Injustice Collectors ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

It is easy to find things about which to be offended.  It is common to feel slighted or injured by the actions of others.  We must not allow that to be our banner. Injustice wil exist as long as there are people involved. 

Our response to injustice is to right it.  We can do this through love and kindness if we choose to do so.  If I am to show love to the world then I cannot afford to be easily offended or thinking of myself first.  I cannot be harsh or offensive on behalf of others. 

Following Christ requires humility and patience.  It insists that I consider the needs of others over my own.  It calls for me to be good to others and more so when they are being unkind to me.  I must always work toward real justice and fight the injustice of judging and trying to control others through injustice collection.

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 ͡°)

Injustice Collectors ~ Easily Offended

Greetings Dear Reader,

I grew up in a culture where one did not dare to show when one was offended.  It was not polite.  As a young adult my response to that was to be offended by everything and let everyone know about it.

By grace and discipline, I have learned that being offended is a choice.  I have also learned that most of things that try to offend me are a matter of my own pride or prejudice.  I tell people who worry about my being offended that I am easily embarrassed but difficult to offend.

We are not supposed to be easily offended.  Taking up offenses is just another way of controlling others and collecting injustices.  The power of this control is dangerous and wrong.  I am supposed to respect the sensibilities of the weak but not required to do so for the manipulative.

Being easily offended is also a form of judgment.  It says that I deem your actions unacceptable and choose my standards over your freedom.  It says that you must cater to my feelings even if it tramples on your liberty.  Again, I must respect the needs of the weak but am not required to cater to the control of the whiney. 

I realize that these are strong words.  I understand that I may be trampling on some tender toes.  I choose to speak the truth.  I choose not to be easily offended and to love those who do things that are offensive.  I expect the same of others.  We miss so much good when we wander the world looking for the next thing that will offend us.

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 ͡°)

Injustice Collectors ~ Forbidden Words

Greetings Dear Reader,

There are things we should not say.  There are words that are by their very nature offensive.  It is not those words that concern me.  Those that concern me are the words that are forbidden because of the political or social view of others.  I am not usually a slippery slope person but I see a shift in our culture that is dangerous.

Consider this:  "It was intended that when Newspeak had been adopted once and for all and Oldspeak forgotten, a heretical thought ... should be literally unthinkable, at least so far as thought is dependent on words." - George Orwell, 1984

If those who seek to collect injustices also are allowed to define what words are heretical then what are the standards by which they make those choices?  The very foundation of communication between people who are equal is the free exchange of ideas.  I am not willing to empower anyone to say what words or thoughts are not allowed.  Even when the words offend me I am not permitted to prohibit someone else from free expression.

In a civil society we do not need to limit speech or thought to achieve justice or equality.  Still there is a storm raging in the creation of limitations on speech and the forbidding of ideas.  I think that by now we would have learned that the forbidding of an idea fertilizes its growth in the mind.  It is our nature to feast on things we are told are forbidden as food for thought.  

My communication must be honest, loving, and kind.  That does not mean that I am forbidden to express ideas that might cause discomfort or seem harsh.  I may need to earn the right to be heard through my good actions.  I might have to temper my words to present things gently.  No one, however, gets to tell me what I mean by what I say and then insinuate his or her own agenda into my words.

If one does not like what I write one can simply turn the page or click the next tab.  I will try to be reasonable and just.  I will not temper the truth for someone else’s comfort.  It is very dangerous to us all to forbid words.  Words have meaning.  I use them to assemble thoughts into sentences and paragraphs.  I aim to learn humility and express myself in love.  I cannot, however, with integrity, cater to injustice collectors.

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 ͡°)

Injustice Collectors ~ Twisted Words

Greetings Dear Reader,

To be very clear I am not expressing approval or disapproval of President Trump.  I do take issue with the current fervor of his words being twisted for political ammunition.  It is a symptom of a larger ill in our culture.  If we look honestly at what is being done we have all walked through this brier patch with someone.

