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Monday Morning Quarterbacking Following Absentee Ownership
No matter how healthy, intelligent, or affluent we may be, if our minds are weak, then our happiness will also be a frail and brittle thing. We cannot be manned by mental defectives whose business it is to promise everything and deliver nothings. No meaning can properly be attached to the probability of a single event, and the notion becomes equally inapplicable to the large range of judgments expressing partial belief (in theories and the like) which have hitherto been dealt with under this head. There are difficulties, moreover, in assuming that observed frequencies are a reliable clue to long-run or limiting frequencies—that is it possible, in effect, on inductive grounds to arrive at such long-run frequencies by means of sample observations, however, extended. Thus, a knowledge of statistical frequency, even if obtainable, would be no sufficient ground for preferring one expectation to another. A miracle is the supernatural intervention of God. God created this World and everything physical around us, and the physical World is orderly. God’s desire is for you to prosper. God’s will is for you to be healthy. Probability is clearly not a guide to life. You are the one who controls God’s ability on your life. #RandolphHarris 1 of 10
All of our wickednesses and imperfections, all of our follies and our sins, may help to pull down that fond and overweening conceit which we are apt to entertain of ours. That which makes anybody esteem us, is their knowledge or apprehension of some little good, and their ignorance of a great deal of evil that may be in us; were they thoroughly acquainted with us, they would quickly change their opinion. The thoughts that pass in our hearts, in the best and most serious day of our life, being exposed unto public view, would render us either hateful or ridiculous. And now, however we conceal our failings from one another, yet sure we are conscious of them ourselves, and some serious reflections upon them would much qualify and allay vanity of our spirits. Thus, holy people have come really to think worse of themselves, than of any other person in the World: not but that they knew that gross and scandalous vices are, in their nature, more heinous than the surprises of temptations and infirmity; but because they were much more intent on their own miscarriages than on those of their neighbours, and did consider all the aggravations of the one, and everything that might be supposed to diminish and alleviate the other. #RandolphHarris 2 of 10
How should acts be judged? Often times, reason deceives us more often than the heart. Thoughts of God give us the lowest thoughts of ourselves because there are things many of us have done that we have never forgiven ourselves for, and also because we know that God sees everything and knows everything. However, to make progress and to change takes more effort than feeling guilty, but it is a more appropriate response. On the scale of consciousness, guilt is one of the lowest levels, whereas God is the highest level. Consequently, wallowing around in guilt will not help of progress. Humility means that we see our own life as the evolution of spiritual consciousness. We learn from our mistakes. Ideals clash and choices are usually between alternatives that contain some evil. An ethically sensitive person therefore is more subject than others to doubt, crisis, and remorse satisfied conscience is more readily found in those who have a narrow awareness and ready formulas. However, an ethically sensitive person may exemplify the perfection of individual morality, in which are combined a feeling for each individual act and a care for all possible results. #RandolphHarris 3 of 10
A lot of times things we do in the past seem like a good idea at the time. Yet, later on, in retrospect, when we place or consider the situation in a different context, by doing some Monday morning quarterbacking, and we criticize the actions and decision we made or others made, after the fact, we use hindsight to assess situations and specify more better alternative solutions, the errors become crystal clear. Along with giving up the guilt, it is also very helpful to give up the sin as reality, we have to change our ways and make atonements for our mistakes. There has been moral progress in the course of history: Ideals have been added from time to time, more persons now share to some degree in all ideals, and there is greater resistance to evil. More people have their principle in the love of being [and desire for its] perfection, or in the feeling of its imperfection or withering. However, we must be warned against submitting to a single dominating passion. The feeling of our imperfection makes our eternal torture. Our need for greatness and importance is laudable, and we should also respond with charity to the needs of others. #RandolphHarris 4 of 10
Error is usually correctable; sin is typically a mistake, and generally can be forgiven. It is also well observed by a pious individual, that the deepest and most pure humility does not so much arise from the consideration of our own faults and defects, as from a calm and quiet contemplation of the divine purity and goodness. Our spots never appear so clearly, as when we place them before this infinite light; and we never seem less in our own eyes, than when we look down upon ourselves from on high. O how little, how nothing, do all these shadows of perfection then appear, for which we are wont to value ourselves! That humility, which comes from a view of our own sinfulness and misery, is more turbulent and boisterous; but the other layer is full and low, and want nothing of that anguish and vexation wherewith our souls are apt to boil, when they are nearest objects of our thoughts. Instead of hurting someone for fun, spiritual values replace Worldly ones, temptations diminish and error is less likely to occur. There remains yet another means for begetting a holy and religious disposition in the soul, and that is, fervent and hearty prayer. #RandolphHarris 5 of 10
Holiness is the gift of God—indeed the greatest gift he does bestow, or we are capable to receive; and God has promised his Holy Spirit to those who ask it of him. In prayer, we make the nearest approaches to God, and are open to the influences of Heaven; then it is that the Sun of Righteousness does visit us with his directest rays, and dissipates our darkness, and imprints his image on our souls. I shall only tell you, that as there is one sort of prayer wherein we make use of the voice, which is necessary in public, and may sometimes have its own advantages in private; and another, wherein though we utter no sound, yet we conceive the expressions, and forms the words, as it were, in our minds; so there is a third and more sublime kind of prayer, wherein the soul takes a higher flight, and having collected all its forces by long and serious meditation, it darts itself (if I may so speak) towards God in sighs and groans, and thoughts too big for expression. As when, after a deep contemplation of the divine perfections appearing in all his works of wonder, it addresses itself unto him in the profoundest adoration of his majesty and glory. #RandolphHarris 6 of 10
