42~Truths ~ Closing

Greetings Dear Reader,

There are those who do not believe in absolute truth.  I absolutely do believe in absolute truth.  My first thought is that saying one does not believe in absolute truth is oxymoronic at best. 

The difficulty is that there are undeniable truths.  When we deny them, we weaken the foundation of all else that we believe.  We also forget that most of what we do is based on belief.  My Grandfather, when correcting me used to say,” You do what you believe. Everything else is just talk.” 

We evade truth to hold on to things that we do not wish to be truth.  Many of the people who abandon faith have either built faith upon false truths or refused to accept irrevocable ones.  The other reason that many do not accept fundamental truth is that it will require them abandon things that do not align with that truth.  When we cling to what we wish to believe against foundational truth we become unstable when our constructs are challenged. 

The truth is that we must follow our faith in truth.  We must be honest and demand honesty of others.  We must cling to truth and realize that God does not need us to fabricate anything for his benefit.  We do not need to deny natural truths for God to retain his place. 

The truth about 42~Truths is that they are true whether we accept them or not.  If I pull away the trappings and embrace this then the hard questions begin to take care of themselves.  Some of them do not even matter.  Some truths require faith.  That may also seem oxymoronic but it is true.  It may not be logical but it is true.  “The argument goes something like this: "I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing.”  

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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42~Truths ~ Control

Greetings Dear Reader,

I often ponder if we understand the nature of control.  It is not simply the idea of one who directs others.  Even in the negative you cannot have control over someone who is willing to fight you.  One may manipulate and attempt to control others but even that is subject to outside forces.

We fight for control.  We manipulate to control outcomes.  Some will even kill for control.  We grasp for money and power all in an attempt to control our lives and the lives of others.  Lies, theft, and even war often circle the drain of control over resources and lives.  

Religions, including those in my own faith have lied and deceived for control of people.  Threats have been used to control the masses so that false dichotomies may be supported.  Recently my friend Shane was bemoaning the fact that there are still people who believe that the earth is flat.  We should not be surprised when dishonest beliefs refuse to support honest science. 

I do not wish to stray too far nor ponder overlong before making my point.  We control so very little in the world.  No matter how well I do at whatever I do things are not in my control.  Even when I fail at doing what is right in an attempt to control events I have no real control.

The difficulty and beauty in life is that we all have free will.  We can all choose to do what we wish.  No one can force me to do anything if my will includes a willingness to die rather than compromise.  My faith informs me that the only being control over me is the Father.  He is also the one who gives me free will.  He is one who could force me to see him yet instead asks me to do so and gives me a choice. 

We do have control for now over our choice of the reality of God and his love for us.  Some day we will not have control over even that.  I must build my faith whilst it is something that matters.  We have so little over which we have control but this vital thing is mine to choose.  Perhaps at a base level we know this and that is why we cling go tightly to the TV remote.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

42~Truths ~ Energy

Greetings Dear Reader,

“The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another.” 

We expend energy constantly.  Even at our most restful the heart pumps, the organs function, and we burn energy.  We often get to choose how we expend our energy.  What we choose determines how our lives unfold.

We are gifted with time, resources, and energy in our lives.  They vary in quantity and we often have to give them to things that are “required” of us.  Our lives pass through the pinch of the present and we acquire and expend energy.  The difficulty is the way in which we choose to expend our energy.

Ponder with me for a moment the amount of energy that goes into hatred and malice.  That same energy put into the problems we see in the world could go so very far.  I see people I truly love expending energy hating “the other side”.  Whether it is social media ranting or arguing over dinner with loved ones we give too much energy to things in a negative way.

We must have values and standards.  We must stand for what we believe.  We must not spend our energy on things that to not contribute to the solution.  Our rants and jibes do not help.  Our witty attacks on character do not feed the hungry or provide healthcare for anyone.  These expenditures get us no closer to peace with each other. 

