11/1/15
Happy November, Ron - and Anne!
I agree that our thoughts are as precious an item about us as there is - tho I know you did not put it that way. I have long believed that life is not near as complicated as we were led to believe as kids. It is not complicated, but for the sake of some of us who want to lead others of us, all of us are led to believe that life is "supposed to be" complicated. That, I believe.
One of my poems, Ron & Anne, is SOCRATES, JESUS, AND ME. I intend to say by that poem that as Socrates supposedly encouraged his students to question everything for their own sakes, that is how I see Jesus - and me. What was true for Socrates became true for the likes of Jesus - and eventually the likes of me - and you. That is how I see it.
It is easy to question if you realize that in all probability none of the ancients had any more insight than any one of us - and because of their ignorance of the universe (including natural generation and evolution), they probably had a lot less insight than the average person today. We all want the truth; but to claim that one of us has some greater insight than others is - as far as I am concerned - almost blasphemy.
I know you, Ron, and I know that your thoughts are as good as mine - or that of Socrates or that of Jesus or that of anyone. I think we make gods of some just so some of us do not have to think for ourselves - when in all probability the ones we have made gods struggled to ask questions themselves. Yet many who stand aside and refuse to ask questions assume that another not only asked the right questions, but supplied the right answers. Not thinking for yourself is really a lazy man's way - or better put, a lazy person's way.
But to know you have as much capability as anyone before you to not only ask your own questions, but find your own answers, opens the door for personal integrity and leads to Personal Salvation like no other practice can.
So, Ron & Anne, My Friends and Fellow Questioners, know that questioning everything is wonderful. Know that those who failed to question everything are also the ones who have led others to not question everything - or even anything at all. So many put out stories like they definitely happened when in all likelihood, they did not - simply because there was no one at hand to record what they claimed happened.
Just take the story of Moses, for instance. Who was there to record the conversation between God and Moses on Mount Sinai? No one, and yet people who refuse to ask their own questions fall in line without hesitation and believe that the story of Moses is true. That is crazy! People ought to wake up and realize that they have been dupes of those who want to govern in some way. That is why they tell the stories they do - to get people to fall in line as if the story that was told is actually true.
Another example - the fabled story of Jesus. Who was there to record what supposedly happened? Not even the ones who were there at the time were "recorders" - and yet we are supposed to believe that Jesus and Pilate had some conversation between them as if some reporter was standing by to record the whole thing. It is crazy. The real Jesus probably taught that we should question the veracity of what we are told - and angered the Jews because of it - and yet other Jews went forward to act like Jesus never asked us to question things - but to "believe though we have not seen." It is crazy - and yet today millions, if not billions, of people stand at attention to hear words like "Praise The Lord!" when the real "lord" probably taught than no one is a lord. How foolish we have been! At least, I think so; but there I am "thinking for myself" again.
So, why do we believe that what some others have said is the truth? Because we all want to know the truth; and again, believing what another claims is true is so much easier than to question things yourself. But, Ron, I have long realized that the person standing next to me - whoever it is, even a Pope Francis - is no more capable of finding truth than I am. So, of what sense does it make to entrust my "truth seeking" to that one - or anyone? Yes, I should listen to a Pope Francis for his opinion - as well as listen to you for your opinion - but the moment I exchange "listening" for "obeying" is the moment I will have failed to be the complete person I really am. Or so, I Believe!
Enuf! See you later as we load up your set that you have taken so much time to build out of your generosity - and take it from your shed to the stage of the Gryphon Theatre for our play of this weekend. As you know, you will be playing Nasty Norman as I will be playing Reverend Willie; but neither of us is the person we will be performing - or acting. There is such a lesson in that too. As we are "acting" to impress an audience this weekend, when do we really stop "acting" if we insist on believing the tales of others - and not insist on finding our own truth ourselves?
See you soon!
Gently,
Will (Reverend Willie)