Life can be full of negatives. It seems to me that it's easier to find and remember things to be sad about, but much more difficult to remember the good things. We see it every day of our lives. Life is essentially a roller coaster. For some, controlling that roller coaster comes naturally. For others, it's like riding the Texas Giant or the Titan at Six Flags. You know the twists and turns and steep dives are coming, but you can't do much about it strapped into your seat on the car. You are at the mercy of someone else's design.
I've been spending a lot of time watching people. Sounds kind of creepy, but it's how I learn. When I watch the things people do, it helps me to learn the things I need to work on in my own life. Right now, what I'm noticing, is that there is an awful lot of the black clouds that come with negativity. A lot of us are having a hard time finding something to be positive about. I'm sure there are a number of reasons for this, but I wanted to offer my perspective.
Please don't think I'm delusional or retarded for this theory. I've spent a great deal of time feeling it out, sometimes very literally. You see, there's a very simple principle that exists within the laws of physics. Darkness cannot exist where there is light. However, the darkness is not destroyed, it's simply laying in wait for the light to go away so that it can once again rule the space light had previously occupied. The same can be applied in our lives. When we are thriving and happy and on a good path, our lives are filled with light. There is no room for darkness. When we struggle and wander on a path that is less than desirable, the darkness creeps in.
Darkness is subtle. In a 24 hour cycle, the night comes on only as the sun slowly sinks into the horizon. It is a gentle descent into the blackness of night. So it is with our lives. We make little mistakes that eventually become bigger. It's rarely a full on blast that takes out the sun in our lives. That generally doesn't happen. I think that's because no one intends to be a bad person. I believe that everyone is essentially good and wants to be a good person. It's just very difficult once you've begun to let the darkness rule you.
On the opposite end, have you ever noticed how quickly the dawn expels the night? When the sun breaks over that horizon, everything is bathed in light. The darkness disappears. The good things in life outweigh the bad. They will always dispel the darkness inside of us. The only thing holding us back is ourselves and how thick the clouds are around our hearts.
I realize that some of this is probably not making much sense so let me explain. I believe that some people are very literally followed by clouds of darkness. In the Bible, Genesis records that 1/3 of the host of heaven were cast out when Lucifer rebelled and led them astray. They were forbidden to come to earth to gain a body. When you think about how many people have thus far lived on this earth, and how many more we still have to come, 1/3 of that number is a staggering amount. I don't even want to try and think about how many that was. Mostly because I stink at math, but I digress. When these spirits were cast out, they followed the Morning Star. That was one of Lucifer's names. Lucifer was such a rebellious child that he did what all rebellious children do. He decided that if he was going to be miserable, then everyone else should be too. He has set out from that moment to make our existence here a living hell. We have something he can never have and it makes him angry. He blames us and God and Christ for his present state. He doesn't know how to accept the blame and responsibility for what he's done. Sound familiar? He is the reason for all of the misery in the world. Well, he's partly to blame. We all make choices, but I'll get to that later.
I believe that that 1/3 host of heaven is very real. I believe they are the darkness that follows people around. Here's why: I have felt them. Like I said, please don't think I'm delusional or retarded. I know it sounds a little crazy, but it's not that hard to imagine. I have led a less than perfect life. I strayed from the light for a lot of years and am still trying to find my way back for some things. There have been times where I swear something has been following me and whispering negative things in my ear. Most of that revolves around my own self worth and appearance because that is where I struggle the most and they know it. Were I too actually think well of myself, I would not have been in some of the situations I've found myself in. Anytime I've seen a picture of myself, I have self-criticizing thoughts, and as crazy as it sounds, when I have those thoughts, I'm also thinking at the same time that I'm crazy because it's not that bad. Why else would I think I'm ugly and a horrible person? I truly don't believe that...but something is trying to make me.
That's not the only reason I think they're real. I have been around other people I would swear are being influenced by that same darkness. These are people who would normally not do the things they do, but are constantly being whispered too and are too weak to say no. It's really not that far fetched. What else would those spirits be doing? Misery and jealousy are terms coined specifically because of those people. They are the definition of misery, jealousy, depression, anger, and hatred. They are the clouds surrounding our hearts and souls that keep us from finding the light.