For, when after sad reflections on its vileness and miscarriages, it prostrates itself before God with the greatest confusion and sorrow, not daring to lift up its eyes, or utter one word in his presence; or when, having well considered the beauty of holiness, and the unspeakable felicity of those that are truly good, it seeks God, and sends up such vigorous and ardent desires as no words can sufficiently express, continuing and repeating each of these acts, as long as it finds itself upheld by the force and impulse of the previous meditation. This mental prayer is of all others the most effectual to purify the soul, and dispose it unto a holy and religious temper, and may be termed the great secret of devotion, and one of the most powerful instruments of the divine life; and, it may be, the apostle has a peculiar respect unto it, when he says, that the Spirit helps our infirmities, making intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered, or that cannot be worded. Yet, I do not so recommend this sort of prayer, as to supersede the use of the other. #RandolphHarris 7 of 10
For we have so many several things to pray for, and every petition of this nature requires so much time, and so great an attention of spirit, that it is not ease therein to overtake them all: to say nothing, that the deep sighs and heavings of the heart, which are wont to accompany it, are something oppressive to nature, and make it hard to continue long in them. However, certainly a few of these inward aspirations will so more than a great many fluent and melting expressions. The phase to accomplish all spiritual progress as well as success in the World, means we have to tune into the awareness of the presence of God. There is a sudden release of enormous energy, an emergence into an almost enlightened state in which all is happening of its own. There is a peace, a serenity, and a stillness. Acceptance is the great healer of strife, conflict, and upset. It also corrects major imbalances of perception and precludes the dominance of negative feelings. Everything serves a purpose. Self-interest is naturally good, and we also must preserve the ethical character of acts. The realization of spiritual progress is the result of God’s grace and not the results of one’s personal endeavors. #RandolphHarris 8 of 10
We are allowed to seek happiness outside ourselves: One is not one’s own unique object. Not all acts are motivated by self-interest, and it is absurd to call sacrifice of life, for example, an act of self-interest, for in such an act we consider ourselves as the least part of the whole and lose everything. Jesus Christ, law enforcement, fire department, people in the army, military, veterans, and emergency medical services constantly risk their lives to save others and make the World a better place. The criterion of acts is their effect on others; acts are virtuous of they tend to the good of all, even if they also satisfy self-interest. Activity, courage, glory, and ambition summarize the ideal of life and concept of virtue. Greatness of soul depends on character and education. The great soul does not care about public esteem; true glory is an intimate feeling, self-satisfying to the point where it may paradoxically disdain actions. People are not naturally, politically or socially equal. A good person is one thing; enlightenment is another. One is responsible for the effort and not the results, which is up to God in the Universe. Law cannot make people equal in spite of nature. Hierarchy, in all respects, is inevitable. Although there may be deficiencies in our lives, it is important to have a proud, heroic soul. #RandolphHarris 9 of 10
Our attitude must be one of complete reliance on God. Once we get to that point, there is nothing easier than living the life of a saint. We encounter difficulties when we try to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit. Any problem that comes while I obey God increases my delight, because I know that my Father knows and cares, and I can watch and anticipate how he will unravel my problems. We must be lovers of peace. Greatness of soul and action are absolute virtues. We should be resolutely optimistic about life. History records more frequent and more spectacular instances of the triumph of imbecile institutions over life and culture than of peoples who have saved themselves alive out of a desperately precarious institutional situation, such, for instance, as now faces the people of Christendom. “Peace I leave you with, my peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14.27). God, you are wonderful providence. Grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy for our intercessor in Heaven, whom we venerate on Earth as our protector. You who live and reign forever and Ever. Bless it be. #RandolphHarris 10 of 10
And God Granted His Request—Courage can Only be Opened from the Inside
Eternal life in Heaven is promised to the believer that is sealed by the Holy Spirit. You can be sure you have a house of in Heaven when you know God. We shall find our hearts enlarged in charity toward humans; by considering the relation wherein they stand unto God, and the impressions of his image which are stamped upon them. They are not only his creatures, the workmanship of his hands, but such of whom he taken special care, and for whom he hath a very dear and tender regard, having laid the designs of their happiness before the foundations of the World, and being willing to live and converse with them in all the ages of eternity. The meanest and most contemptible person whom we behold is the offspring of Heaven, one of the children of the Most High; and however unworthy he might behave himself of that relation, so long as God hath not abdicated and disowned him by a final sentence, he will have us to acknowledge him as one of him, and as such to embrace him with a sincere and cordial affection. The doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven, which was the main teaching of Jesus Christ, is certainly one of the most revolutionary doctrines that ever stirred and changed human thought. #RandolphHarris 1 of 6
You know what a great concernment we are wont to have for those that do any ways belong to the person whom we love; how gladly we lay hold on every opportunity to gratify the child or servant of a friend and sure our love towards God would as naturally spring forth in charity towards humans, did we mind the interest that God is please to take in them, and consider that every soul is dearer unto one than all the material World; and that God did not account the blood of his Son too great a price for their redemption. Heaven should be considered one of the most important subjects of faith. The fear of eternal torment in Hell could be a strong incentive to choose salvation, but is it is not the foundation of our faith. Heaven is the place where our Savior Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of our Almighty Father God. Jesus is the foundation of our faith; the chief corner stone. Our blessed hope is the appearing of Jesus Christ who will redeem us. It is the Creator’s Grand Army, and he is the Commander-in-Chief. With these facts before you, now try to guess human’s chief’s pet name for this ferocious Commander-in-Chief? I will save you the trouble, but you must not laugh. It is our father in Heaven. #RandolphHarris 2 of 6