The President is in talks with the North Korean leader trying to make us all a little safer.  He said, “I believe he is acting honorably” in context of the talks they are having.  If the man is being open and honest about the needs of his people then that is a good and accurate thing to say. 

The news reports various political figures twisting his words to say that the President is calling Kim Jong Un an honorable man.  This is not what he said or implied.  To infer that is what President Trump is saying is dishonest and foolish.  It weakens one’s position to use lies to defend it or to attack another.

We have all been through this.  We say to someone, “It is selfish to take all the cookies.”  The person accuses us of calling him or her selfish.  A single act does not define a person.  If I act greedy and take all the cookies that does not make me a greedy person but I have acted in a greedy manner.  If it is a pattern then perhaps I am a greedy person.

This type of false communication feeds the offense engine.  If I lie and say something inflammatory about someone else then I am fueling the cause of injustice collectors.  I think we need to take a very hard look at our integrity as a people.  I am not calling anyone dishonest.  I am saying that we do not demand honesty in all things from our leaders. 

In following Christ, I am required to seek the truth always.  I must not feed injustice by being dishonest with my treatment of others.  I can view things and have opinions.  If I speak ill of another then I am crossing the line.  If I twist a person’s words to advance my own cause, I am the one with a problem.

Freedom is found in truth, honesty, and integrity.  That simple thing is what keeps me following Christ.  I will leave you with the words of Larry Norman.

Politicians all makes speeches,

And the newsmen all take notes,

And they exaggerate the issues,

As they shove them down our throats.

Is it really up to them whether this country sinks or floats?

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 ͡°)

Injustice Collectors ~ Hot Coffee Warnings

Greetings Dear Reader,

We have all heard of the coffee law suit.  I have a cup of coffee just to my right as I write.  The mug has no warning label.  In all my years I have never considered pouring the coffee in my “crotch area”.  Still there are coffee cups with this warning.

One of the great collectors of injustice in our society is our litigious nature.  People have been sued over trivial things for the sake of money.  This has led to some very ridiculous warnings on products.

There are baby strollers that instruct us to “remove child before folding.”  It makes me wonder what the number of occurrences was that triggered this warning.  I also picture a couple arguing over it.  The guy thinks it is a good storage idea and the wife is yelling. “But the instructions say ‘DON’T fold the baby.’”

We obviously have not learned how to deal with fire.  We are warned not to check gas levels with a match for light.  Apparently, fireplace logs are combustible, matches are hot when lit, and children should not play in ovens.  Related thoughts are that we should not iron shirts whilst wearing them.  We should remember that food is hot once cooked.  We are supposed to exit burning buildings before tweeting about the fire.

Other areas of concern are holding the wrong end of a chain saw, water will be on the road when it is raining, and we should not put clothes in the washer whilst children are still wearing them.  One must not put topical ointments on one’s skull, use hair dryers whilst sleeping, or use carpentry drills for dentistry. 

Perhaps we should not be so surprised at Tide Pod eaters or condom sniffers.  Yes, we should.  Some things are just ridiculous and should not be done.  It is not reasonable that we should have to warn intelligent people not to do these things.  Those who need such a warning have not been taught common sense.

I need to have compassion for those who have not been taught to think before acting.  We also need to all learn to think before acting. We have gone from teaching people how to be responsible for their own actions to putting inane warnings on things to avoid litigation.  This is just another way of protecting the irresponsible at the expense of the prudent.  I will not ridicule those who lack common sense but neither will I make excuse for them not learning it.  I will hold forth that this type of coddling damages our ability to reason.  It adds to our collection of injustices.

It does provide me with more opportunities for kindness and compassion.  It reminds me to see the blessing that a good education and learning to think are.  I am returned to the idea that being good to others even when they are acting foolishly is a great way to avoid helping them collect injustices.

