T is for Truthful

I think it is interesting that people know this is a virtue, yet so many struggle with being truthful. As a society we start to make excuses for lying - such as: "I was trying to spare her feelings" or "They didn't need to know." But these are all copouts, excuses, and rationalizations, for basically betraying those around you.

Yep, betrayal.

You see, lying on the least level is miscommunication. At the most it is not allowing the one you are speaking with (someone who trusts you to convey correct information) to know what they need to know - betrayal. You are basically saying 'yes' for 'no' and 'no' for 'yes.' No one can trust what comes out of your mouth. Someone who lies puts forth a false presentation of who they are and what they stand for. At the core, lying is cowardly and selfish.

Now, there are those who when they tell the truth, they are cruel about it. You may have heard the saying: "The truth told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent." I think that's why the quote in the box below has the word gentle in it. Ghandi was a gentle and fearless man.

To be frank, I deplore lying and liars. I love accuracy and the truth. If I were dying, I'd want to be told. If my hair looked terrible, I'd want to know so I can fix it. If my fly were open, you'd bet I'd want to know so I can zip it up. There are discrete ways to tell the truth. There are gentle ways to communicate things that are unpleasant. Besides, most people want the truth, as it gives them a proper course to follow. You cannot build a house on false calculations. You cannot perform life-saving surgery without the correct knowledge. You cannot lead a nation into progress on lies.

I know people think they can. In our world today, people lie for money, for power, for political agendas, for pleasuring themselves, for glory, for reputation, and for so much more.


So, this blog is a call out to the liars.

Shame on the liar who does not disclose all the facts about medical procedures.
Shame on the liar who does not honestly follow through on procedures in scientific studies.
Shame on the liar that uses money to silence scientific studies that expose dangers to human health.
Shame on the liar who uses lawyers and government agencies to suppress and oppress people who speak up for their own rights, freedom, and health.
Shame on the liar who cheats his/her employee out of a hard-earned wage, making excuses about the economy, while giving themselves raises.
Shame on the liar who invents convoluted theories and preaches them as truth and fact without any real substantial, tried and true evidence.
Shame on the liar who says something is safe, but is not willing to risk their own life with that same object/method/practice.
Shame on the liar who brushes away the heaps of evidence that what they are doing is harmful to people, lives, and the environment.
Shame on the liar who, when leading a country, promises one thing yet delivers the exact opposite.
Shame on the liar who exploits his/her fellow human being for profit, glory, and power.
Shame on the liar who pats himself on the back for the peace and prosperity in their penthouse - while creating conditions where those that work for him/her can barely subsist on one income.
Shame on the liar who invents reasons to fine or tax the poor - those who cannot afford a lawyer.
Shame on the liar who steals ideas and presents them as their own, not giving any credit to the source.
Shame on the liar who makes a promise to spouse to always be faithful - yet has an affair behind his/her back.
Shame on the liar who omits important things in their tax returns and hides their money abroad so they can maintain their aristocratic status - while using the words 'freedom' at the same time to describe their own prosperity.
Shame on the liar who borrows a handicapped sticker to park in a space they simply do not need to use, but are too lazy to walk the distance.
Shame on the liar who steals from their employer, either in time, supplies, trade secrets, or in actual currency.
Shame on the liar who plays the race card and pretends to be a victim to get away with crime.
Shame on the liar that, in personal dislike for a race, gender, or belief, gives a false report of a crime to inflict pain or death on them.
Shame on the liar who seeks reason to start wars for political gain.
Shame on the liar who rationalizes murder by giving it other names to make it sound rational and even good.
Shame on the liar who does not stand accountable for his/her actions, but hides the information for his/her own benefit, or passes laws that make them unable to be held accountable.
Shame on the liar...

All liars will have to stand before God  (whether they believe in Him or not) and account for his/her actions. Every lie you tell will be tallied against you.

"As the Muggles say, 'Truth will out.' "


(This one is for fun)

The fact is, the majority of the world likes honest people. They hire them over those known to lie. They associate with them more freely. They confide in them. Because honest people can be trusted. It takes bravery to be honest. The person who is able to admit failings, who apologizes for his/her flaws, is so much more admirable than one who lies and covers up their failings. And there is a lot less to remember.

Why is being truthful a Godly trait?

God does not lie.

Admittedly, He does not tell us everything. But I think He does not tell us everything for the same reason why a parent does not lecture a two-year old about quantum mechanics. They just won't get it. So He waits for when we will be able to grasp more than just 2 + 2 = 4 (which is also way over the head of most two year olds).

T is for Truthful.