There are ways to silence the darkness. Just stop doing what you know is wrong. Like I said, I've been down that path and it is much easier to stay stop doing the wrong thing than to actually stop sometimes. It is very difficult and it can physically hurt. Living in darkness is infinitely easier than trying to live in the Light. As someone who's struggled for a lot of years to find her happiness, I can testify to how much easier and enticing the darkness is, because the other aspect of the darkness is that it conceals the bad. In the Light, you have to face what you've done and try and fix it. Your soul is like your body and has to heal and it is a slow process...but it's worth it.
In the book, The Hobbit and the subsequent Lord of the Rings trilogy, there is a creature named Gollum. When he enters the story, he is a shriveled, pale, sickly creature who cannot exist in the normal world. He lives in a cave that is dark and dank. He is a slave to what he calls "my precious". It's a ring possessed by the spirit and evil of it's creator Sauron. When he found it, it whispered to him. He killed his friend to possess it and spiraled downward every day after that until he became what Bilbo Baggins found. Gollum did not begin as Gollum. He gave in to the whisperings of something much darker until he could no longer think for himself. The more he wore the ring, the more he fell to the influence of evil. It's the same for all of us. We never intend to become the Gollum's of this world. No one ever wants to be that miserable. The challenge, again, comes when we try to find our way back to the light. Gollum tried. He reverted briefly back to Smeagol, which was who he was originally, but ultimately could not sustain that life. It was too difficult for him and being Gollum was much simpler. Ask a drug addict or some politicians and they'll tell you the same thing.
So the solution is simple. Stay away from the dark. Don't touch it with any part of yourself because it is very enticing and it will drag you down with it. If you are already there and are struggling to get to the light, don't give up. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it's hard. Yes, it sucks...but yes, it's worth it.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Ya gotta be kidding me
I think the term I'm looking for is...OMG!
So, it's been a while. I kind of wanted to just regroup a little bit and ground myself before I talked about anything else. A lot has happened in the past few months and I feel like I've recharged a great deal. Just in time for another controversy for me to talk about! Haha
Initially, I didn't want to discuss any politics or anything similar on this blog. I figure I'm ok if I can keep the arguments with the sibs and friends to a minimum. Either way, this week I will probably post twice. Today, I want to talk about something that will lead into my 9/11 post tomorrow: "Entertainers". More specifically, I want to talk about the idiot who made a splash in the music industry this week simply by opening his mouth: Soulja Boy.
On Labor Day, Soulja Boy released a new song and video. The title is "Let's Be Real". Here's a little bit of info on "Soulja Boy" aka DeAndre Cortez Way. This kid is literally a kid. He was born in July of 1990, which makes him a mere 21 years old. From everything I've read about him, he has not had to struggle through anything. His father bought him a recording studio when he was living in Mississippi and he made his own videos to go along with the "songs" that he wrote. He self-published (much like a boy who looks like a girl *cough* Justin Bieber *cough*) and gained recognition and fame through YouTube. He was 11 when the airliners hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Like most of Hollywood, he is also terribly mis- and uninformed about a lot of things, politics and prejudice in particular.
So, there's your preface and information on Mr. Way. So, on Labor Day this year, this numbskull released "Let's Be Real" as both a track and a video. Being that he's gotten so "huge" in the rap/hip-hop industry, his video went viral. I don't think he realized how many people support our troops and our law enforcement, especially with such a huge anniversary just days away from when he released it. The lyrics of his song basically claim that he's better than any FBI agent or any military personnel. I won't write word for word what he said because I'm intelligent enough to use better words, but he said to screw the FBI and screw the army troops. He asks what they're fighting for and tells them to "be your own man"... I'll let that sink in for a moment before I go on.
Here is this 21 year old idiot who was old enough to remember 9/11. He is old enough to have witnessed the events of that day. He is not old enough for memory loss unless it's drug induced which is entirely possible. My question is, "What in the world were you thinking releasing that song?" The troops deployed overseas are not without means to view this kind of thing. Sure their amenities in these places are not consistent, but they aren't in the middle of a desert with absolutely no communication with the outside world. Did he honestly think they wouldn't see and hear what he'd done? I just don't understand.
Mr. Way has an interesting history of trading barbs with other rappers he doesn't get along with. They call them "diss songs". I call it middle school name calling and bullying. I'm not that big of a fan of rap anyway and that's increased in recent weeks. These guys think that because they rose from the ghetto and became "superstars" that they are more credible and more valuable than someone who didn't follow their example, but joined a branch of the service to escape the "hood". I wonder how they could have gotten that idea.