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 ͡°)

Injustice Collectors ~ Taking up Offenses

Greetings Dear Reader,

All too often the news brings us a story of some key political or social figure who has joined in or weighed in on an event.  He or she expresses outrage at the injustice or insult and steers the discussion toward an agenda.  The needs of the person offended or injured often gets lost in the fervor.

I am not saying that there are not valid issues that deserve national and notable attention.  I am saying that too often we take up offenses on behalf of others instead of working to help the individuals impacted.  We experts at speeches and rallies but seem to be poor are providing for the needs of others. 

Often, I think that the effort and resources used to politicize an event would be better used in helping the people impacted by the event.  If we consider the cost of organizing, travel, and holding a political event, we should also ask if those resources would be better used in helping.  It is in this transition to a cause that we often leave behind the needs of the injured.

I must not take up offenses as a cause.  I must invest my time and effort in caring for the ones in need.  I would love to see injustice cleansed from the world and some day that will happen.  Perhaps though, I better serve by treating everyone in my journey with kindness, justices, love, and compassion. 

It is easy to get offended on behalf of others.  It is difficult to make sure that we use our energy and resources to really help.  It is not what most people do and so we follow the norm and not the need.  I must purpose and live to deal in love and hope, avoid offenses and offending, and serve others.  Less talk and more help will go very far.

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 ͡°)

Injustice Collectors ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have been watching a weekly television show from the mid-sixties.  For those pondering it, I am not speaking of Star Trek.  I will reveal what show it is later in this journey.

One of the lead characters observed that someone is offended and harmed by everything yet takes no responsibility for the ways in which they offend and harm others.  She called this person an “Injustice Collector.”  This brought to mind the depth to which our society has become populated with cries of injustice over so many trivial and mundane things.

I am not suggesting that there are not real injustices that need to be addressed.  What concerns me is the way in which some cry injustice over things that need not be elevated to that level.  We seem to have lost the understanding of how to talk to each other and settle our differences.

There is also the larger problem of people who make their lives about collecting injustices for others.  From “ambulance chasing” to politicizing personal tragedy we have people who capitalize on the problems of others for their own purposes.  Worse still are those who spread discord and even hatred in the name of justice, fairness, or equality. 

What I must do is measure where the lines are.  Knowledge of balance in this will allow me to accurately work toward peace and justice without wasting energy and time.  It will give me perspective so that I do not try to climb mountains created from mole hills.  Please keep me company as I try to navigate standards for what is the proper application of justice and what is simple the collecting of injustices.  As is always the case, your thoughts and questions are just and appreciated 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 ͡°)

Penny and Pound ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have never been one who likes Kool-aide.  When it comes to politics, social issues, and faith I become more and more someone who cares more for thinking thing through than following along.

No one, including you and I Dear Reader is right about everything.  My pursuit must be for truth with humility.  I must listen with compassion to what others think.  I must filter every position through the requirements of my faith to love and compassion.  I must seek righteousness and holiness with every step.

When any side demands that we accept everything in order to “belong” I must question the validity of the motives.  You do not have to believe everything I do for me to love and accept you.  I am all in on wanting everyone to have love and value.  I desire for every human to have the chance to live a rich and meaningful life. 

I cannot accept that all beliefs or positions are acceptable.  I do not, however, hate anyone just because I disagree.   I am not allowed to accept everything. I am not allowed to hate anyone.  These can live in harmony.  It is my obligation to be in for a penny and a pound on my love for Jesus and following him.  I am also required to be all in on my love for every human. 

It may be the one place where I insist that we should all be all in.  If everything we did was out of love for each other the world would be a much better place.   It is in this truth that we could all agree even if it is just a philosophical starting place.

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 ͡°)

Penny and Pound ~ Logical Conclusions

Greetings Dear Reader,

We take positions on issues and ideals.  We decide what we believe and what we think others should believe.  Adopting values that coincide with our beliefs becomes who we are.  Very seldom do we have the courage to take our belief systems to their logical conclusions.

