, and rainy—that’s
autumn. Then we had a little warm, sunny, with tiny green shoots popping up—spring.
And then one day in the last few, we had a freaking blizzard. There were
times when I would look out my widow and see nothing but a sheet of slanted,
racing white…pollen.
Clearly Mother Nature has no
desire whatsoever to let go of winter just yet, and the calendar be damned.
Folks, I have declared for several years now—actually, since I began writing
these essays—that winter here in the frozen north runs from October to March,
inclusive. And today is the date on which we can say that there is only one day
left in winter.
All right, you probably won’t
say it but I will. I have a feeling though that my saying it won’t make a darn
bit of difference to good old M.N.
This has been an odd week for
humanity, hasn’t it? As if there isn’t enough going on in our own lives, and
then in the wider world, that we have nothing better to do than to point our
fingers at people who make mistakes even if what they’ve done might not
necessarily be a mistake at all.
I have a love for the truth
that seems to be growing exponentially as time goes by. Although I know it isn’t
the passage of time that’s causing it. It’s the accumulative number of lies
being told by those in positions of influence and power.
Just to be clear, and because
a lot of those telling bald-faced lies proclaim to be followers of the Bible—lying
is a sin. It is a no-no. It is listed in the top ten no-no list written
in that book they all claim to follow! For those who need a refresher allow me
to direct you to Exodus 20:16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor.” Bearing false witness = lying.
And the more I hear people who
know better telling lies, the more I cherish the truth when I hear it. Now, I
get it, sort of. Words spoken have power, and words spoken by those in
authority have a special power.
But it’s kind of disingenuous to
take the position that those in power whom you’ve supported are exempt from
this bit of truth. What you’re really saying in that case is “our guy can say
whatever he wants but your guy better watch his mouth.”
I don’t understand the divisiveness,
and I don’t understand the hate. Again, that book that most of the dividers and
the haters claim to love tells them in that same chapter of Exodus that they
should love their neighbors as they love themselves.
Talk about cognitive dissonance!
I can’t imagine the stress that can be put on a human being, believing one
thing while proclaiming to believe in another. Now, I’m not saying which of the
two forces pulling at them—good or evil—is the one they truly believe. Because,
quite frankly, it’s impossible for me, a mere human, to tell.
And truthfully, questions of
this nature really are a matter between an individual and their God. It’s not for
me to judge another person. I mean, I could make a very convincing argument for
the development one can experience of a little something called discernment.
If you’re wondering, that has to do with a parable about a good tree bearing only
good fruit and yes, that’s in the same book I quoted above.
But I will leave that
discussion for another time.
Meanwhile, as I said, it has
been an odd week for humanity. These are the times that try men’s souls, to
quote Thomas Payne. It becomes a real challenge to keep positive thoughts in
one’s heart and mind, and that’s for certain.
A real challenge, yes—but not one
impossible to overcome for those so motivated.
Love,
Morgan
http://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury
No comments:
Post a Comment