Does God answer prayers?
October 9th, 2007 | by gene |Not a trick question. But the short answer is no. Not in the way we, here, on planet earth think. CWG has an explanation for this, one that makes sense, but which is, in another sense, quite convenient. Actually there is a lot about both spirituality and religion that is just a little more convenient for me. I am, by nature, suspicious of convenient answers. It is one of the reasons I look forward to going home, I mean, that I do not fear death. First, those light globes and what I felt in their presence, I’m not afraid of that or wherever that “there” is. I think, I hope, there are actual answers there. I suppose it could turn out like Contact though, we get to a place where the answer is, “No, we didn’t build this, it was here before we got here, whomever built it was already gone.” I really hope not, because there are questions that have niggled at me all my life and to which I really want answers, answers I know I will never have here. Not one of us has ever come back from this trip WITH answers, not one. Oh, I think we come back, I think that much is true, but as US, as this particular sentience with these particular memories. There may be something to past life regression, but you could not prove it by, or to, me. :^)
So, let’s see what God has to say to Neale about this. Then we can talk about it a little. Or I’ll talk, whether you chime in, or are out there at all, is up to you, my part is this chiming and here I am a one man band, giggle. Not at all unusual in my life, I might add, I seem to have always had my own drummer and only I hear that music.
So then this is going to need an understanding of the conversation Neale is having with God about prayer in general. God has just told Neale that the act of asking is a statement that whatever is being asked for is not present, that, in fact, such a statement produces the experience of not having whatever it is that was asked for. Because all statements are creative. Now, this sounds to me, like some other things I’ve read, that wanting something is incorrect, because by wanting you are saying you don’t have and you get what you say which is a state of wanting, not having. Sort of circuitous logic to me, but then what do I know? :^).
So Neale asks: “Does that mean that I cannot ask for anything I want? Are You saying that praying for something actually pushes it away from us?”
God replies: “This is a question which has been asked through the Ages – and has been answered whenever it has been asked. (gene injects, see? I told you I’d heard this before!) Yet you have not heard the answer, or will not believe it.
The question is answered again, in today’s terms, and today’s language, thusly:
You will not have that for which you ask, nor can you have anything you want. This is because your very request is a statement of lack, and your saying you want a thing only works to produce that precise experience – wanting – in your reality.
The correct prayer is therefore never a prayer of supplication, but a prayer of gratitude.
When you thank God in advance for that which choose to experience in your reality, you, in effect, acknowledge that it is there…in effect. Thankfulness is thus the most powerful statement to God; an affirmation that every before you ask, I have answered.
Therefore never supplicate. Appreciate.”
Neale: “But what if I am grateful to God in advance for something, and it never shows up? That could lead to disillusionment and bitterness.”
God: “Gratitude cannot be used as a tool with which to manipulate God; a device with which to foll the universe. You cannot lie to yourself. Your mind knows the truth of your thoughts. If you are saying “Thank you God, for such and such,” all the while being very clear that it isn’t there in your present reality, you can’t expect God to be less clear than you, and so produce it for you.
God knows what you know, what you know appears as your reality.”
Neale: “But then how can I be truly grateful for something I know is not there?”
God: “Faith. If have but the faith of a mustard seed, you shall move mountains. You come to know it is there because I said it is there; because I said that, even before you ask, I shall have answered; because I said, have said to you in every conceivable way, through every teacher you can name, that whatsoever you choose, choosing it in My Name, so shall it be.”
Skipping ahead a bit, because this is where I want to go with this discussion. :^).
Neale: “When you say that a prayer is a statement of what is so, are you saying that God does nothing; that everything which happens after a prayer is a result of the prayer’s action?”
God: “If you believe that God is some omnipotent being who hears all prayers, says “yes” to some “no” to others, and “maybe, but now now” to the rest, you are mistaken. By what rule of thumb would God decide? If you believe that God is the creator and decider of all things in your life, you are mistaken.
God is the observer, not the creator. And God stands ready to assist you in living your life, but not in the way you might expect.
It is not God’s function to create, or uncreate, the circumstances of your life. God created you, in the image and likeness of God. You have created the rest, through the power God has given you. God created the process of life and life itself as you know it. Yet God gave you free choice, to with life as you will.
In this sense, your will for you is God’s will for you.
You are living your life the way you are living your life, and I have no preference in the matter.
This is the grand illusion in which you have engaged: that God cares one way or another what you do.
I do not care what you do, and that is hard for you to hear. Yet do you care what your children do when you send them out to play? Is it is a matter of consequence to you whether they play tag, or hide and seek, or pretend? No, it is not, because you know they are perfectly safe. You have placed them in an environment which you consider friendly and very okay.
Of course, you will always hope that they do not hurt themselves. And if they do, you will be right there to help them, heal them, allow them to feel safe again, to be happy again, to go and play again another day. But whether they choose to hide and seek or pretend will not matter to you the next day, either.You will tell them, of course, which games are dangerous to play. But you cannot stop your children from doing dangerous things. Now always. Not forever. Not in every moment from now until death. It is the wise parent who know this. Yet the parent never stops caring deeply about the outcome. It is this dichotomy – not caring deeply about the process but, caring deeply about the result – that comes close to describing the dichotomy of God.