I am not going to dive into this too deeply.  Remember Dear Reader that I am processing this for my own benefit.  I am trying to sort out the reasons why I am all in relative to my faith and following.

Do we really follow our beliefs to their logical conclusions?  My faith tells me that the entire effort is to get things back to good.  It requires me to love unconditionally.  It requires me to care for the needs of others.  It is vital that I not dismiss anyone based on his or her beliefs. 

I ponder if others follow their beliefs to their logical conclusion.  If, for example, there is only the natural world and this is all a huge accident there is no logical reason for me to care for anyone’s needs/wants but my own.  We can postulate all we want that about common good and making the world a better place.  If this is all there is then it does not matter. 

I must follow my faith to its logical conclusions and live them.  I must be all in for this or abandon it.  Since I believe it the latter is not an option.

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 ͡°)

Penny and Pound ~ Worrisome Words

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of the terms that recently stopped me in my tracks was “alternative facts”.  By its very nature a fact is “a thing that is indisputably the case.”   It is, therefore, unreasonable and worrisome when one claims that there are alternative facts. 

Just the facts Ma'am.  Just the facts...

We may disagree on ideas and ideals.  When we disagree on things of substance we look for facts.  When we disagree that there are absolute truths we really have no ground on which to stand.  Pilate asked this of Jesus.  He asked “What is truth?” 

We seek axiomatic principle in almost everything and in many cases reject what we find.  If we claim that there are no fundamental truths then we are loaded with logical difficulties in all communication.  In many cases the alternate truth is a lie or an error.

We demand that others embrace our “truth” and judge them if they do not.  Again, both the right and left do this with vigor so do not think that there are alternate truths about it.  I realize that there is a question begged here and I will not duck it.

I claim to hold belief in some very narrow absolute truths.   I also realize that these truths are not as inclusive as some popular thought would require.  These beliefs do not make me phobic or a racist.  They do not generate hatred or prejudice. 

Everything I believe is based on two primary requirements.  I must love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  This alone is a lifelong effort that must be renewed daily.  I must love my family, neighbors, strangers, and enemies without qualification.

This means that anything else I claim as truth must fall in line with those requirements.  I cannot accept that there are alternate facts that go against this requirement.  I will not accept that I have to agree with you about everything to live out these commands.  In fact, I am required to reject ideas that would make these commands invalid.

If there are no hard truths that we can treat as the bedrock of our congress together then everyone is entitled to their own choice of alternate facts.  I know what my dangerous weaknesses are.  The world does not want an Aramis Thorn who pursues those alternate “truths”.   More on that thinking tommorw.

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 ͡°)

Penny and Pound ~ A Response

Greetings Dear Reader,

I hope you realize how highly I value your responses.  Elisabeth sent me a response to yesterday’s post that I felt deserved to be shared with you Dear Reader.   She posted the address to a simple passage from the first letter to Timothy from the Apostle Paul.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unfeeling, uncooperative, slanderous, degenerate, brutal, hateful of what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.  They will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people.

Please know that I do not intend to launch on a tirade about the last days or point a finger at anyone.  I find this passage fits greatly with the idea of a world with malleable ethics.  I could spend an entire series just pondering the meaning of each term in relation to the current state of both our national and world culture.

More important is that we realize when we see this behavior in the world we should not be surprised.  We should also assure that if we are following Christ we avoid these things.  Most interesting is that the list begins with people loving themselves.  These does not mean self-worth.  It means that people put their desires over what it right and the common welfare.

I would say that both sides of the coin do that to a great extent.  How often do we see an individual put his or her “rights” or will above the common good?  We I am not being prophetic.  I am merely commenting on what I see in the world.

I must see this list as something to avoid.  I must assure that I am not boastful, arrogant, hateful.  I must love the Father rather than what makes me feel good.  It is in being faithful to the opposite of these things that I find myself following Christ more closely.  Thank you Elisabeth.

