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Have I quoted someone?
Doubtless, because many persons
must have come to this
realization.
But I am NOT quoting
anyone. I am saying this myself
out of a newly formed
conviction.
Think of your own life; as I
am thinking of mine; and think of
the lives, (that is, the
experiences) of others you are
close to and know about. Isn't it
true that how all of us have
handled and typically handle
adversity, says a lot about
our
consciousness?
Now I am beginning to get to
my point!
One of the biggest problems
human beings ubiquitously have is
misjudging-misnaming- themselves
(and others) by our (their)
behavior. If your behaviour is
"bad", we assume we are bad, even
worthless. But behaviour and the
present condition of our
consciousness are related. One is
the cause, the other the
result.
Neither our consciousness nor
our behaviour is the best
definition of who and what we
are. Why? Because the person we
are has been gifted with the
power and ability to change
consciousness, hence behaviour.
Not easily in all cases. This is
why we must learn to face
adversity. The famous and
wonderful Rabbi Kushner wrote a
book about why bad things happen
to good people. Basically he is
saying that these things just
happen. The point isn't whether
we are good or bad. To get
confused by this kind of
reasoning prevents us from living
the life that is presented to
us.
If the families who lost loved
ones in the World Trade Center
remained inactive and bitter
because "It shouldn't have
happened to my husband, my
daughter, my son, my wife," we
wouldn't have all the thrilling
pro-active stories about people
who transcended themselves and
whatever their outraged feelings
were.
This is what we all must learn
to do when adversity "strikes"
us: or is strikes the word?"
Happens to" is better.
It is not realistic or
practical or rational or mature
or spiritual or good mental
hygiene to react to adversity as
if it shouldn't have happened.
And if "to us" is added to that
sentence, that makes it worse
because we must never forget that
we are a member of humanity; no
better and no worse; no more
deserving nor less deserving of
the good life than anyone
else.
The bottom line is that each
us absolutely must handle the
adversity we face, no excuses, no
alibis, no blaming, no self
recriminations, no giving up on
life, which is God. If adversity
can be used to help us to trust
God, life, ourselves, other
people, its more than worth
it!
Don
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