What would you say if I told you that the world is going to end? It seems logical to me: If it begins, it must end. You know, it's like a "what goes up, must come down" sort of thing.Let me put a different spin on it. What would you say if I told you that the world as we know it is going to end?
Firstly, I insist that you forget about saying things like, "oh well," "it's God's will," or "life's a bitch and then you die." That's a cop out, and you know it. That's passive-resistance, and that just doesn't cut it. It's not an option.
Secondly, I insist that you forget about looking elsewhere, looking for someone else to give you the answer, or at the very least, to give you a hint. This is something that only you can answer for you.
The world as we know it is coming to an end. It's happening right now.
While you're thinking about that, consider this: Darwin may have hit the nail on the head with his "survival of the fittest" theory when it comes to the various life forms sharing this Earth with us, but that theory does not apply to humanity. Why? I'll answer with another question: What good would it do to eliminate everyone else so that you could live? People are social. We need and want others around us so that we can survive. We also need and want all the Earth's life forms too. Nothing survives without everything else. It's a finite, closed system.
If your house was burning down around you while you slept, or a raging bear was coming at you, you'd want and need someone to step up and help you out. Both of you would survive the situation, but one alone wouldn't.
'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' This isn't something that applies only to the things you shouldn't do, but the things that you should. Proactively. When you see a house burning down or a bear hell-bent to kill, you step up to the plate and do what needs doing. You see, if the person in the house or at the receiving end of that bear's wrath dies, you end up alone, all by your lonesome, and far less likely to survive much longer as a result. Unless everyone survives, you don't either.
The sticking point is that if you help others only so you survive, it won't work. This can't be a selfish thing.
The cool point about it all is that it is instinctual to help others. If you weren't a thinking animal, you'd be helping without a second thought, immediately, without reserve, without qualm. You would be inherently selfless and altruistic.
Yes, the world as we know it is ending. Will you remain the same, or will you become true to your nature and survive?
I just wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family a healthy and prosperous 2009.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paul! I return the sentiments!
ReplyDeleteWow, this post stopped me in my tracks. I usually do this sort of thinking on the 1st January, as it's my birthday it seems the right date to ponder life's direction. I'll start a few days early!
ReplyDeleteIt's worth pondering, isn't it? Happy Birthday, Jane!
ReplyDeleteYou wonder what action should we take now? Stock up on canned food, start growing a garden... That picture is awesome! Where is that?
ReplyDeleteJess
Hi Jess. Becoming more self-sufficient may be difficult for many, too many, but doing what you can now isn't a bad idea at all.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where that photo is - I found it on the Internet awhile back. It fits here because it's sand and won't be around too long. It is beautiful!
Yesterday at a family gathering, my pentecostal mother-in-law gave us all a book, "When All Hell Breaks Loose", as well as this little transistor radio that will re-charge your cell phone.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for being prepared and self sufficient. However, I remember too well how so many people predicted doom and gloom for 2000, when Y2K was coming.
Run for the hills?
That's why I said "as we know it." It's more a thing of how you look at helping and giving. Wouldn't the world as we know it end if everyone became giving?
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