What is pleasant is good. Knowledge is pleasant. Therefore, knowledge is good. Value means the worth of a thing, and valuation means an estimate of its worth. Philosophers from the time of Plato had discussed a variety of questions under such headings as the good, the end, the right, obligation, virtue, moral judgement, aesthetic judgment, the beautiful, truth, and validity. All these questions belong to the same family, since they are all concerned with value or what ought to be, not with what is, was, or will be. In the next place, for purifying our souls, and disentangling our affections from the pleasures and enjoyments of this terrestrial life, let us frequently ponder the excellency and dignity of our nature, and what a shameful and unworthy thing it is for so noble and divine creatures as the soul of human, to be sunk and immersed in brutish and sensual lusts, or amused with airy and fantastical delights, and so to lose the relish of solid and spiritual pleasures; that the best should be fed and pampered, and the human and the Christian be starved in us. #RandolphHarris 3 of 6
Did we but mind who we are, and for what we were made, this would teach us, in a right sense, to reverence and stand in awe of ourselves; it would beget a modesty and shamefacedness, and make us very shy and reversed in the use of the most innocent and allowable pleasures. We should mediate often on the joys of Heaven. It will be very effectual to the purpose that we frequently rise our minds towards Heaven, and represent to our thoughts the joys that are at God’s right hand, those pleasures that endure for evermore; for every human that hath this hope in God purifies oneself, event as God is pure. If our Heavenly country be much in our thoughts, it will make us strangers and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul, and keep ourselves unspotted from this World, that we may be fit for the enjoyments and felicities of the other. However, we must see that our notions of Heaven be not gross and carnal, that we dream not of a Mahometan paradise, not rest on those metaphors and similitudes by which these joys are sometimes represented. #RandolphHarris 4 of 6
If we focus on the pleasures of the flesh, it might entangle us farther in carnal affections, and we should be ready to indulge ourselves in a very liberal foretaste of those pleasures wherein we had placed our everlasting felicity. However, when we come once to conceive aright of those pure and spiritual pleasures; when the happiness we propose to ourselves is from the sight, and love, and enjoyment of God, and our minds are filled with the hopes and forethoughts of that blessed estate; O how mean and contemptible will all things here below appear in our eyes! With what disdain shall we reject the gross and muddy pleasures that would deprive us of those celestial enjoyments, or any way unfit and indispose us for them. Jesus Christ is the Conqueror of Death, and all the Enemies of our Salvation: he bids his dispels of good cheer, in that he has overcome the World, and therein the Prince of the World. It is not great satisfaction and comfort that we shall fall into such fate, careful, and faithful hands as those of truly Angels; that never miscarried in any executions or embattles of this kind? Nor, indeed, in any others. #RandolphHarris 5 of 6
They may object, that they are strangers to, and unacquainted with the way to Heaven; they never went it, not have spoken to any that have gone it. However, there is not enough to silence such reformings? For we have all the satisfaction about it that the care will admit of. It is a point of faith, and not of sense, and we are offered that none have miscarried in, but all have got safe through it; and there is nothing wanting on God’s part to secure and bring them to Bleffednefs in Heaven. The happiness which we obtain by Christ, has also this peculiar advantage, which renders it most estimable and wonderful, in that it contains deliverance from death and destruction, as well as a right to life. It supposed a forgiveness of all trespasses, as well as an admission into Heaven, to behold the Mediator’s Glory there. God’s created natural covering is designed to protect the spiritual life, but our individuality must yield to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with him. God, bless us and enlarge our territory! Let your blessings be with us, and keep us from harm so that we will be set free from pain. #RandolphHarris 6 of 6
The Winchester Mystery House
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The Authority of Truth
You may be shocked by these words coming from me. However, on this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experiences, has forced me to rearrange much of my thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions. This was not too difficult for me. Despite my beliefs, I have always been a man who tried to face facts, and to accept the reality of life as new experience and new knowledge unfold it. I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth. However, it will not suffice to consider these things once again, nor to form some resolutions of abandoning our sins, unless we maintain a constant guard, and be continually watching against them. Sometimes the mind is awakened to see the dismal consequences of a vicious life, and straight we are resolved to reform; but alas! It presently falls asleep, and we lose that prospect which we had of things, and then temptations take the advantage; they solicit and importune us continually, and so do frequently engage our consent before we are aware. #RandolphHarris 1 of 5
It is the folly and ruin of most people to live at adventure, and take part in everything that comes in their way, seldom considering what they are about to say or do. If we would have our resolutions take effect, we must take heed unto our ways, and set a watch before the door of our lips, and examine the motions that arise in our hearts, and cause them to tell us whence they come, and wither they go; whether it be pride or passion, or any corrupt and vicious humour, that prompt us to any design, and whether God will be offended or anybody harmed by it. And if we have no time for long reasoning, let us at least turn our eyes toward God, and place ourselves in his presence, to ask his leave and approbation for what we do. Let us consider ourselves under the all-seeing eye of that divine Majesty, as in the midst of an infinite globe of light, which compasses us about both behind and before, and pierce to the innermost corners of the soul. The sense and remembrance of the divine presence is the most ready and effectual means, both to discover what is unlawful, and to restrain us from it. #RandolphHarris 2 of 5
