Blog 2274 – 01.12.2022
Save Yourself
The first of the Ten Intentions for a Better World reads:
“I refrain from opposing or harming anyone. I allow others to have their own experiences. I see life in all things and honor it as if it were my own. I support life.”
The deep aching need to save someone else is a misguided notion at best probably inspired, fed, and inflamed by puny little ego, the one and only true enemy of our souls. The only one that needs saving and the only one that we can indeed save is ourself. Ego would distract us from finding the most important answer to the great question of life (Who am I?) by having us tilt at windmills and forever be on some impossible mission or quest to save the world.
The arguably most famous and most often quoted verse in the Bible (Why it even shows up at important sports play off games even The World Series, Super Bowl, the NBA Championship Series) is John 3:16 and reads:
“For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will never die but have eternal life.”
News flash: The world does not need saving. Well perhaps it does, environmentally speaking, but the death of one individual no matter how highly connected cannot stop the burning of the rainforest nor quell the greed in men’s hearts who would as the saying goes sell their own grandmothers to make a profit. The profit motive may help build strong economies, but it can and may yet, if left unchecked and unregulated, ultimately destroy the world and all of us with it.
There is only one whose life and situation we can ever save or change and that is our own. We can waste our time trying to save or change someone else to no avail or we can work at changing our own minds till we realize Who and Whose we truly are and who everyone else is as well.
The New Testament also has Jesus saying, “But you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” That truth is the sure and certain knowledge of Who and Whose we are, who you are, and who I am. We need no one to die for us, never have, never will, for we in whole and in part have always been more than adequately equipped to save ourselves.
Some people seek recognition, validation, for their heroic life saving efforts and are alway seeking trophies and new stars for their crowns. Interfering unasked in the life of another is not only rude, but though it may seem self serving, it is not even that. Attempts to make a perfect, a better world, always end up with most if not all of our money in someone else’s hands and we and the world poorer for it.
One last cliché and I am done for today: “Physician heal yourself.” We do have helping, healing, and salvation skills, but they are all tailor made to fit but one patient’s profile- our own.
Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White
Billy Joel – My Life (Official Video)
theencouragingword 