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Welcome to Ishaia's Rant Page
The Environment
What a mess we've gotten ourselves into! The land, air and water are so polluted
as to be dangerous to humans and all our relations. Species, both animal and plant,
disappear from the planet every day! Extinct is forever! The rainforests are being
destroyed at an alarming rate. Global warming is threatening life on Earth as we
know it. And we humans sit here blind to our own destruction, denying our madness.
We must wake up and begin to heal that which we would destroy in our quest for more
wealth, more power, more... more... more! We are a greedy lot, we humans. We need
to learn to live with less, and in so doing, perhaps we would gain more wisdom,
knowledge and understanding.
Materialism
Why do we seek to gain more wealth? What is wealth but artificial power? All of your
financial wealth can disappear. All of your possessions can be stolen or destroyed. We
must understand that the nature of Spirit is to provide abundance. In praying for our
needs to be met, we send out the belief to the Cosmos that we do not have enough of
"whatever" in our lives for those needs to be met. It is therefore necessary to first
change our perception of what we have in our lives, then to change the tone of our
prayers to one of thankfulness, rather than need, want or desire. Literally count your
blessings. The nature of true wealth lies in such intangible things as love, friendship,
relationships, knowledge and wisdom. The rest is superficial.
Power
Unfortunately, money and political power are often synonymous. However, these are not
the sources of true power. True power is within; it is not of outward symbols, such as
visible wealth or prestige, or even social connections. It is not the club to which you
belong, or the neighborhood in which you live. It is not the clothes you wear or the car
you drive. It is not who or what you know. It is the quiet knowledge that you are
personally connected to the Divine; that you have the strength of character to live up
to what Deity expects of you; that you are as close to God as a whisper or a hair's
breadth. It is knowing that you came to this life with a purpose, and that if you do not
yet know what that may be, you have the ability within yourself to discover and fulfill
it.
Fear
It's hard to love when you fear. Fear is the little-death, the mind-killer.
When we fear, we can't understand. And when we can't understand, we fear.
It's a vicious cycle. Fear is why people from different backgrounds, cultures,
communities, language groups, religions, and the like, have so much trouble getting
along together. How can I love you if your ways are so different from mine that
I don't understand you, or why you do things the way you do?
We must all learn to see the similarities, while cherishing the differences.
I laugh and cry, just like you. I eat and sleep, just like you. When I cut
my skin, I bleed, just like you. I have hopes and dreams, just like you.
Let's rejoice in our humanity, and celebrate our differences.
What do you fear? Death? Poverty? Illness? Death is only a doorway to another kind of
life. Many religions teach some sort of afterlife. Christians teach about heaven
and hell. Personally, I don't believe in either concept, though it is a good way to
keep the public in line. "Don't break these rules, or you'll spend all of
Eternity in Hell!" Sounds like a boogey-man to me. Poverty is only a state of non-wealth.
How you define wealth is your choice. Many people who live in less than standard housing
and sanitary conditions are thankful every day for the blessings of family and friends,
food and health. Even illness brings its lessons. The choice is yours.
Violence Against Women and Children
There is no excuse for domestic violence. Yes, there are reasons: mental illness, drug
and alcohol addiction, stress, frustration, fear, anger, jealousy. But the real reason
so many men beat, threaten, stalk or kill the women and children they
claim to love is power. These men feel so powerless in their own lives that they feel
they must have power and control over something, or someone. So, they dominate
the women and children they profess to love, until the loved-ones' spirits are so
broken and torn that they no longer have the ability or will to leave.
Or worse, the woman knows that leaving him will have fatal consequences for her,
her children, and other loved ones. I know: I've been there. It's hard to leave when
you know that this person will retaliate against you or your family and friends. If you
or someone you know is in this situation, get help! Run as fast and as far as you can, and
make sure you prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. The only way to stop the cycle
of domestic violence is to stop the criminal from committing the crime of domestic
violence.
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