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 ͡°)

Penny and Pound ~ Malleable Ethics

Greetings Dear Reader,

There are some things where one is either in or out.  One cannot be “a little bit pregnant.”  One is alive or dead.  One is faithful to one’s spouse or they are not.  There are some lines that cannot be crossed without being other than what we claim to be.

I cannot point my finger at others.  That is not my place nor the purpose of this exercise each day.  Rather it is so that I honestly consider what I must be in my heart, mind, and actions so that I do what is right.  I fail. That too drives me.  I want to be better today than yesterday.

Increasingly we see that ethics in our culture are opening malleable.  Our ethics have always been situational in some ways but it becomes more open and flagrant of late.  We have a serious problem of being ethically mercurial.   

We live out logical fallacies and embrace untenable philosophies.  We deny truths to appease our social and political desires.  We put truth, honor, justice, love, and kindness on a sliding scale.  

I had friend, who no longer considers me a friend because he wanted to minimize God’s command to love everyone.  He insisted that we need only respect everyone.  The Father is clear that we must love Him, our neighbors, strangers, and even our enemies.

We cannot pick and choose to whom we will show love, grace, and kindness.  I cannot refuse to love anyone.  I cannot pretend that I am better than anyone else.  I must be all in as one who commits to being faithful in my devotion to Christ’s example and following him.  It is not a weapon.  It is a practice in clear ethics lived out in humility.

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 ͡°)

Penny and Pound ~ Intolerant Inclusion

Greetings Dear Reader,

It seems that both the right and the left have a blind spot that I am not sure how to heal.   They both seem to demand that if I side with their side on anything that I must side with their side on everything.  When I offer a penny, each side demands a pound.

Some of these arguments for consistency are logical.  I cannot want equality in an area without wanting it for all humans.  I cannot speak of the value of life without speaking to the value of every life.  Where the demand for pounds over pennies confounds me is in the assumption of cross-pollination of values.  

My faith does not allow me to accept every position of either side.  I cannot claim to follow Christ and accept hatred of any kind.   I cannot promote violence and follow the Prince of Peace.   I cannot worship the Father and allow the slaughter of children. 

It is my experience, however, that both sides demand that I follow in the extreme no matter how illogical the position becomes.  To bolster this untenable dichotomy false syllogisms are created.  It is assumed that because I disagree on a point that I disagree on all points.   In the inverse if I support either side’s position on a single point it is assumed that I support it on all points. 

I can oppose the murder of the unborn without feeling that women should have less rights than men.  I can believe that all people should have access to quality affordable healthcare without being a communist. 

What I must do is follow Christ no matter who it offends.  As with so many things the demands of both sides make no room for the things that are reasonable.  The truth is often somewhere in the middle.  I must seek Christ and the truth no matter what the cost; penny or pound.

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 ͡°)

Penny and Pound ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I begin with the presumption that we have all heard the expression “in for a penny; in for a pound.”  For those of you who do not it simply means that one is all in for something.  It means that if accept a part of something then you accept it all.

I find that I ponder this in light of things of and not of the faith.  Let me mitigate a question.  All things are of faith.  There are no secular issues.  There are, however, sectarian issues.  There are questions of custom, practice, and politics that one must answer individually. 

These questions have to do with faith and following.  They have to do what is required of me by the Father and sometimes its opposition to the church, the public, and the politic.   By way of example I consider that there are those who would have me hate people who do not share my faith.  This is not the way the Father deals with the world.

In some things I am all in.  In some things I must not be because I cannot accept all things.  To hone my skill in following I must ponder all of them carefully.  In this part of the journey I will not get to them all but I hope you will walk with me for a bit as I ponder those before me.  Thank you as always for your company 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 ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We need change.  We need reformation and revival.  It has always been the responsibility of the church to care for the needs of the masses.  We have watered down the mission with sects and politics and then are surprised that we become less effectual.