There are some things a person could make a shift to palliate or defend, and yet he dares not look Almighty God in the face, and adventure upon them. If we look unto him we shall be lightened; if we set him always before us, he will guide us by his eye, and instruct us in the way wherein we ought to walk. I am accountable to God for the way I control my body under his authority. Every Christian can have his or her body under absolute control for God. What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be his temple. Once I agree, all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the law concerning the body are summed up for me in this revealed truth—my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is the will of God that human beings should get into a right-standing relationship with him, and his covenants are designed for this purpose. When I have really transacted business with God on the basis of his covenant, there is no sense of personal achievement—no human ingredient at all. #RandolphHarris 3 of 5
Instead, there is a complete overwhelming sense of being brought into union with God, and my life is transformed. Our job is to get the fact and be sober in doing that. Acceptance is the great healer of strife, conflict, and upset. It also corrects major imbalances of perception and precludes the dominance of negative feelings. Everything serves a purpose. Humility means that we will not understand all events or occurrences. The foundation of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when one chooses—repentance is a gift of God. No matter what or what we are, God restores us to right standing with himself. Put God in remembrance of his promises. Keep not silent. Give him no rest till it comes to pass. When God hears his promises, he dispatches angels with the answers. He sets the miracle into motion. God will change things in your favor. It may not happen overnight, but just stay in faith and keep reminding God what he promises you day in and day out. #RandolphHarris 4 of 5
Sometimes we use prayers as an excuse to complain to God about people not treating them right. Or about the price of rent, food, and gas being too high, and that they cannot take it anymore. Instead of complaining, remind God of his promises. Do not keep silent and eventually you will see what God said come true. As consciousness evolves to higher levels, the World changes in appearance and behavior. Everything is viewed whole, perfect, and complete. Father in Heaven, I may not see how it can happen, but I know you have an extraordinary blessing coming my way. Thank you that you make the rivers in the desert and streams in barren places. I am expecting a sudden, rapid, and widespread increase of blessings in my life. I believe that I will see surpassing greatness of you favor and blessings that will advance me years ahead. My hopes and dreams are in your hands and I trust you. Mystery and disappointment are not absolutely indispensable to the growth of love, but they are, very often powerful auxiliaries. #RandolphHarris 5 of 5
Star Wars of Love and Healing
Rushing through class, I could not wait to get outside, and I could tell something was different about the day. Nonetheless, I had had my feel with the negativity and needed to get away. To my surprise, I look up and there you are. It felt like it had been so long since we last saw each other. Your eyes seemed to be expressing all the affection in the recesses of your heart, blinking with warmth, goodwill, kindness and a stern sincerity. May our love increase with every passing moment. One is happy if he can encounter someone he can expose his heart to. Nothing is the World is better and more pleasing than a good relationship, without it, we would lose the Sun. I lost track of time, but knew we were supposed to meet up back up at a certain time. Normally, I would have left a while ago, but I knew this meant a lot to you and I. I waited and waited in the rain for your return, but you did not make it back. Even though I had just got dressed and styled my hair, I did not mind getting soaked by the rain. It just made the moment more romantic.
Some people got so hurt in their early, formative relationships that it made them skeptical and anxious about ever opening their hearts again. By waiting for you, even though I knew you would not be back this evening, I was trying to use this experience as a teacher, instead of trying so hard to convince you I care, I will show you. Affections are more than the cost of gifts, this action brings my yearning and the finest blessing to you. I cannot tell you how happy I was to see you even for an hour. You helped shape my heart and keep safe. Missing you was like an endless river, and I was flying with the Sun to linger over your heart. Cultivating awareness around fears and anxieties will help you understand more about what may be keeping us from authentic happiness in our relationship. I do not know how to bless you with my expecting heart. Send me a warm smile. The most welcomed people are those who have confident, hopeful, brave, and happy eagerness for knowledge, and are ready for the future.
Facing past (and possible future) losses is a step into the awareness that everything changes, no matter what we might do to try to deny that. And therefore, we know, at our deepest cellular level, that there is nothing we cannot get through. Sometimes we recall the hardships, sadness, failure, and frustration of the past and it becomes a vicious cycle. However, everyone has astonishing potentiality, and I believe we can overcome this together. The eagle soars into great height and the hen remains forever in the cage owing to their different ideals. Let us hover like eagles. My youthful heart belongs to you, for you are in possession of all. Feeding your compassion is like watering a tree: nurturance is required, but the rewards are immeasurable. Compassion is the best thing I can give you to heal your heart. The more we are able to remember and analyze the past, the more we can enrich and expand the complex story of who we are. You have to go after your dreams and chase them. They are your creations, why let someone else steal them?
We are becoming more away of the full richness and texture of our story, and we will become more hopeful about our capacity to change. We can get through this rough spot together. The more we can learn about how our past’s influence shaped our relationship, the more we will understand each other. The pain we experienced—you cannot be blamed for that, it is not all our responsibility. People have to realize, this is Earth, they are human, and they must follow the laws. Blaming one for all of their mistakes even goes against biblical text. God directed us: and to make it your ambition to live quietly and peacefully, and to mind your own affairs and work with your hands, just as we directed you. So that you will behave properly toward outsiders [exhibiting good character, personal integrity, and moral courage worthy of the respect of the outside World], and be dependent on no one and in need of nothing. There are traces of God’s power in your genes.
