Allegory of the Cave

I remember reading this piece of work from Plato as a "required" reading in High School and even back then it struck me as a tremendous lesson about life and how we SEE things from our own perspective and misunderstand illusions!

So much of our belief system is formed at such an early age and we are in fact "prisoners" of our surroundings - believing what people we "trust" tell us are Truths, Facts and Reality!

We rarely have a chance to challenge those "facts" and do not know anything different to compare them to anyway -even if we could.

Do not underestimate how powerful these early beliefs are and how ingrained the concepts of what we are and what our world means TO US become FACT as we become the people we actually become.

Whether they be the TRUTH or ILLUSION!!

Like the "prisoners" in the cave, we form a belief on what we "see" as we grow and rarely waver from those beliefs.

It is our responsibility however to escape those chains as we evolve and see that some of our old, ingrained beliefs may need adjusting-- or plain discarding altogether!

We need to open our minds to that fact!

So many of the problems, trials and challenges we face in our lives today are directly related to our "learned" belief system and once we have the strength and ability to realize that we create some of our own issues by believing what is not FACT, but merely illusions, we can change how we feel about our lives!!

Challenge what you were taught and learned -- open your heart and soul and mind to uncovering the TRUTH about what are lives are supposed to be! What our mission is on this earth for this short period of time! What we are supposed to be doing for each other and what MATTERS!!

Challenge your FEARS and realize that even if confronted with a situation that embodies ALL of your fears, worries, and anxieties - YOU WILL STILL SURVIVE IT!!!!

Think about that -- if EVERY FEAR you have and upon which you ruminate daily came to fruition --what would happen??

YOU would STILL survive - still go on with your life - and still have the Lord, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit there with you!!

That is worst case scenario!!!!!

Let the fear go -- nothing is your fault and even if it were something within our responsibility - it is no longer a REALITY!

Just because something occurred in the past, it does not mean we have to carry it with us the rest of our lives!!

We can DISCARD the item like an old tin can - IF we BELIEVE that we are worthy of it and if we summon the mental strength to say " It is NOT my fault. It is NOT who I am and I will NOT let it drive my life, my beliefs, my future and affect my God Given RIGHT to peace, Joy and happiness!"

We are ALL worthy of it - and if you feel you are not you must break those chains in your "cave" and understand that you are, in fact, not only Worthy - YOU ARE ENTITLED to and EXPECTED to open your eyes, turn away from the illusions, and accept your Joy, Peace and Happiness!!

It is God's Will - you can deny it and refuse to accept it -- but you CANNOT CHANGE THE FACT it has already been given to you and will ALWAYS be there for you to accept and recognize! No matter how hard or how often you refuse to embrace it!!

Will you accept it?

Keep fighting and Stay Strong!!

You are NEVER alone!

Be Not Afraid

While it is almost impossible to dissociate the beautiful song "Be Not Afraid" with death and funerals given the popular choice it has become - we should not overlook it as a guide and reminder of what God promises ALL of us each and every single day!

The tool to remove fear is in our very grasp today and it is fully apparent in the words that I believe embody exactly what Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit teach us about the topic of fear and Faith and Hope!

" You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst:

You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way;

You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand;

You shall see the Face of God and live;

Be Not Afraid,
I go before you always
Come follow me and I will give you rest.

If you pass through raging waters, in the sea you shall not drown;

If you walk amid the burning flames, you shall not be harmed;

If you stand before the power of Hell and Death is at your side,
Know that I am with you through it all

Be Not Afraid,
I go before you always
Come follow me and I will give you rest.

Blessed are your poor for the Kingdom shall be theirs;

Blessed are you that weep and mourn for one day you shall laugh;

And if wicked tongues insult and hate you all because of Me, Blessed-Blessed are you

Be Not Afraid,
I go before you always -
Come follow me and I will give you rest."

This is not merely a funeral dirge - it is a wonderful and constant reminder that NO MATTER what confronts you in this life -YOU are NEVER alone!

You do not need to fear anything, or worry about anything - God will ALWAYS have you in his grasp and will never let you go through hardship or battles on your own!!

Birds and animals do not have jobs - responsibilities or the means to care for themselves -- so how is it they survive ???

God provides what we need - and it may not be exactly what we want but it is His Will we must Trust! Not our own agenda!

Stop Fearing - Stop worrying! Turn that over to Him and you will never need to Fear anything!

Ever!

Stay Strong!

A Reminder that ALL of our actions have consequences!

One of my favorite pieces of literature!

We should all read and remember this lesson daily.

Enjoy!

Father Forgets

by W. Livingston Larned

Listen, son; I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and the blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead.

I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I came to your bedside.

There are things I was thinking, son:

I had been cross to you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with a towel. I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor.

At breakfast I found fault, too. You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread.

And as you started off to play and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, "Goodbye, Daddy!" and I frowned, and said in reply, "Hold your shoulders back!"

Then it began all over again in the late afternoon.

As I came Up the road, I spied you, down on your knees, playing marbles. There were holes in your stockings. I humiliated you before you boyfriends by marching you ahead of me to the house. Stockings were expensive - and if you had to buy them you would be more careful!

Imagine that, son, from a father!

Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes? When I glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you hesitated at the door. "What is it you want?" I snapped.

You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and threw your arms around my neck and kissed me, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your heart and which even neglect could not wither.

And then you were gone, pattering up the stairs.

Well, son, it was shortly afterwards that my paper slipped from my hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me.

What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, of reprimanding - this was my reward to you for being a boy.

It was not that I did not love you; it was that I expected too much of youth.

I was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years.

And there was so much that was good and fine and true in your character. The little heart of you was as big as the dawn itself overthe wide hills. This was shown by your spontaneous impulse to rush in and kiss me good night.

Nothing else matters tonight, son.

I have come to your bedside in the darkness, and I have knelt there, ashamed!

It is a feeble atonement; I know you would not understand these things if I told them to you during your waking hours.

But tomorrow I will be a real daddy! I will chum with you, and suffer when you suffer, and laugh when you laugh.

I will bite my tongue when impatient words come.

I will keep saying as if it were a ritual: "He is nothing but a boy - a little boy!"

I am afraid I have visualized you as a man.

Yet as I see you now, son, crumpled and weary in your cot, I see that you are still a baby.

Yesterday you were in your mother's arms, your head on her shoulder.

I have asked too much, too much.

Stay Strong!