When we choose to neglect the needs of others we cannot speak the words of Christ and be heard.  When we treat anyone as underserving of our love and care we neglect the heart of the Gospel.  It is in the needs of other that we have the ability to project the love of Christ.

I must not fall into the trap of left versus right.  I must embrace Christ and follow him in humility.  I can hold to my faith without hating anyone.  I can hold to my standards without rejecting the needs of others.  True faith is never in opposition to true love, kindness, and care.

It is my obligation to follow with all my heart that which Christ commands.  It is my joy to be good to others no matter what their relationship to what I believe.  We need to stop taking our stand in things that are not Christ.  When we stand in Christ alone we lose the need to hate, destroy, and neglect.  That is a good place to be.

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 ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Reformation versus Revolution

Greetings Dear Reader,

This is one of those stances that requires careful distinction.  To revolt is to rise up against something as a rebellion for whatever purpose is claimed.   Revolution is not interested in peaceful discussion.  It demands and destroys.

Reformation, however, seeks to reform that which exists.  It is a presentation of ideas through which one seeks to right the course of things.  Reformation is based in idea and their free congress between people of integrity.  It is not necessary to revolt to reform.

The violence inherent in revolution is not necessary to reform things.  When we abandon peace to make others do as we wish we become the tyrannical things we hate.  Burning a shopkeepers business does not further the truths of a cause.  It destroys an honest man’s livelihood. 

If that alone does not give you pause then perhaps the motivations need examination.  If you are willing for one innocent to suffer to defend your ideas then perhaps there is something wrong with you methodology.   It is never necessary to shed blood to be heard.  It might mean yours gets pummeled out of you.  It might cost you more that you are willing to pay.  But that is the nature of reformation instead of revolution..

Revolution – Beatles

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

You tell me that it's evolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

But when you talk about destruction

Don't you know that you can count me out

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right, all right, all right

You say you got a real solution

Well, you know

We'd all love to see the plan

You ask me for a contribution

Well, you know

We're doing what we can

But if you want money for people with minds that hate

All I can tell is brother you have to wait

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right, all right, all right

You say you'll change the constitution

Well, you know

We all want to change your head

You tell me it's the institution

Well, you know

You better free you mind instead

But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao

You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right

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 ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Positions versus People

Greetings Dear Reader,

Whenever we allow fear or hatred to make our choices we diminish as humans.  When we allow our political positions to be the regulators of care and compassion then we allow others to be neglected for the sake of ideas.

We define our compassion for others by an assessment of politics first.  The essence of compassion is that politics do not matter.  To love one’s enemy is not a political command.  It is social and spiritual.  We are not to do harm or allows harm to be done by inaction.

The political climate fills us with the hypocrisy of believing that neglecting the needs of the opposition is acceptable.  I do not know how to solve the problems that are involved in allowing immigrants from nations that hate us.   I do know that starving children should be fed at any cost.  People dying because we are worried about what may happen is bad thinking.

We get distracted by the political arguments whilst the needs of people go unmet.  We argue over ideas and rights at the cost of justice for the oppressed.  We make up new ways to feel offended whilst furthering the offense of hating others.  In the fervor to advance our own agenda we fail to love and care for those who are in dire need of our help.

As a Christ follower my politics must ride in the back of the bus when love, compassion, kindness, and mercy are on board.  It is not acceptable for others to suffer so that I can create my perfect political venue.  It is a failure to follow for me to choose my social rights over love and compassion for others.  I cannot force other to believe as I do through politics.  I can, however, live my faith honestly by showing love and compassion to the needs of everyone regardless of his or her beliefs and philosophies. 

If my God is not big enough to care for me whilst doing this then I need a bigger God.

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 ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Issues versus Insults

Greetings Dear Reader,

I used to get so angry when students would refuse to learn.  As I grew in my teaching experience I realized that one cannot force anyone else to learn.  One cannot legislate learning.  It is the meeting of two minds over knowledge, understanding, and application.  It is the bridge of two people in academic congress journeying to a new place.