Friendship is an Affection of Earth
Dreams were with her the true realities; externals she accepted as other people accepted dreams—with difference. Visions are so wonderful that some people stop short of ascribing them directly to Heaven. The higher the intelligence, the more faith, and the less credulity: Paris rejects more than we, but outbelievers us all. Paris has a more comprehensive view of the moon, than the man in the moon himself. At school, friendship is a passion. It entrances the being; it tears the heart. All loves of after life can never bring its rapture, or its wretchedness; no bliss so absorbing, no pangs of jealousy or despair so crushing and so keen! There are jilts in friendship as well as in love; and, by the behavior of some people in both, one would almost imagine that they industriously sought to gain the affections of others with a view only of making the parties miserable. A treacherous friend is the most dangerous enemy. Friendship makes us warmly espouse the interest of others; but it is very cold to the gratification of their passions. Perhaps the most delightful friendships are those in which there is much agreement, much disputation, and yet more personal liking. That new sense which is the gift of sorrow,–that susceptibility to the bare offices of humanity which raises them into a bond of loving fellowship, as to haggard men among the icebergs the mere presence of an ordinary comrade stirs the deep fountains of affections. The beauty and loveliness of friendship is too strong for dim eyes. It is the fate of most people who mingle with the World, and attain even the prime of life, to make many real friends, and lose them in the course of nature. It is the fate of all authors or chroniclers to create imaginary friends, and lose them in the course of art.
Every person’s his own friend, except sometimes some people are nobody’s enemies but their own. True friendship disregards selfish considerations, and rather risks to offend by endeavoring to serve, than aims to please by concurring in what is injurious. Friends must be used as the musicians tune their strings, who finding them in a discord, do not break them, but either by intention or remission, frame them to a pleasant consent: or as riders handle their young colts, who finding them wild and untractable, bring them to a good pace, with a gentle rein, not with a sharp spur, or as the Scythians ruled their slaves not with cruel weapons but with the shew of small whips. The same may be said of friendship at first sight as of love at first sight as of love at first sight: it is the only true one, the only noble one. It bespeaks confidence. Who would go sounding his way into love or friendship, like a strange ship by night, into an enemy’s harbor? Love may do much, but friendship shall do wonders; friendship, the nobler passion of the mind, born with the heart, must still with that survive, when love, the silly baby of the fancy, can be no more. Much less pleasure in being the master of acres than the friend of one. Generosity will not surely permit a worthy mind to doubt of its honorable and beneficent intentions: much less will it allow itself to shock, to offend any one; and, least of all, a person thrown by adversity, mishap, or accident, into its protection. It is the proud consciousness of certain qualities that it cannot reveal to the everyday World that gives to genius that shy, and reserved, and trouble air, which puzzles and flatters you when you encounter it.
It is a Wonderful Life
Early love is frequently ambitious in choosing its object. People may love you for your body or name, but your face and eyes are the beautiful talents that brought you to fame. You are thunder and lightning before the rainstorm. Although it is a glimmer, it arouses my courage to wrestle with wind and rain. Glorious histories do not limit you today. Ages do not become your constraint for your aims for the far future. We are not wise in the contempt of others, but in calm approbation of ourselves–it shows the wisdom and tolerance of the star. The most perfect being, you are, and with love life will bloom. Never judge the heart of a wit by the tongue. Be wise, and that wisdom shall be a God unto thee; be contented, and that is thy Heaven. I see a crystal-like heart through your blue eyes and blonde hair. When I stumbled and required supporting, who told me beautiful stories and walked me through the park, kissing my hurt—you. It takes years and maturity to make the discovery that the power of faith is nobler than the power of doubt; and that there is a celestial wisdom in the ingenuous propensity to trust, which belongs to honest and noble natures.
May my blessing be your clean spring for your thirsty heart on this voyage, sweet comfort when you have trouble and beautiful flowers at your victory meeting. With your love and my affection, we will build an impeccably happy life. There is still beauty in the World. What you do not see in yourself, others see in you, you do matter. You will remember today as your darkest day, and tomorrow better, and the day after better still, you will go on. Let the Sun and blue Sky, clouds wake up the hidden memory, several words in the letter bring my regards to the faraway lover. In this silvery World, the white snowflakes are my missing and blessing for you, the angels of the snow. How brilliant and tender is the moon on the night when you bid the moon a goodnight. Only someone with a tender heart would say such a kind thing to the diamond in the sky. May your life be filled with happiness and ecstasy. The World was made for you. In this society, we must have something to endure, as well as to enjoy. My affairs are in the hands of him who guides the planets in their course, and who causes the Sun to shine.
They first think of the Sun when the people surprise at bright color of rainbow. I first think of you when I open my eyes. Divine understanding attends me on the way, and I shall not be hindered in my work. My affairs are controlled by perfect intelligence, and cannot be hindered from expression. I know that all that I do is done from the one motive: to express life; and love will be expressed in and through me. I cannot hinder it. I am controlled by intelligence. We are all very much alike when we are in our first love. Perfect love has a breath of poetry which can exalt the relations of the least-instructed human beings. Love is a stronger passion than vanity. I am inspired in my work from on high with lofty ideals, and my thought is illumined by the all-knowing one. May your Christmas be filled with special moment, warmth and happiness, the joy of loved ones near, and may the blessing of the day last throughout the year. Love dissolves all fear, casts out all doubt and sets the captive free. The poems are the words I want to speak to you. I am missing you silently. Keep the best things in memory and give you my blessings. I wish you a happy New Year and a merry Christmas. Love is in all things a most wonderful teacher. We have been so blinded by thinking and feeling that we have never seen the World. The purer the beauty, the more it will be out of the World. Endless love and blessing for you. You are the most cherishable Christmas present and everything to me forever.