I remember that day ten years ago. I remember the thousands of people who died that day. I remember the troops who led us into Afghanistan and Iraq. I remember those who died to make sure that the threat against our freedom was neutralized. How is it that he forgot already? How is it that they've forgotten already?
In response to Mr. Way's video, the troops are fighting back with the same determination they fight with everyday. I've seen several videos on YouTube mocking Mr. Way for his tasteless lyrics and even poorer timing. He backpedaled when he started getting slammed with the hate, claiming that what he said was taken out of context and he was more upset and frustrated with the fact that we're fighting wars we shouldn't be and not taking care of the homefront. My response to that? Hahaha You're so dumb!
This generation is notorious for forgetting the sacrifices made by so many to give them the freedom of speech they seem to not have a filter for. We remember on the days that are marked by a holiday such as the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and September 11th. Where is our patriotism the rest of the year? I admit, I am guilty of forgetting and taking for granted those things myself. I will not, however, speak out against the men and women who are standing in harms way overseas and at home to keep me and my loved ones safe. These people have given so much. Sometimes they give everything they have and still more is demanded. We have lost many lives to the cause of freedom and still we forget. With all of this sudden amnesia, I'm curious as to what's fueling it. Well, I don't have to look far.
News and entertainment are far from unbiased and fair. Celebrities and news outlets frequently make their political leanings know. I heard of more celebrities endorsing Barak Obama when he was running for president than I think I've heard in my entire life. They spoke up and encouraged us to vote for the first black president. A: He's half black. B: Why is Hollywood suddenly required to endorse a political candidate running for any office? I was completely dumbfounded when I saw so many of them making their opinions known. I was not shocked when my generation did exactly what Hollywood wanted and voted him in. I am part of a generation of sheep. That's no secret. I'm just not one who eats the koolaid flavored grass. I just don't understand when Hollywood's opinion of something political became valid. They are there to provide overpriced and underperformed entertainment. Unless they're running for office, they should stick their noses out of it. I honestly don't know why they side with the left either, as a side note. I don't understand that little tid bit of stupidity in the slightest.
Basically what this boils down to is a lack of education in the younger generation. My brothers have had full day-long conversations about the state of affairs in our country. I mostly remain quiet during those rants, but I absorb what I hear and find out for myself. The sheep just do what their told. The shepherd, in the form of news media and Hollywood, tells them to believe what they want them to believe and they do it. There are very few of us who actually do our homework and use the intelligence that God gave us to make informed decisions. DeAndre Way is too young and too ignorant to have formed an adequate opinion for himself. He's spouting what others have told him. He's outraged over something he has no comprehension of because someone else expressed their own outrage. He's as much of a sheep as the other koolaid-grass munching woolen livestock.
So where does that leave us? The obvious answer is in some really big piles of sheep poo. The only way out is to educate our own children and do what we can to keep them from having to clean up the ever growing mountain of poo being created by those too ignorant and too stubborn to just stop eating the koolaid-grass.
So, it's been a while. I kind of wanted to just regroup a little bit and ground myself before I talked about anything else. A lot has happened in the past few months and I feel like I've recharged a great deal. Just in time for another controversy for me to talk about! Haha
Initially, I didn't want to discuss any politics or anything similar on this blog. I figure I'm ok if I can keep the arguments with the sibs and friends to a minimum. Either way, this week I will probably post twice. Today, I want to talk about something that will lead into my 9/11 post tomorrow: "Entertainers". More specifically, I want to talk about the idiot who made a splash in the music industry this week simply by opening his mouth: Soulja Boy.
On Labor Day, Soulja Boy released a new song and video. The title is "Let's Be Real". Here's a little bit of info on "Soulja Boy" aka DeAndre Cortez Way. This kid is literally a kid. He was born in July of 1990, which makes him a mere 21 years old. From everything I've read about him, he has not had to struggle through anything. His father bought him a recording studio when he was living in Mississippi and he made his own videos to go along with the "songs" that he wrote. He self-published (much like a boy who looks like a girl *cough* Justin Bieber *cough*) and gained recognition and fame through YouTube. He was 11 when the airliners hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Like most of Hollywood, he is also terribly mis- and uninformed about a lot of things, politics and prejudice in particular.