S is for Self-control

 

I've been thinking a lot about this one. We live in a world where the scientific dogma says you are a sum of your parts, determined by your genetics (known as biological determinism to some, genetic determinism to others). That you are controlled by these outside forces that dictate your appetites, likes, and even needs. And thus people begin to assume that it is ok to give into such desires, appetites and so-called needs as they are "natural". In fact, they sell the viewpoint of giving in to your appetites as freeing. This is complete and total garbage. And why? Because this is this is counter to the belief that human beings have free will and are able to choose their futures.

You see, free will means you are in control of yourself. But the world philosophy says restraining your appetites is repression and oppression. Today, the world preaches letting go, letting loose, and claiming it is all good.

But this ignores the laws of physics which says: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Or more plainly, everything has...dun, dun, dun....

Consequences!!!!

"Aaaagh! Evil word! Don't say consequences!"

But really, our modern world hates to think about the consequences while "living for today."

Oddly enough, this modern way of thinking was addressed in a letter written by Peter to the followers of Jesus Christ of his day. (We only have a few of his letters, as time and biodegradation have destroyed all the rest. But this is what he said [in old King James English]):

^" For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 

 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage."
 2 Peter 2:18-19 King James Version (KJV)

In modern English he basically says the "lusts of the flesh" are promised to be liberating, yet are in fact not liberating at all, but enslaving.

Don't believe it? Ok. let's go through this logically then.

By giving into appetites, not using self-restraint, scientifically, we know that it can lead to obesity and physical abuse, alcoholism, drug abuse, as well as unhealthy obsessions such as porn-watching and pedophilia.

Still don't think I'm right? Still think it is ok to do whatever because you just feel like it?

Fine. I like to use extreme examples, so here we go.

The best way to explain why self-control is a virtue is by imagining a world where self-control does NOT exist.

Rudeness will be the language from thereon. As it is NATURAL not to hold back snarky remarks. It takes self-restraint to bite one's tongue. Or fear. If it is fear, then language will be ruled by fear thereon. . . rather than by wisdom and tact.

There will be lots of car crashes, as taking turns requires patience...which requires self-restraint. Because it is NATURAL to just go when you see a gap. This is how they drive in China, by the way.

People will drink and drive... as who is to stop them? And more people will die on the road.

Stealing will be rampant, because it is NATURAL for us to want something and just take it.

Rape will be rampant, for EXACTLY the same reason. As with porn-watching becoming common place, women will be seen as objects and not people. Which means the quality of life for women will decrease. . . not increase.

Murder will be rampant, because anger is a NATURAL response to something that offends us and violence is a NATURAL reaction in the fight or flight response.

Cheating will be rampant, as well as lying - because it is NATURAL to want to protect yourself from any incriminating harm. But it also means you won't be able to trust ANYONE because NO ONE will be honest.

People will be either extremely FAT because there will be no self-restraint to hold them back. Or they will be obsessively exercising for the adrenalin they get from it. In fact, obsessions will increase because many things in our lives require us to say "I'm done. No more."

Children will not live long or well, as only a few people will want to take care of a screaming baby because that requires self-control and self-sacrifice. And those that want the kids, well, kidnapping will also rear its ugly head...because if you want it, you're just gonna take it, right?

Physical abuse in families will increase without self-restraint. So will incest and childhood pregnancy. A sad fact.

Almost no one will get married because...hey, it is a ceremony which some people like to call a social construct, and has strong religious roots. In fact, I always found it weird that homosexuals wanted to get married while heterosexuals seem to be running from it. And animals just don't get married, now do they? So, what is the point? As it set us up the situation for infidelity... more cheating, and lots of economic strain. In a world that lacks self-control, you'd have multiple partners, right?

Oh, and that would lead to widespread venereal disease, because, hey, that's how it is transferred. And more people would suffer and die from it.

Abortions will come to a full high, and births will drop to an all new low - as it is natural to be selfish, and only think about ones own life rather than the lives of others. I knew a cat that ate all of her kittens because she was jealous of the attention they got from other people. Ick, I know. You see, this explained dumpster baby mentality.

Education will go out the window, as very few on this planet NATURALLY likes studying. It is a learned trait that requires self-control. In fact, education will be seen like this:

Not much work will get done, as it is NATURAL to want to play all day.

So nothing will get made. No food will be grown, as agriculture requires work, work, work. The world would go back to the wild - as being wild is the opposite of self-control. 

We basically will end up living like the society in the Mad Max movies. Where things have lost their significance and we are back at square one - the life of the hunter-gatherer.