The 42~Truth is that we must reserve our energy for what is good, kind, and loving.  Hating someone because you disagree with their political or social views will never fit this.  I must assure the my energy is expended properly. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

42~Truths ~ Private Truths

Greetings Dear Reader,

For centuries people believed that tomatoes were poisonous.  They match the warnings about foods that are dangerous.  The bright red colour, ugly nature of the plant, and acidic qualities all would lead one to think they are dangerous.  One can be allergic to them and thy can cause skin rash, eczema, hives, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.  At one time it was even called Lycopersicon associating it with both werewolves and poison.  There is a good read on all of this if one wishes at Planet Natural where I sourced some of this history. 

Deadly Nightshade

In the early days of North American colonization like so many other plants the “deadly” tomato was grown as a decorative plant.  Puritans settling New England saw beauty in it even though it greatly resembles Deadly Nightshade.  It also had names in Europe that mean Golden Apple and Love Apple.  This would be something that Puritans would avoid.  

It was believed that eating a tomato would turn the blood to acid.  It was believed that the plant would kill.  Part of the problem is that except for the Tomato fruit (yes, it is a fruit), all parts of the plant are poisonous.  It was not until the eighteenth century that the tomato began to rise in favor and in the nineteenth century Joseph Campbell started tinning Tomato Soup.  Now only those allergic to the tomato need fear its poisons.

The 42~Truth is that just because an entire nation or continent believes something to be so does not make it so.  When we have sacred truths, we must assure that we, from time-to-time verify them.  We must have valid reasons why we believe what we believe.  I must not rely on pat answers or common thought.  I must know the reasons why I believe what I believe. 

I must also hold that in balance with what is proven and known.  After all, I do not have to check on the safety of eating tomatoes before I make my BLT. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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42~Truths ~ It is Never Too Early

Greetings Dear Reader,

I saw my first Christmas ad on television this week.  I have already heard comments about it being too early for Christmas.  I have heard complaints about the pressure of the season.  Some stores already have trees and decorations for sale.

The idea of early Christmas does not fit into my thinking.  I think about Christmas almost every day.  I have reminders of it in every room.  I have reminders in my car.  I keep Christmas in my heart all the year. 

It is never too early to celebrate the things we love.  We do not have to impose them on others.  We need not make it flagrant.  We do, however, have to understand that time is fleeting.  Life is too short not to enjoy things early.

I used to think that something things were for keeping and not using.  I realize that unused possessions that have value are few.  Even the art on the wall is used for viewing and appreciating.  We must not hide the good away.

I am not suggesting that everyone should celebrate Christmas in July.  I am saying that we must enjoy the things we love.  We must not wait until the right time in the future.  We must be temperate in our enjoyment.  We must vigilant toward our responsibilities. 

The 42~Truth is to celebrate life in the ways the fulfill us.  We must not put it off until others approve.  We must love life in every moment.  Even the pain and gall can provide joy if our perspective is correct.  It is never too early to wish you a Happy Christmas Dear Reader.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

42~Truths ~ Hope

Greetings Dear Reader,

If you are a fan of sports you understand the ebb and flow of hope.  TV dramas use it to keep you following certain characters and their stories.  I use the ebb and flow of hope in my novels to keep the pages turning. 

The 42~Truth is that there is always hope.  With baseball it is the next pitch, at bat, inning, game, or season.  With writing it is the next novel or story.  In life the truth of hope is that it is one of the three endurances.  I will address this more next week.

What I want to say today is that we exercise hope all the time.  We live it out and embrace it even when we think we are out of it.  Hope is all around us if we choose to see it.  Hope exists.

I will not belabor this here Dear Reader but the 42~Truth is that there is always hope.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

42~Truths ~ The Weather

Greetings Dear Reader,

I often ponder how often people complain about the weather.  Today it is chilled and raining.  The dark will last longer because of the clouds.  The light is growing shorter anyway.

