March 7th 2013

Dear Atheists, I’m Pissed At You

The resignation of His Holiness Pope Benedict has pissed me off, but not for reasons you might think. Besides the fact that I think he’s a pussy for calling it quits simply because he’s “tired” and Pope John Paul kicked it as his Holiness until death even though he had Parkinson’s, I am beyond ANNOYED with the Atheist community’s reaction to his retirement. Every opportunity atheists get they slam the Pope and perpetually berate the public with lame jokes and “philosophical” view points. How insecure with your non-belief are you that you have to slam the Pope who despises you just as equally? The atheist community isn’t doing itself any favors and their PR will not get any better until they learn this: The one most difficult-and most necessary- thing to achieve is to love one’s fellows despite all invitation to do otherwise. AND we must understand the fact that greatness does not stem from savage wars or being known. It stems from being true to one’s own decency, from going on helping others whatever they do or think or say and despite all savage acts against one, to persevere without changing one’s basic attitude toward man. The real lesson here is to LOVE.

December 1st 2012

Frustration and Opportunity

This past week I started a new position. Of course, all the nerves, apprehension and excitement went with it but I wasn’t expecting to hate it as much as I did.

I found myself frustrated as my first two days at work were confusing, overwhelming and extremely physically demanding. I was ready to quit. But I pushed through that urge and stuck with it and now I am glad to have this job.

Of course I’m happy about the benefits, a steady pay check and being able to have a job when so many others can’t in these tough economic times- but there’s something more. I realized this position was going to give me the ability not only to pay my bills but to also help others who are struggling.

I live in one of the poorest counties in Illinois and I have seen many who have struggled to put adequate food on the table. I’ve heard too many people saying that they are living on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ramen noodles and if their lucky, a breakfast burrito from McDonald’s.

It breaks my heart.

And yet, I had the gull to be pissy about an opportunity I was given to have a steady pay check and access to adequate food. SHAME. ON. ME.

Now that I’ve come to this realization I’ve asked myself: What will I do with it? What will I do about the fact that I can cover my bills AND help others? I’ve chosen to help, even if only in the smallest way I can.

I want to offer a challenge: The next time you hate your job and want to quit, remember that the aggravation, the frustration, the tiring hours, and the pay checks are all opportunities to help others

What Would it be Like?

Throughout my day of doing laundry, making the bed up, fixing dinner, taking care of my animals, I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on all the things I have to be thankful for.

Too often it seems that we, especially in America, take things for granted and only remember to be thankful for what we have the day before we trample into stores to buy more.

Tonight I tweeted: What would this world be like if we stopped to remember how blessed we are and then proceed to give our excess away (to those) who have much less?

I can’t help but feel that many people wouldn’t dream of giving away their excess anything especially concerning matters of money. I dare say that money has profited the human race nothing except corruption.

Politicians will drop millions upon millions of dollars just to campaign to win some big election that will allow them to further harm humanity, put money into the pockets of special interest groups and ultimately, send a child to bed hungry every single night. The practice is shameful.

If one is to lead, then that ability will be noticed- wasting millions on elections whilst fellow country men are starving, is perhaps the worst savagery I can think of.

I have but little to my name but I’m happy and thankful for the things I do have. And though I have to constantly remind myself, I try to give as much as I can to those in need.

What would this world be like if we stopped to remember how blessed we are and then proceed to give our excess away (to those) who have much less? 

This is the question I’ve been considering this evening as I’ve been realizing how grateful I am for all the things in my life and how dismayed I am at how quickly politicians will blow millions of dollars just to gain power.

Where is our sense of humility? Our sense of, for lack of a better term, brotherly love? How barbaric are human beings that they would blow insane amounts of money just to gain political prestige whilst fellow country men are starving?

Nature never intended it to be a case of: Every man for himself. Hyenas work in packs to get food and everyone partakes, so do golden eagles, dolphins and a plethora of other creatures. Human beings, so it seems, are the only ones arrogant enough to forget their blessings and refuse to share with another living thing.

Of course not all human beings are this selfish- the problem is, there seems to be too few unselfish humans as every day and night people die from starvation.

What would this world be like if we stopped to remember how blessed we are and then proceed to give our excess away (to those) who have much less? 

January 1st 2012

Actual Facebook Post:

“Today while I was in line at the grocery store, the lady in front of me didn’t have enough cash or food stamps to buy her cart full of food. Instead of having to have her put back things, I just paid the difference for her.” -Vickie R. St. Louis, MO

 

Arrogance is the Result of Ignorance

I’ve woken up cranky. It has nothing to do with the fact that I’m sick, have to go to the doctor and then drive my mother to the train station, a four hour round trip, in the middle of the night just so I can turn around and go to work in the morning- I’m cranky because ignorant people think they are so clever.

Last night I tweeted: Does anyone know of any good beginner gardener books?

This morning I find this as a response: I think Genesis might be considered the ultimate beginners guide to horticulture. It is very basic, anyway.

I’m sure that this individual, this atheist individual, thinks they are so funny and clever. The only thing they are successful at, in my opinion, is proving just how incompetent they truly are in their beliefs or lack there of.

If  “The constant assertion of belief is an indication of fear” (Jiddu Krishnamurti) then it stands to reason that the constant assertion of disbelief is an indication of fear.

I’ve learned that if you can’t be comfortable in what you believe regarding the divine, odds are you are incompetent in those beliefs. If one cannot simply be who they are without asserting what they are then there’s a problem.

When I come across those who argue, what I am is who I am then I know right away they have no idea who they are.

One who understands much displays a greater simplicity of character than one who understands little.- Alexander Chase

In my life these days, I don’t really focus on the fact that I have no belief system. I’m too busied worrying about how to support and love my family, help those around me in need to the best of my abilities and worrying about trying to figure out how to make this hell hole of a world just a little bit better for everyone. I don’t have the time or the energy to waste on a theological question that can’t be answered until one is dead. If there is a god, who cares? If there isn’t who cares? Honestly, if we put HALF the effort into being better people towards our fellow man as we did arguing over whose god had the biggest dick, peace might actually be achieved.

Think of how you want others to perceive you: a swaggering ogre who is so cocky in his own ignorance that he comes off as a dick or a nice who guy who is more concerned about other people’s welfare rather than what they believe- then strive to achieve that.