The social stances I see hinder learning.  Instead of speaking to each other we have become embattled factions hurling epithets and insults.  We damage each other over ideals instead of reason and conversation.  We fail to hold back our emotions in favor of conversation.

With me the anger, disrespect, and violence weakens one’s position.  I will always listen to a reasoned conversation.  I will withdraw from insults, derision, and attacks.  I will not support those with whom I agree who employ such tactics.  One cannot love one’s enemies and use these tactics.

We attack instead of expressing the need.  When we do express the need we load it with conditions and provisos that make compromise difficult.  I will always hold to standards that align with my faith.  That means that no matter what I think of someone’s morals or values I must care about his or her needs.  I must love him unconditionally.

We can discuss anything.  I must not argue or divide just to win my way.  The values I hold are worthless if they cannot abide honest discussion over issues.  My faith is a failure it cannot stand with all its requirements.  If the greatest commandments are to love God and love humans I cannot water that down and be honest.  I do not need to insult others to live my faith.  If you need to argue this then perhaps we do not share the same faith.

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 ͡°)

Searching Social Stances - Mayhem

Greetings Dear Reader,

Whenever one engages in violence against persons and property the action is by definition intolerant.  In a nation that accepts violence as entertainment we pretend to be people of peace and tolerance.   We act as if we care about the rights of everyone.

We do that until those rights disagree with our values.  Whether it is destroying college property or allowing someone to die because of rules and regulations we are not tolerant.  We may claim to be but in truth we visit mayhem on each other actively and passively. 

When protests have even the smallest bit of violence they are no longer protests.  When a law to protect our borders allows an ailing mother to die we are no longer being noble.  If we call our position one of social justice then we had better assure just behavior and just treatment of everyone.  When I say that I follow Christ I had best be peaceful with everyone.

If one claims to follow Christ and allows for mayhem then one is not following Christ.  If one claims to seek tolerance, peace, or justice and acts violently then one is seeking none these.  It is in the peaceful protest of injustice that justice will be obtained.  It is in the assurance all people get a peaceful voice that the truth can be heard.

I am required to love and respect everyone.  That love and respect does not condone any particular philosophy or behavior.  I can believe that one is wrong in his or her morals, values, and stances without hating him or her.  I can disagree with an approach to a social ill without being racist of bigoted.  What I must do is assure that I insist that the social ill be addressed with respect to the needs of others.  

No matter which side of the issue I am on if I am part of or condone mayhem I am wrong.  If I work through love and peace to assure that the needs of others are met I am living out the Gospel.  If I exclude anyone from that care then I am not follow Christ. 

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 ͡°)

Searching Social Stances - Mockery

Greetings Dear Reader,

Running through the social media feed often leaves me sad.  It has become too easy to mock people with what appears to be impunity.  It seems to me that mockery is always self-serving.   When it does more it seems to breed disrespect and damage peace.

We do not go from dissatisfaction to riots.  We take a path to get to violence and insurrection.  If we disrespect others through mockery we do not allow a peaceful exchange of ideas.  We cannot say that we have respect for the idea of dialogue and disrespect the people with whom we disagree instead of having it.

I am not pointing a finger here.  I am saying that when I amplify my negative view of someone else to the absurd I harm both the peace and the truth.  I damage the fabric of reason and compromise.  When I use mockery to get a laugh at someone else’s expense I am failing to be loving and kind.

No matter how I feel about any stance on a social issue I am not permitted to mock someone else.  I am not allowed be dismissive or condescending.   I do not expect those who do not follow Christ to behave this way.  I also refuse to act in kind. 

I have mocked others in the past and been mocked by people I love.   Mockery causes harm whether we accept that it does or not.  I am not allowed to do harm.  As I journey through these varied stances on social issues mockery will not help me see your position in a positive light.  Neither will it further the cause with people of integrity.

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 ͡°)