Congratulations! The loss of self-control will bring about the apocalypse (or poxy-clips as they call it). ;)

On a tangent...

Did you know that hunter-gatherer societies are in fact the laziest of societies? It isn't that they are less intelligent, but their work and play are the same, practically. Sounds ideal right? But they leave behind no legacy except the next generation they give birth to. They may have an oral history, but such societies don't create a written history even if they are able to.

Now a lot of environmentalists think this is a great idea, actually. Lots of anthropologists academically praise this kind of living, and even food fads praise it as 'paleo-living'. But this kind of society does not produce a William Shakespeare either. Or a Mozart. Or a Michelangelo. Or a Gustave Eiffel. Or a Howard Hughes. And no Stephen Hawking either. Because civilization requires doing more than what is NATURAL. And the Sistine Chapel is not a natural formation. Neither are airplanes, or doing quantum physics at a computer.

Self-control is a choice. It is a choice to transcend what is natural and choose what is better. It is the difference between iron ore and refined steel. Steel is not a natural formation, but is purposely and meaningfully forged. The refinement of metals is likewise purposeful, requiring lots of heat and the throwing off of dross. Tempered steel is so much better than natural iron. Making swords transforms that steel into an elegant tool of defense, or offense...depending on your choice. The ability to use swords correctly is also something that requires self-control. In fact, most talents are results of practice and self-control. Even geniuses practiced.

Ok, enough extremity. I think in real life we all recognize the need for self-control. No one sane would actually lose all self-restraint. People like that end up in prisons or lunatic asylums for a reason. And the reason is that no one actually wants to live with such kind of people. Because such a life is counter to civilization. What makes us civilized is self-control.

Now the positives about why self-control is a virtue. By avoiding all the garbage above our lives are a great deal better. You are driving the car. The car is not driving you. This is good, especially if you are driving along the edge of a cliff or on a raceway. It creates peace.

Why is it a Godly trait?

This part makes me laugh because when growing up we learned about the insane Greek gods and all the shenegans they got into. Honestly. In comparison, the Christian God is so mild. Sit down and read the Percy Jackson series if you don't believe me (Read them anyway. They're great fun).

Heavenly Father is the epitome of self-restraint. Most people who don't know Him see Him as a vengeful God. But they don't know Him. Those that take the time to know God learn about His never-ending patience and long suffering.

Think about it. With a large portion of the population taking His name in vain on a daily basis - it would take a lot of self-control not to punish every last one of them.

S is for Self-control.

R is for Reverence

Reverence (according to Merriam Webster) is honor or respect that is shown to someone or something. According to Wikipedia, reverence includes awe and is often used in relationship with religion. The site says "Reverence involves a humbling of the self in respectful recognition of something perceived to be greater than the self."

Now, Mark Twain, interestingly enough, had a lot to say about reverence. Coming from a satirist, it is ironic, as satire often pokes irreverent fun at things of society. He even said, "Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense."
- Notebook, 1888



Mark Twain

However he also had this to say: "The ordinary reverence, the reverence defined and explained by the dictionary, costs nothing. Reverence for one's own sacred things--parents, religion, flag, laws and respect for one's own beliefs--these are feelings which we cannot even help. They come natural to us; they are involuntary, like breathing. There is no personal merit in breathing. But the reverence which is difficult, and which has personal merit in it, is the respect which you pay, without compulsion, to the political or religious attitude of a man whose beliefs are not yours. You can't revere his gods or his politics, and no one expects you to do that, but you could respect his belief in them if you tried hard enough; and you could respect him, too, if you tried hard enough. But it is very, very difficult; it is next to impossible, and so we hardly ever try. If the man doesn't believe as we do, we say he is a crank, and that settles it. I mean it does nowadays, because we can't burn him."
- Following the Equator

I quote Twain because he is one of my favorite authors. But also because he has traveled a great deal, and has seen more of the world than most Americans. In fact, he says this about travel: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."
- Innocents Abroad

The reason I share these is that reverence is about respect. And in order to respect something that is not our own, we need to have a charitable view of other people.

Now, I've traveled enough to get out of that little corner of the earth that I was raised in. Quite a bit, according to some. I've lived in post-communist, pre-Putin Russia. I spent an amazing year in Taiwan. Then I took the leap to mainland China. I've been back and forth ever since. There are several things I've learned on these journeys.

First: American tourists can be really rude, pushy, and egotistical.
Second: Monuments abroad are not toys, no matter how much fun they look.
Third: You have a richer experience abroad if you respect the people and cultures you are mingling in.