Call Me When the Cross Turns Over
Love and friendship know nothing of justice. The value of love is that it overlooks faults, and forgives even crimes. The World imagines those to be at our nature’s depths who are impudent enough to expose its muddy shallows. The dredging of natures is the miry form of art. Analytical psychology is an approach to studying mental health and personality development by investigating consciousness and unconscious processes. Personal development involves a process of individuation, growth as an individual, in which each person can better understand both themselves and aspects of a universal level of the subliminal cognitive state. Many of us are on a noble quest. We spend each moment of every waking hour focused and reflecting on mystery we are trying to solve. Life is about trying to protect the peace the community after an intrusion by outside forces, which we are not akin to. The person who is very determined and on a righteous journey, in the midst of the chaos and deceptions around one is a person who is connected with God, and this allows us to remain strong and peaceful.
Individuation refers to the effort to become a fully human person and to grow into full consciousness. The process of becoming fully human and totally conscious is to understand the good, bad, light and darkness, and it is not an easy choice. The journey to individuation is a lifetime journey. Some people choose to protect their compassion nature with cynicism and apathy because they do not want to feel vulnerable nor uncertain. It is by far more easy for people to pretend like they do not care than to face heartbreak or disappointment. Some people put up barriers because they feel threatened by potential rejection and want to live a painless life. However, by blocking people out who care about you, not only are you hurting them, but you are also hurting yourself. No matter what, life is fluid and while you may think you have a person where you want them, you may lose them while you are not looking. A lot like parking your car in a lot and leaving it unattended. You think it is secure because it has an alarm system, you are constantly watching it, but if someone wants it, they will find a way to get it from you.
When people lose things they care about because they did not cherish them, a feeling of revenge starts to brew, and while they thought they were protecting themselves, they really start to feel the pain of loss, and this can turn into a vengeful rage. Your shadow represents the individual’s discordant desires, instincts, or shortcomings. This is why we are facing so many shootings and violence, people are living fake lives and hurting inside. On Wednesday, 2 December 2015, in San Bernardino, California, USA one to three suspects committed a massacre, killing more than 20 people at the Inland Regional Center, a facility that cares for people with developmental disabilities. This shows you that no targets are off limits, people are killing anyone they want without any regard. Because the conscious ego can only know itself, the contents of the mind and the dark shadows residing inside are unknown to others. Mass shooters are no longer adapting to the outer reality that we all share, but rather to an inner reality. They have a split with reality because there are elements of themselves that are forgotten, repressed, or ignored. To avoid these type of situations, we need to be kind to people and accept others for who they are. We have to learn to surrender, relinquishing part of our own desires and be guided by God to care for others who are having hard times.
We have to learn to train our mind, body, and spirit to be disciplined. In life, everyone faces trials, and just because some are smiling and happy, it does not mean that their life is better than yours, it simply means they are better able to control their emotions. While some people take relationships for granted and are running around trying to get attention and be popular, their loved ones may be in the process of letting going and moving on. A person should contemplative as the spirit converse and assimilates with the unconscious. As one progresses through individuation, actions may change, as the body now acts in congruence with the mind and spirit. When you recognize distressing feelings, the first step is to acknowledge them. If you remain in denial or in a one sided relationship, you will remain discontented and ignorant for the rest of your life. Being alone and uncertain of your future can be a painful and frightening experience, but remember to walk in faith and not by sight. Before examining our own hidden qualities, we may be in complete denial of our shadow elements, yet what we deny in ourselves can often easily be spotted in others. A person may despise another’s quick temper while at the same time fervently suppressing a wish to respond with anger.
The first step in making the acquaintance of a person’s own shadow is admitting that the scary, annoying, or irritating qualities found in others are often the qualities in that individual that evoke the very same responses. For example, if you are dating someone who is in their 40s, who is still going out to nightclubs and trying to be hip, you may despise that aspect of them and you need to eradicate that person from your life. Staying in unhealthy situations disavowals one’s own characteristics and it may be dangerous. The more you suppress yourself, the more darkness and unhappiness grows inside of you, and it will take over your life entirely. The goal in life is to develop a reciprocal relationship. Everyone knows when you are in your 40s, you are too old to be going to nightclubs and trying to look cool. So if you are dating someone, who is older than you, and this is how they behave, break it off and enjoy life so you do not end up like them. Art may disguise complexions, but never improve them. Sometimes people are placed in our lives so we can see what we do not want to become. This shadow holds a message that it may be wise for you to heed. These are messages that may come from your subconscious content, particularly if the vision includes a character that is the same gender as the person with the vision. By paying attention to the message, or the vision, the encounter with the shadow becomes collaborative, rather than hostile in nature.
As unbelievable as it may sound, this shadow is still part of you. You should accept it, attune to it, guide it, and control it. Be mindful, strive to stay mindful and aware of anger and other shadowy feelings, as well as paying attention to your thoughts. Sometimes you go through a lot of the same type of relationships to help you grow. On the path to individuation, a person examines events are meaningful expressions of the collective unconscious. So, let me take that back, if you are dating someone who is immature, as long as they are not harming you or taking anything from you, allow them to be in your life. This could be your spirit testing you to see if you can hang on when things get rough. Let them think they are still the love of your life, and when someone else comes on, they will realize you have left them in the shadows. We have the innate capacity to walk a path through the park that leads us to our true selves. We gather strength from every situation, and allow this to bring you peace, balance, and wholeness, but to benefit from this wisdom, we must first learn to feel the variety of emotions. It is amazing, when you change the way you look at people, and start looking out for them, it is impressive how much better they treat you.
Secrets and Lies–Make Your Stories Sell!
