You musn't!

There is a Pharisee in each and everyone of us. To the uninitiated, that is the overbearing high and mighty egoistic self who is always on the judgemental warpath, ever ready to display self righteousness.  Often,  self righteousness speaks without you even realising it, more of a habit, than the real  desire to enforce. It has become so much a part of self. Let me illustrate. 

YT was in this beautiful, and she mean really beautiful and meaningful ceremony of transforming darkness into light=the coming of goodness some time ago. She was trying to capture the process of the transformation with her camera...you know, what they  say, a picture is worth a thousand words, BUT at that precise moment of a captivating snap, someone hissed loudly behind her..."you mustn't" . Unconsciously, she turned round. Two ladies were glaring. She was amused, but unfortunately, the diversion caused her a good photo opportunity, because when she turned back to resume her task, that  golden moment had past- gone forever.   "Mustn't", uttered without discernment  could sometimes result in a loss of something good. YT doubts, if these two ladies had the serious  intent to obstruct or forbid, it is more the habit of doing what they  always did and observed without the complete understanding of the reasons for the rules.

But upon reflection, isn't   there a  "Pharisee"  in each and everyone of us ?? There are no exception, we are all guilty of being pharisee at some point of our lives. Make no mistake, YT also has her  pharisee moments. Whenever the ego speaks above reasoning, the pharisee comes sweeping in. Whenever, you want others to bend to your will, in comes the pharisee. You listen to me, I know better. You are wrong, I am right!! You seek attention, you work to enhance your visuality, you keep up  appearances for impression sake, not because you genuinely care   etc..etc... Isn't that being pharisee? And many of us are so guilty of those actions but then , that is classified as part and parcel of living. Definition  of the other kind-today's version!!

Is the mustn't word overused in today's living? Are we stopping the creativity and the freedom of will with the many stoppages of  Mustn't??  We forbid without discerning, we criticize , not because there is anything wrong with the actions of another, but because our agenda demands of it.  Have you notice, how society sets rules that if you do not conform to the 'musn't' and heed the  MUST,   you cannot belong??  Mustn't, always come with a certain form of judgement, the enforcement and the obligation of  MUST .... So how do  we maintain a balance? To be discussed ...

Have & Have nots. What's your definition?

Isn’t it true that even the grass tasted sweet to those whose stomachs growl for food? There is this picture of  a African child eating  dirt somewhere in Africa. Someone sent it to me with a remark that  in some parts of the world , even the grounds are licked clean by hungry children wanting to have a little something for their starved and swollen  tummy. Over here,   in the land of abundance, greedy people are piling food on to their plates and when they cannot finish the mountain of food,  without any guilt, they  dumped them into the garbage bin. Problem solved. Did it ever occurred to these people that their unwanted food is survival, gold   to the hungry? That food dumped could have fed many a hungry child??  Shouldn't they  make it a habit of taking just sufficient so that they  could  finish what they had taken? That  way, no good food  would be thrown away.

Then, there was  this  homeless man rumbling through the garbage bins, searching for crumbs. Nearby some youngsters couldn't finish their burgers. So in, it goes into the bin. The homeless man who was watching, sprang forward. Quick as a wink, he retrieved them and happily gobbled them up, licking his fingers in obvious enjoyment. Wonderful! Today it’s fresh food, no stale food. Tummy filled, he lay down on his usual spot  under the bridge. With a satisfied pat on his tummy, he closed his eyes, and soon he was snoring away. Sleep came so easily. Happiness to  him, is  food , any food in his tummy and a roof over his head- what does it matter if  it's just the cold hard floor? What does it matter if he has to share the “shelter” under the bridge with scores of homeless people? Those are friends who provided him with company, a sense of belonging and sharing. Yet many of us with our soft mattress and pillows still lament our lack of fortune.

What is the definition of  'have' and enough? It is subjective, depending very much on the individual. Some, may have only one meal a day, but it's  enough to keep them happy and smiling. Some may have three meals  a day and yet are envious of others who get to go for supper every night, or eat in high class environments. 