Let me share an example. When I was in Taiwan there was this big Buddha you could climb inside. There were stairs that led all the way to the top. Lots of faithful believers would ascend the steps, gaze upon the murals depicting Buddha's life, then reach the top where they could look out Buddha's 6 orifices. That is, his eyes, nose, and ears were open so people could look out them. Now, this particular Buddha statue had this chicken wire mesh blocking the holes so people could not stick their hands or arms out these holes. And as we walked down to look at the outside again, I realized how disturbing it must have been for the faithful Buddhists to see arms sticking out Buddha's nose and eyes.

You're laughing. Aren't you? But imagine that this was not Buddha. Imagine it is someone you revere. Maybe it is Jesus. Or the leader of your country. Or the prophet of your religion. Or your mother. I think this is also why insulting someone's mother is so offensive. When it gets personal, it is not so funny.

In our day and age there is the attitude that nothing is sacred. That it is ok to talk about anything and to joke about anything. Yet, what is lost when we behave this way?

I can tell you this, Americans have lost a good reputation abroad. They see us as American Imperialists. Or just really obnoxious. Or egotistical. And this is mostly because American culture has lost reverence for others.

For me, this fat guy comes to mind.

If you don't mind the car chase....

Often people lack reverence because they are more 'scientific minded'. That is, without the sense of awe towards deity, they see no need to treat something so politely. Funny, Twain also had something to say about that. "We have not the reverent feeling for the rainbow that the savage has, because we know how it is made. We have lost as much as we gained by prying into that matter."  - A Tramp Abroad

And yet this is much like a kid who, when trying to find out how the radio works, tears it apart in a way so that it can't be put back together. This kid, in essence, lacks the sufficient knowledge to reassemble what they destroyed. But think of a person who constructs radios, there is in fact more awe...not less. They take more care when building, as they know certain things must be precisely done for the proper effect. When science tears things apart without the ability to put it back together, reverence is lost. But when discovering, patiently, the true way of creation, awe increases. It is the same way kids don't really learn to respect their parents until after they have become parents themselves.

Sir Isaac Newton

Speaking of rainbows, I've always been fascinated by Sir Isaac Newton. This was a man who believed more in God through his study of science. Not less. He invented Calculus and is known as the first Physicist. And though several of his theories have since been replaced, much of what he had established in the realm of science and mathematics is still used today.

That said, modern science has entirely rejected even the possibility of God, even when possible proof comes up.

I wonder about that, really. Rejecting something because you don't want to believe in something isn't exactly scientific. It's more like a temper tantrum.

But this is a tangent.

Back to reverence.

A lot of people do have a hard time showing reverence in our modern age simply because they can't reconcile with disagreeing views and the inability to treat others kindly. I found while going abroad the best way to show reverence to those I visited was to think in terms of the Golden Rule. (I know. People twist this rule as part of a cynical joke. But hear me out). Ask yourself - what do you love and respect? Would you like others to tromp all over that thing/belief and treat it badly? I think we'd all say 'No' to this one. Then don't do it to others. That simple, yet it takes a conscious effort.

Why is reverence a Godly trait? Honestly, when getting to know God better, I have learned that He respects my little whimsies and gives me space to go about on my own pace. But He also teaches us to do the same to others. Reverence is quiet. It is respectful. There's this kid's song in my church that goes like this:

"Reverence is more than just quietly sitting,
It's thinking of Father above.
A feeling I get when I think of His blessings.
I'm reverent for reverence is love..."

Which is the point. Reverence is Love.

Irreverence is disdain. Maltreatment. Selfish.

Reverence is a virtue because the core is love.

R is for Reverence

P is for...oh, I did that first! Alright then. On to Q... Q is for Quiet

Quiet.

Very underrated in our busy, busy world. The world is just so loud these days.



Have you ever noticed when watching movies how the background is often louder than the dialogue? How you can hear the beat of songs but hardly comprehend the words? How every generation complains about how much louder the next one is?
I don't know if that last one is actually true, especially since 80's music could get painfully loud and some stuff today is rather mild... so let's set that one aside. ;)

Why is being quiet a virtue?

For starters, quiet allows rest. Peace has hardly been described with booming drums and humongous explosions... except on the Fourth of July. People sleep best when it is quiet.



Quiet also allows others to voice their opinions. It allows input from all. It is the gift of the pause.

Quiet allows lingering thought. In fact, silence allows people to ponder and to meditate. Quiet promotes thinking......

Oooooh. I like that part. Quiet allows people to think without interference from others. It also helps people find out what they personally believe. It creates the setting for introspection.