He who is in the clutches of the law may think himself lucky if he escapes with the loss of his tail. Nature has created inequalities in men and things, and, as human institutions are intended to prevent the strong from oppressing marginalized members of the human population, ergo, the laws should encourage natural inequalities as a legitimate consequence. Secrets and Lies incorporates subliminal angles of the human psyche—obsessions some aspire to conceal, wickedness many refuse to admit. Detective Cornell acts as a malevolent force to Ben Crawford throughout the mini-series, representing the seduction of evil and the fear and torment within Ben Crawford. Once she realizes that Ben is out there, Detective Cornell becomes compelled with finding him and making him pay for a crime he did not commit, allowing the criminal to walk free, so she can inflict the venom of evil into his soul and turn him into a villain before the eyes of the community. detective Cornell knows Ben Crawford is innocent and feels culpability for the part she played in ceasing a man who has already suffered a tragic lose, and destroying his home, family, career, and life. As long as Ben continues to remain free, not only is it a constant reminder that law enforcement and community members tortured and persecuted and innocent man, but it also leaves the city and aggressors with criminal liability and possibly civil liability as well, and they all regret the decisions they made. However, the thugs keep profiling and trying to convict Ben Crawford because they feel if they can just convince themselves, and others that he is bad, it will remove any guilt or liability they have. However, what is done in secret will be brought to the light. So, detective Cornell and the community obsessively purses Ben Crawford. Detective Cornell probably projects her rage and frustration onto Ben Crawford for other things she has done in the past. Ben Crawford and detective Cornell are opposites, he has the World to live for, he is whole and complete and loved, but detective Cornell has committed some egregious sins, and is cold, fragmented, and lost. However, this villain, detective Cornell helps to bring out the hero in Ben Crawford, the audience sees his true qualities of love, compassion, strength, and perseverance, and he grows in the process—David and Goliath, a biblical example.
Although detective initially appears as an evil villain, there comes a turning point where she realizes that she is wrong and that they are putting Ben Crawford’s life in danger. She realizes that they are no better than ISIS and the people who attacked Paris, France, and takes a real interest in “helping” him. The innocents, determination, and compassion that Ben Crawford conveys, allows Ben Crawford to bring out the true detective in Cornell, to fight her way back to being a righteous detective. Yet, detective Cornell’s rage is one of her more enduring characteristics. She is constantly harassing and stalking Ben Crawford and using her job as an investigator to justify her actions, she allows people to interrogate him to see how she can twist and mangle his words, making him look like he committed a murder, even though her constant profiling of Ben has almost gotten him killed twice. However, sometime detective Cornell feels guilty about the ferocity of the evil she inflicts Ben Crawford and his family. Detective Cornell takes extreme measures to judiciously project her anger onto Ben Crawford by expending immeasurable city resources to try and wrongly convict him, at the expense of taxpayers and potentially putting other members of the community in danger. The resources used to make Ben Crawford look guilty could have been used to hire more law enforcement to protect others and pay unfunded pensions. However, detective Cornell’s interactions with Ben Crawford are slowly changing, she is no longer blaming him for her short comings, but instead feels a sadness and tries to connect with him and even protect him by letting him know his life is in danger. Detective Cornell desperately wants Ben Crawford to be saved, and her ability for good surpasses her ever-present anger and frustration. We see detective Cornell reach a point of clarity as she now is trying to save Ben Crawford.
Through the mini-series of Secrets and Lies, we see that people want to disrupt Ben Crawford’s life, and detract him, with strict authority, to slow down his accelerating movement to adulthood. Ben is accused of murder to keep him from growing and expanding beyond this sadistic cult in the small town. They want Ben to stay suppressed and small. However, Ben Crawford is a force of youthful heroism and is oblivious to danger. While the rest of the community is constantly acting, but rarely thinking about the repercussions of their actions. It becomes more and more easy for the audience to relate to Ben Crawford because we see he is righteous, and the rest of the community, and law enforcement are looked at as the bad guys. They see one person struggling, and instead of helping him, they attack him, without even knowing the facts. Not everyone can relate to Ben Crawford’s desire for justice, or his role as an empathetic hero, nor detective Cornell’s journey for domination and force to salvation. This is a story of good and evil and is meant to open the mind and show people that pack mentality is wrong and often times dangerous. Get your facts straight before acting on your limited vision, releasing your fear and frustration onto others. Unauthorized and abhorrent thoughts will sometime invade the best human heart. Remember, we live in a World, were an African American woman, Rosa Parks, was arrested because she refused to move to the back of the bus and let a Caucasian man have her seat. Now Rosa Parks is a legendary hero for calling attention to civil rights. By standing up for herself, Rosa Parks has protected countless lives from being wrongly stalked and harassed by law enforcement like our hero Ben Crawford is done in Secrets and Lies.
Secrets and Lies–the Riddle and the Answer
Honesty and honor are the same. An honest heart fears no danger from any Earthly source. Ben Crawford is a Hero, a role model, protector, and soldier. The young good-looking father we see in Secrets and Lies, exemplifies the elements of innocents through his colossal desire for truth and justice. Ben wants to find the truth so desperately that he never considers the dangers that his quest may cause him to endure. He has an idealistic view of the World, where no oppression or tyranny exists, he focuses only on the love and virtue that is in his heart. After losing his son, Ben realizes that the World is not a safe and secure as he believed it to be, and takes personal responsibility for the loss of freedom and justice of this young soul. Secrets and Lies is known for its thrilling and mysterious journey of heroism and justice through daring displays of bravery, as Ben Crawford tracks down the killer of his son, saves a boy from drowning, and prevents a woman from being a victim of domestic violence. Ben’s heroism stems from his compassion and empathy towards others. Although Ben Crawford can be aggressive and controlling, he is also sensitive and possess a great deal of intuition. As a far, husband, and community leader, Ben is more attuned to the emotions of others than anyone else in the mini-series; he is a people person, and that is why he has a successful business as a painter. Ben takes pride in his family and in the houses he turns from a blank canvas into a lively work of beauty.