As I go through the day I so often here people complain about the weather unless it is one of those 72-degree days with little clouds, a light breeze, and ample sunshine.  Then they complain about having to be indoors. I guess the point is that no matter the weather there will be people who are dissatisfied with it.

The 42~Truth here is that we complain about something over which we have no control or influence.  We spend our time worried about the amount of rain or our plans instead of seeing the beauty in the weather of the moment.  We can choose to understand that someone out there loves the rain, the snow, and even the clouds.  It is yet another way to embrace the beautiful diversity in the world.

I try to live the attitude that God never gets the weather wrong.  I realize that this does not work for those of you who do not believe in God.  I understand that one may have to choose instead to adopt the wisdom of “accepting the things we cannot change.” 

In any case unless the weather truly harms us complaining about it is a lost opportunity.  I must see to it that I allow the Father to have his way with the weather and that I look for the beauty in what he creates.  The truth is that I cannot do anything about the weather.  Is there in this truth no beauty Dear Reader?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

42~Truths ~ Smooth or Crunchy

Greetings Dear Reader,

Amidst the fires, floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes I realize that this may seem trivial but it is important to me.  Some time ago I asked the question of some friends concerning peanut butter.  Which is better, smooth or crunchy?

The outpouring of opinion on it was vast.  Opinions were very strong in both directions.  Some people were downright militant in their view of peanut butter.  This caused me to do a little research into what people really think about peanut butter.

Here is what I found: 

• Ø  Creamy wins as the most popular type of peanut butter, with 68% selecting it as their favorite.
• Ø  Just 22% said they prefer crunchy.
• Ø  9% would rather have extra crunchy.
• Ø  And 1% named other favorite types, like all-natural or a mix between creamy and crunchy.
• Ø  And when it comes to brands, Jiff, Skippy, and Peter Pan were named favorites.  Source:  AYTM BLOG

For me the answer is always smooth.  I do not like chunks in anything called a butter whether it be pumpkin, apple, or peanut.  I also am very picky about my uses of peanut butter.  PBJ of course but only Strawberry or Grape JAM, never jelly, and always made fresh not in a baggie.  I like it on toast occasionally.  I do not like peanut butter cookies.  I love peanut milkshakes.  I will also at times just eat it on a spoon.

So, what?   Where is the 42~turth here?  It is simple.  There is no RIGHT answer to how have and eat peanut butter.  There are those who dislike it wholly.  There are those who will cling like life depends upon it to a preference.  At the end of the day they are just preferences but we divide over them all the time.  We need to stop creating strife over preferences.

When I hope to show good to others I must allow for the differences that make us unique.  I must embrace the foolish oxymoron of chunky peanut butter if necessary.  I must not let my preference keep me from seeing the infinite diversity in humanity.  That Dear Reader is a 42~Truth necessary to follow Christ completely. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

42-Truths ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

In the novel A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy the number 42 is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.  Sometimes people speak things that echo as universal truths.  They seem to become axiomatic in the moment of their uttering. 

A few days ago, my friend Lori commented on a question another friend had posted.  He asked if one should put Duck Sauce on a taco.  Her response was “Duck Sauce is magic and transforms all it touches.”  I see this as a 42 Truth.  This is not because its literally true.  I would not put Duck Sauce on my key lime pie.  Duck Sauce, does, however, transform everything.   It changes the taste.   That is transformation.

What this 42-truth did yield is an understanding that one can sauce one’s tacos cross-culturally.  I have since tried sweet chili, barbecue, and honey mustard on my tacos.  I would advise against the honey mustard.   

The point is that we get into habits that seem to be truths.  They may be preferences, practices, and patterns that we are used to.   We treat them as truths and even try to impose them on others. 

I must learn to differentiate between 42-truths and habits or preferences.  I am going to spend some time on this so that I reinforce the habit of adhering to truths that matter.  Your company in this part of the journey is valued highly.  Any comments or questions are valued as well.  Now Dear  Reader, could you pass us the Siracha?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)