Quiet allows the "still small voice" to speak to our minds so that we can connect with God. I think this last one is incredibly pertinent. If you truly want a relationship with God, you need to practice listening in the quiet moments. He said in Psalms: "Be still and know that I am God."

The important things cannot be heard when things are loud.

Beyond the sweet, romantic story about angels, the point is that you miss things when you are loud.

Here are a few more sites about the benefits of silence.

6 Soul Benefits of Silence and Solitude

The Health Benefits of Silence

The Huffington Post and the Benefits of Quiet

The Benefits of Quiet for Mind, Body, and Spirit

The Edge Magazine

From Baby Proof Your Life

And this Self-Help Blog I ran across....

 

I noticed in one of the sites is how silence boosts creativity. Think about that. I've heard lots of writers talk about listening to certain kinds of music when they write, but I've heard more say it is better to write in silence, so that the other noises to not interfere with your thoughts. I've noticed this in myself. What goes on in the lyrics of songs I am listening to tend to come out in my writing. Silence works better, clearing the mind. It also allows your mind to work on its own, rather than being constantly bombarded by outside sources.

 

So, if you are having trouble, stress, and difficulty focusing - maybe all you need is a bit of quiet.

 

Why is quiet a Godlike trait? God, despite what many people believe, is not one to tromp around and declare himself in a booming voice. He does not use fan fare. And in the end, he only resorts to dramatic miracles in an emergency. The parting of the Red Sea was an extraordinary event - meant to be once in a millennia, if even that. Most of the time God moves quietly, behind the scenes, mostly unnoticed. This is why so many people miss proof of His existence. He is the very essence of quiet.

Jesus Christ himself, instead of arguing with those that opposed him and plotted to kill him, spoke quietly, and often refrained from speaking at all.

Q is for Quiet.

 

 

 

 

O is for Optimism

half full/half empty...of what?????

Ok, I always hated the glass half-full/half-empty
analogy of optimism because I always wanted to know what was in the glass. I mean, a glass half full of arsenic is a glass to never touch.

Or if it was water but I seriously needed to pee. . . I mean, come on. What is in the glass????

That aside, optimism is looking for the optimal or best in things. It isn't just being happy for what you've got, but seeing the hope in it.

But first, something to listen to while thinking about Optimism.


Now, I think the better example of optimism is the fictional tale about the father who had one child who was an optimist and one who was a pessimist, and he decided to test that one Christmas. He bought an awesome bicycle for his pessimistic son and a got a big bag of manure for his optimist. Well, on Christmas morning, both boys came out and unwrapped their presents. The pessimist looked at the shiny new bike and immediately began to complain. He would have to take care of the bike, the tires would eventually pop. He would have to practice and he would probably fall and skin his knees or break an arm, and so on and so forth. Well, the optimist, when unwrapping the manure, got really excited and started running from room to room then outside. After a while his father asked him what he was doing, and the boy replied with so much enthusiasm, "With all this poop, there has got to be a horse around here somewhere!!!!"

The reason why optimism is a virtue is that is lifts us up. It brings us hope. And it lightens up stress. Optimistic people live longer.


Here are a few studies/websites about Optimism and health
By Harvard.
University of Rochester Medical Center
The Mayo Clinic
University of Illinois
University of California, Irvine


realist view

The opposite of optimism is pessimism. Pessimism is seeing the worst in things. It sees the mud. It sees the decay. It practices despair, grief, and worry.

A lot of pessimists call themselves realists. By doing so it gives them allowance to complain and look at all the grim things of life. But only seeing the negative is not in fact realism. A realist sees things as they really are. The good with the bad. What we have and what we lack. Not just black and white, but full of color, texture, grade, flavor, smell, and aroma. They see the blessings along with the difficulties. Pessimists let the bad overwhelm the good. They block out what great things they have and dwell on what they lack.

Ok, so why is optimism a Godly trait?
Think about it. God has a great deal of hope for us...us who curse Him, break His commandments, deny His existence, and do all sorts of horrible stuff to each other. He sees the good in us. He sees our potential. And the Christian God especially is full of hope. So much that He gave his Only Begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sins and mistakes, with the hope and optimism that we would turn and repent. Honestly that is the best kind of optimism. One so ready to forgive and ready to welcome all His children back if they would just look to Christ and live.

I also think about His faith in His Son, whom He sent. His optimism that His Son would not fail us. That He would not sin. That He could keep his promise when so many of us had messed up. Optimism that His Plan of Salvation would work out in the end. Optimism is not ignorance. It is in fact a joyful knowledge that things will work out in the end for our good.

O is for Optimism.