So, there's your preface and information on Mr. Way. So, on Labor Day this year, this numbskull released "Let's Be Real" as both a track and a video. Being that he's gotten so "huge" in the rap/hip-hop industry, his video went viral. I don't think he realized how many people support our troops and our law enforcement, especially with such a huge anniversary just days away from when he released it. The lyrics of his song basically claim that he's better than any FBI agent or any military personnel. I won't write word for word what he said because I'm intelligent enough to use better words, but he said to screw the FBI and screw the army troops. He asks what they're fighting for and tells them to "be your own man"... I'll let that sink in for a moment before I go on.
Here is this 21 year old idiot who was old enough to remember 9/11. He is old enough to have witnessed the events of that day. He is not old enough for memory loss unless it's drug induced which is entirely possible. My question is, "What in the world were you thinking releasing that song?" The troops deployed overseas are not without means to view this kind of thing. Sure their amenities in these places are not consistent, but they aren't in the middle of a desert with absolutely no communication with the outside world. Did he honestly think they wouldn't see and hear what he'd done? I just don't understand.
Mr. Way has an interesting history of trading barbs with other rappers he doesn't get along with. They call them "diss songs". I call it middle school name calling and bullying. I'm not that big of a fan of rap anyway and that's increased in recent weeks. These guys think that because they rose from the ghetto and became "superstars" that they are more credible and more valuable than someone who didn't follow their example, but joined a branch of the service to escape the "hood". I wonder how they could have gotten that idea.
I remember that day ten years ago. I remember the thousands of people who died that day. I remember the troops who led us into Afghanistan and Iraq. I remember those who died to make sure that the threat against our freedom was neutralized. How is it that he forgot already? How is it that they've forgotten already?
In response to Mr. Way's video, the troops are fighting back with the same determination they fight with everyday. I've seen several videos on YouTube mocking Mr. Way for his tasteless lyrics and even poorer timing. He backpedaled when he started getting slammed with the hate, claiming that what he said was taken out of context and he was more upset and frustrated with the fact that we're fighting wars we shouldn't be and not taking care of the homefront. My response to that? Hahaha You're so dumb!
This generation is notorious for forgetting the sacrifices made by so many to give them the freedom of speech they seem to not have a filter for. We remember on the days that are marked by a holiday such as the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and September 11th. Where is our patriotism the rest of the year? I admit, I am guilty of forgetting and taking for granted those things myself. I will not, however, speak out against the men and women who are standing in harms way overseas and at home to keep me and my loved ones safe. These people have given so much. Sometimes they give everything they have and still more is demanded. We have lost many lives to the cause of freedom and still we forget. With all of this sudden amnesia, I'm curious as to what's fueling it. Well, I don't have to look far.
News and entertainment are far from unbiased and fair. Celebrities and news outlets frequently make their political leanings know. I heard of more celebrities endorsing Barak Obama when he was running for president than I think I've heard in my entire life. They spoke up and encouraged us to vote for the first black president. A: He's half black. B: Why is Hollywood suddenly required to endorse a political candidate running for any office? I was completely dumbfounded when I saw so many of them making their opinions known. I was not shocked when my generation did exactly what Hollywood wanted and voted him in. I am part of a generation of sheep. That's no secret. I'm just not one who eats the koolaid flavored grass. I just don't understand when Hollywood's opinion of something political became valid. They are there to provide overpriced and underperformed entertainment. Unless they're running for office, they should stick their noses out of it. I honestly don't know why they side with the left either, as a side note. I don't understand that little tid bit of stupidity in the slightest.
Basically what this boils down to is a lack of education in the younger generation. My brothers have had full day-long conversations about the state of affairs in our country. I mostly remain quiet during those rants, but I absorb what I hear and find out for myself. The sheep just do what their told. The shepherd, in the form of news media and Hollywood, tells them to believe what they want them to believe and they do it. There are very few of us who actually do our homework and use the intelligence that God gave us to make informed decisions. DeAndre Way is too young and too ignorant to have formed an adequate opinion for himself. He's spouting what others have told him. He's outraged over something he has no comprehension of because someone else expressed their own outrage. He's as much of a sheep as the other koolaid-grass munching woolen livestock.
So where does that leave us? The obvious answer is in some really big piles of sheep poo. The only way out is to educate our own children and do what we can to keep them from having to clean up the ever growing mountain of poo being created by those too ignorant and too stubborn to just stop eating the koolaid-grass.
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