Ben Crawford gets to know people in his community, and treats them all like equals, gets no know their names no matter how young they are or what cultural background they come from, when others could care less. When Tom Murphy is alive and Ben has no idea of his connection to the boy, Tom expresses how he misses his father and how his father is never home, Ben comforts the boy by telling him, “I would be proud to be your father and would never leave your side, and I am sure your father feels the same way.” A man can be honest in any sort of skin. As there are virtues which are their own reward, so there are vices which are amply their own punishment. Ben Crawford is the only one in the community to welcome his African-American neighbors, take in his poor homeless friend, and show concern for the youth. Everyone else in the community seems to ignore marginalized members of the human population, as they are too busy with their own lives and or work. Ben understands that others feel pain, and have thoughts and ideas and concerns that are required to be expressed, yet they are discounted. Ben, on the other hand, treats the poor like family, this is displayed when he allows his best friend, Dave, to stay in the guest house and provides him with food, and does not charge him a dime. Ben shows us all that he understands the value of life and empathy, even when those lives are not deemed important by the rest of society.
Ben Crawford’s wife, Christy Crawford, is a strong character. She represents the virgin Mary, a being of purity and youthful innocence, as indicated by her focus on work, family, and rebuffing Ben’s sexual advances. However, Christy is also power-driven domineering young lady. She spends most of her time working and managing the family, and takes on the role of the sole provider of the household and also becomes a defender of her husband by providing him with legal assistance, and tries to protect him as she can see that people take advantage of his compassion. Christy has a tough decision to make, very early in their marriage, which leads to a rift in their relationship, but what she did was to protect her home and lifestyle. Christy is a diplomat and a role model for women’s rights. She is a crucial figure in this series. Ben ultimately, a married man, becomes a loner who stumbles into the oversized responsibility of taking care of an investigation to ensure justice and his survival. Ben is wise, he is young, and he is a real man. He offers others advice, guidance, and encouragement, which makes him someone we admire, look up to, and can relate to. He is a protector, provider, and a problem solver, offering advice and being highly empathetic to those emotions of those around him. Ben Crawford becomes the type of father and husband everyone wants once they understand his motivations. The journey for justices brings out his hidden qualities. Ben recognizes the glimmer of light in each and every person. Attention, love, admiration, cannot be always kept at the stretch.
Flags of Our Fathers
The worst of our evils we blindly inflict upon ourselves. Selfishness is so predominant, that when most people hear of benevolence, they consider it a curiosity. Doc is a young man who has not have many good things in life. Both his mother and father worked hard and long hours but never seemed to be able to get ahead. There were four children in the family, and Ben often went unnoticed, somehow lost in the shuffle. He very often got very little to eat, and shared his bed with his two brother and often did not get enough sleep.
His clothes could hardly have been called stylish; his family could not afford new ones, and handed the old ones down until they literally fell apart. In school, did was not the best student, was shy and withdrawn, and was not good at sports because he was tired all the time and never got enough to eat. Most of the time, as he grew up, his parents were not home, and there was not one to take care of him when he was sick or injured.
The day after he managed to graduate from high school, Doc joined the Navy. If you talk to him today, his eyes gleam with pride as he tells you how much he loves it. “Being in the Navy was the best thing that ever happened to me! It seems that throughout life I was looked down upon and set up to fail, but I took charge of my life and made something of it. Now that I am more mature, people often wonder how I made it.”
Some people believe the whole story of motivation is coded in our genes, those inherited bits of cellular stuff: we are born a certain way and what we do is determined exclusively by these genetic factors. However, not a soul on board of us knows whiter we may be gliding—not even the commodore himself; assuredly not the chaplain; even our professor’s surmisings are vain. On that point, the smallest cabin boy is as wise as the captain. Heaven has kindly closed from our eyes the book of future events, that we may not be guilty of repining at its ordinations.
We do know that some of our behavior is caused by factors that are part of our physical existence. However, the most important lesson the World has learned in the past fifty years is that it is not true that human nature is unchangeable. Human nature, on the contrary, can be changed with the greatest of ease and to the utmost possible extent. If this lies huge potential danger, it also contains some of the brightest hopes that we have for the future of mankind.
If you encounter an issues of life, think of lawful, honest, and ethical ways that you can make a difference or make it better, and it will always come to you. There is no set time, but it will happen. It is astonishing how large a hole a woodpecker makes with a small beak: it is owing to successive impressions. Great works are reformed, not by strength, but perseverance. My good is mine now, and I can see it and feel it and know it.
From far and near my own shall come to me. Even now it is coming to me and I receive it. My own is now manifesting itself to me, and I see and know its presence. My own shall respond to me. Felicitate thyself then upon thy defects; which are evidently thy principal perfections; and which occasion thee a distinction which otherwise thou wouldst never have. Life always was and evermore shall be a World without end. All the power there is, is mine now. All the life, truth, love of the Universe is not and forever flowing through my body.
The all good cannot change. I shall always have access to my eternal God within me. Perseverance is the surest road to success. The first step leading to perfection, and real activity, is to wander through the World unknown, and subject t few wants. You must not forsake the ship in tempest, because you cannot rule and keep down the winds. Remember, attention, love, admiration, cannot be always kept at the stretch. The light of life is full within me and around me. A ship is not counted strong by biding one storm, go forth and bless all who come to you, light within.
Randolph Harris II International Institute 