Kill That Cow!

In the 1970’s I was a member of the Futurist Society. Futurists predict the future based on what is deemed the best verifiable evidence logically extrapolated. Being relatively young and inexperienced I accepted their pronouncements at face value, since the authors of the pieces they published had studied and accurately researched (I believed) the topics at depth. I looked forward to each issue of their magazine for one particular writer's articles which were always well written and interesting. The new issue arrived and I attempted to read some of the other articles first, a small stab at delayed gratification, but soon turned to my favorite and with a smile began reading. When finished, I felt a bit unsettled. I couldn’t put my finger on it but it troubled me. So after about a week I went to the library to do some research. Firing up the microfiche (remember microfiche and cabinets filled with microfilm) I located the statistics I was looking for and identified the problem. The author had reversed the statistics that supported his position! I felt relieved and a little proud. I reasoned that some underling had provided the statistics to the author incorrectly and a correction would be forth coming. However the next issue arrived and nothing was mentioned. I surmised that by the time he became aware it was too late for this issue but would certainly be in the next. Well he did address it in the next issue. The response was one of the most over the top, vitriolic pieces of junk I, to this day, have ever read. Not only did he defend his position and facts, anyone who disagreed with him was an idiot! I was left stunned and breathless. I rechecked the facts to see if I misread them. Nope. The sacred cow of blind trust died for me that day.

Sacred cows are everywhere. Many are inherited, some quietly strolled in and we have not bothered to do the work to turn them out, usually because if we do we are afraid of what we will find when they are gone, since sacred cows, like all bovines, are notoriously poor house keepers. We must not be afraid to ask questions and seek the truth, since: the truth will set you free. So trust, but verify.

I didn’t renew my membership in the Futurists Society. Looking back, one of their predictions for 2000 (then 25+ years in the future) was that if we didn’t act immediately the world was about to be plunged into a new ice age, for places like Chicago winter would be year round, beyond any doubt, no further discussion required, the science settled. All the top climatologists said so. Beware those cows.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, Serenity, Enlightenment, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, Pope Francis, Chopra, Jesus, Einstein, AA, McRaven, Healing Path

 

God Doesn't Break The Law

God doesn’t break cosmic law, to do so would establish favoritism, a pecking order. No one stands above another before God, all are loved equally, even though it may not appear so at times. Most however go through life by self propulsion until some hardship befalls. Then, being nominal believers they turn to prayer in desperation and fear, seeking immediate relief. God will always help so never hesitate to pray, for such is the nature of Grace, but if we are loved by God, a love greater than a parent has for their child, why does God seemingly not answer instantaneously in the manner outlined in the prayer?

God never says “no”, but He never will or even can answer prayers that give prosperity to one if it brings poverty to another, peace to one by causing turmoil to another or if what we are praying for, unseen by us, would ultimately bring negative consequences. To do so breaks cosmic law, and since He is the author of the law, He never breaks it. All prayers are answered in the positive, but since we often pray with an predetermined hoped for outcome with certain expectations (outlining) based in self (fear), we are unable to see God’s hand at work and begin to feel our prayers are unheard. To be clear: All prayers are answered in the positive, God is always present, the question is are we present for Him, ready to step out in faith, trusting in His Love and Grace, the fear driven life left behind.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, Serenity, Enlightenment, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, Pope Francis, Chopra, Jesus, Einstein, AA, McRaven, Healing Path

 

A Few More Sure Things

God is ready the moment we are.
We ready ourselves through consistent scientific prayer and meditation. Who would try to run a marathon without training or fly a plane with no instruction, yet spiritually many, if not most expect God to deliver just because they asked, kinda like asking to win a marathon while promising to train afterwards. To be clear: God can and does work miracles without prerequisite, such is the nature of Grace, but our responsibility having become aware is to Practice the Presence of God through prayer and meditation, consistently training ourselves to be of service to God and our fellows.

God always knows the answer.
God is either everything, all knowledge and power or else He is nothing. There is no middle ground.

The biggest fool of all is the man who bothers about outer things and neglects his own consciousness. If you have no time for prayer and meditation, you will have lots of time for sickness and trouble.
Toward the end of the movie Tombstone, Doc Holliday is receiving last rites from a Catholic priest as Wyatt Earp walks in. Doc comments to Wyatt “I was just investigating the mysteries of the Church of Rome. It appears my hypocrisies know no bounds.” Hypocrisy had little to do with it. We all choose the course of our lives, many putting off to tomorrow their “investigation.”  For Doc Holliday (at least in the movie), better late than never but since most cannot rely on cards and a quick gun hand for their source and security (ultimately failing Doc in the end as well), we choose the sure bet today, to Practice the Presence of God daily through prayer, selfless service and meditation.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, Serenity, Enlightenment, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, Pope Francis, Chopra, Jesus, Einstein, AA, McRaven, Healing Path,, Tombstone, Kilmer