Stealing the future

currumbin surfer, originally uploaded by Spasmoid.

Today's self-help books are all about "reaching your potential". Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Every time we make an excuse to ourselves about how we can't achieve something, or why we can't do something we'd like to do, we are stealing.

We steal from ourselves because those thaughts rob ourselves of that opportunity. We do it all the time. Sometimes we allow others to do it too. Whether it is said directly, or suggested subtly, people can steal our future by placing ideas in our minds that something is not obtainable. Having said that, I wouldn't necesarily accuse that person of theft, because it is their condition which leads them to unconscously deny themselves and others opportunity.

The main thing is that we all watch our own tendencies for this limited way of thinking to steal from us and from others. This requires us to be proactive.

My advice is to keep your horizens broad, and help others to broaden their own.

Are there any potential dangers? What are they?

Sometimes putting too many "options" on the table can be too chaotic and can result in lack of commitment. The trick is putting first things first. One way to do this is to make your own personal mission statement. Think about what is most important to you, and put those things first. Then secure your goals from theft.

The best way to achieve security is to be clear in your own mind about your priorities and your mission. The next time your future is challenged, you will recognise the threat so that you'll be in a position to override it with decisive action - gently, but with authority.

Human Nature - part II

I just came back from a walk down my local beach at Currumbin, Australia. After finishing three quarters of a pizza, I was standing knee-deep in the waves on the sandbar, looking out to sea, whining and complaining to God about my problems.

I was interrupted by someone who was soon to be a friend for life. Clutching two beer bottles, he beckoned my attention from the water's edge - searching my face in the moonlight. "How ya goin' mate?" - a fine question to be asking under the circumstances. "I'm good. How 'bout yourself?" etc etc. Turns out that Glen had a lot on his mind. We talked about the meaning of life and briefly touched on religion. He told me about his tarot card readings and how everything was coming true "even tonight was predicted". Apparently this was supposed to be his last visit to the beach or anywhere for that matter.

I told Glen that you can't live your life by "snippets" or truisms, and that fortune tellers are only as accurate as we make them. He told me not to try and "convert him". I told him that I knew better than to try.

How pig headed do we have to be to believe in the supernatural, but not God (and what He's done for us)? Glen was prepared to die for his beliefs in some two-bit hack of a "fortune" teller (who was no doubt being encouraged by the Devil) rather than be converted.

I think we fear change. But in this life, it's "change or die" - even the evolutionists can agree with that. The devil's name means "The Accuser of the Bretheran". It's simple. He wants you dead.

The accusations are designed to put distance between you and God. He wants you to think you are so bad, that even God can't forgive you and that you cannot change. He wants you to think that your are incapable of leading a Christian life. He doesn't want you to know that God accepts you as you are - warts and all. So he accuses you.

Glen had a different look on his face as he left to go home to his wife and kids. The watch tower was definitely doing it's job tonight and another tarot reading was proven to be a lie.

Human nature

I just came back from a walk down my local beach at Currumbin, Australia. There is a section of the beach that faces the river-mouth. There is a big huge red sign that says "it is dangerous to swim here. don't do it". About 10 metres away is a life-guard watch-tower and during peak season, jet boats patrol the river-mouth.

Why?

Because humans are idiots. They cannot be told. They always know better. So why then doesn't the surf life saving club abandon that part of the beach? Because they are in the business of saving lives. It is a given that people are stupid and will do stupid things, so they place the saving of lives above all other priorities. Even if none of the surf life-savers are Christians, they are behaving in accordance with God's law. It is an act of grace to put the watch tower there in just the same way Christians believe that Jesus came down in the flesh to live a perfect life so that He would be justified to save us from the consequences of our own actions.

God's law is that we strive to do as He did. We are to forgive, and love one another. Hist forgiveness and his promise of salvation doesn't mean that the laws of the universe automagically vanish and do not apply. The laws of cause and effect are still there which is why we need His lifeline. If I go swimming in the river mouth, get swept out to sea by a strong current because I ignored the sign and was too proud to raise my hand and scream for help (resistance to personal change), I can't blame the life-savers for not saving me. Yet somehow people still blame God for the consequences of our built-in sinful nature. God can only help us if we put up our hand and yell for help - thereby admitting that we were stupid enough to ignore the sign. [Habbit 1 of the 7 habbits is taking responsibility]

It's in our nature to be too proud to raise our hand and scream for help. Yet we have been given a gift that no other species has. We have been given the gift of free will. We can simply DECIDE to transcend our pride, our imperfect nature. We can DECIDE to get a free ride. But we have to give up our illusions and give up control. It seems paradoxical to us that giving up control is what's necessary to experience freedom.

It goes against OUR nature.