Have you notice that the more you earn, the more you have, the more you want? Of course, the harder, you fall asleep? Happy are those who realise the gift of what they have and are thankful. They do not long for more, neither do they go around comparing their lacking with others. Happy are those who are quick to thank and appreciate, but then humans, being humans, how many of us are in that category???

Self Faith

When you speak of faith to anyone, people normally link it to either the spiritual or the religious. 

To YT, faith and trust in self is equally important. Many of us struggle with self belief and faith and end up  creating huge obstacles for ourselves, when all we need to do is to think positive, stay  calm and look for a way out of problems and difficulties. I love to tell my friends this story. 

Two persons travel along the same road. On a particular stretch of road, potholes abound. The first traveller, stops and sigh. He is unable to move forward. He is overwhelmed. The potholes are just too big for him to handle. He stayed rooted to the spot- stagnant. The second traveller, looks at the potholes. Big and deep –yes, but he reckons, he could still pass through this stretch of road safely. He  then manoeuvres and carefully moves around it, Hei, he manages it and so he move on , abeitly at a slower pace BUT he is progressing.  

One has the confidence and trust in his own ability to overcome the potholes.  He takes it in his stride. He is willing to try and overcome. Challenges are afterall to be conquered. He acts and use his abilities to move about and around and he keeps his forward movement. The other turns negative. Self doubt creeps in. He is paralysed by fear. He cannot go on. All he sees are obstacles and blockages. He stays stagnant and drowns in his difficulties.  

Strange as it may sound, faith and belief in self  plays a huge part in   the well being of a person. If you are a positive person, the energy of your faith lifts you up, your steps are lighter. You see more blooms and hear soothing music. The negative,  on the other hand only sees darkness and because he refuses to look about and around him, he  keeps falling into the same potholes. He is full of bruises, laden  with anxieties, and unable to move forward. His stress builds up. Ultimately, that affects his health and he is constantly in ill health..

Though it is a constant struggle to preserve Confidence and self faith,  never give up, never stop believing in self and never lose sight of your goals. Put your mind to the task;  you will be surprised, how life smiles at you. Move forward positively and progressively. Does that not spell achievement ultimately and doesn't that bring in the satisfaction that keep your well-being in robust health?

Know that you are but a guest in this temporal realm.

The more you advance into time, the  more meaningful God becomes. Is it fear of the ultimate meeting with their Maker that makes man turn more to God in his twilight years, that they take a round about turn from the material to the spiritual??? Does the setting sun finally bring in the realisation that they are travelling on borrowed time;that their visa last only for one life time and that time draws near?? Did it  finally dawn on them that they are mere guests in this temporal world, here on a visa of purpose.  That it is the deeds that count and not the material??You see, you touch, you enjoy but you do not own, nor could you take away,what do not belong to you.

Time shows that it is God who makes or breaks. You make plans, but it is God who decides. Fear of the Lord God brings in the goodness of actions and that results in the grace of blessings bestowed.  The word "fear" is more respect and love of the Creator, the parent figure not to be mistaken for "terror" of the punishing kind. Sinning is quite subjective  but generally, it is going against the natural law of God. Actions that goes against your conscience; that which removes you from Eden,its blessings and your own peace.

Do you know why pain and sufferings abound in this world? It is because, everyone wants to slice off a piece of mother earth for their own keeping -they think they will live forever.

Everyone wants to be a warlord, a Mafia godfather, amassing ...amassing..stepping on the bodies of the unfortunate to rise further and yet higher.

Only when they arrive at their death bed are they awaken to the fact, that they  have to leave everything behind. Naked you came and naked you go. Could you take what does not belong to you?? Everything is given to you on a loan basis just for as long as you breathe.. You do not even own your spirit and your soul. They belong to your Maker and Creator and you have to account for your living. Think about it!!