Yet God, in a sense, does not even care about the outcome. Not the ultimate outcome. This is because the ultimate outcome is assured.
And this is the second great illusion of man: that the outcome of life is in doubt.”
And this is where I’m going to leave this particular story. I’ll come back to it, because there is more to it, much more to it. The point God makes here is what I think the light experiences are about. He has given us the universe in which to “play” the game of life, as wish. We are doing that. We have been doing that. Our “leaders” want us to believe the ultimate outcome of life is in doubt. That is how they keep us in fear, and by keeping us afraid, they retain their power over us. By feeding us stories about hell and the devil from our earliest years do they keep us in their thrall. Our fear allows them the power to play the game the way they wish, with global wars, internecine wars, global tensions, us against them. And what did Jesus say about this? A house divided against itself cannot stand. Luke 11:17. And where is the leader preaching unity? On this planet, I mean? Where is the one saying we must come together as one people to solve the problems of this one world? Nowhere to be found.
If the relative universe is our playground, and if when our time on this playground ends, the outcome is assured, if we ALL go back whence we came and wake in the comfort and safety and love that fills our true home, then what we do here does not “matter” in any sense but in how we conduct ourselves here, what we learn of ourselves here, even if that learning is what we are not. Those lights, the glimpse I had of what I am sure is my real home, for me prove that this “life” is the illusion. The truth is what I felt in those moments. And if I am that truth, then the small part of me that is here, that gets upset, that is bothered by small things and large, is simply me experiencing what I am not. So that when I am home again, I will understand better the greater truth of who I really am. Experience IS our greatest teacher, is it not? Now there are some who will say that this line of thinking gives carte blanche to behavior of any sort. And to be honest, one must answer yes, it does. But we also have the right, the ability to re-member here, Who We Really Are, and join together to bring opportunities and love to each other, to protect each other from those wolves who walk among us. They show us who we are not too. But we have the right to protect ourselves, and our children, from them, even as they have the right to be as they are. Because I believe, that in the end, far more of us here to experience love than not, and that the greater good is something we care about and a desire for peace and a loving sharing of this experience is what most of us come here to have. So we go about our lives, doing what we can, as we can, loving each other, giving of ourselves to each other, and protecting each other from the wolves. It is in identifying those wolves in sheep’s clothing that discernment lies. Oh, some are easy to spot, they are at the front of the pack carrying swords and rifles and shouting about how we must do the other side harm before they do it to us. Or standing in front of a congregation telling those seated in front of them that everyone not in those pews is going to hell.
We have choices here, we have free will here, and we can, I believe recognize the truth of who we really are. It is a matter of simply re-membering. CWG, books 1 and 2, are a wonderful beginning. But only a beginning. There is a long path yet to walk, but I believe the world is ready to start that journey. I believe the world is tired of the carnage our political, religious and business “leaders” have wrought on the planet and on us. I believe we are ready to choose love as the answer to the many questions we face. I believe a time is coming when we will rise together and stop those who would force their twisted view of God on us at sword or rifle point, when, we, the people will say, enough bloodshed and seek solutions to our problems that ennoble us, enrich us, bring us together as children of the one who created us all. We need not play hide and seek from each other any longer. Let’s just play seek. And let love win this time. I’m going to talk a lot more about this. About how we can do this, we, the people who control nothing, in the end control everything, if we refuse to submit to the god of fear being forced down our throats around this world by bloody, violent men who care about nothing but their power. But not tonight. Tonight, though, one thing we can ALL know is that this is not all there is, regardless what happens here, we have a loving home which we have never really left and to which we will surely return. That is what the lights are about. There is no need for fear when the outcome is assured. And it is. I know it is. There is no hell. There never was. There never will be. The worst we can possibly experience, we do right here on earth when we separate ourselves from the love that created us and forget He has never left us and that She is still watching us and will be welcoming us home with open arms when this life’s drama is done. We can’t lose and since we can’t lose, fear need not be our constant companion. We’re SO much better when we love. Life is so much better. We ALL know this. We just need to practice what we already know. We can. I believe we will. There are many more of us than there are wolves. I promise. much love, :^) gene
If today brings even one choice your way
choose to be a bringer of the light :^) gene
4 Responses to “Does God answer prayers?”
By Jennifer on Oct 10, 2007 | Reply
What if this life isn’t an illusion? I don’t think we have to leave “here” to go “home”. I don’t believe in hell and I don’t believe in heaven. I believe in heaven on earth. This life does not have to be about drama. This life can be about experiencing this LIFE.What we do here does matter. What we do, how we treat others, and how we feel about ourselves impacts the WHOLE of us. We are each responsible for the whole of our body, mind, spirit, soul, friends, family, relatives, work, school, community, planet, and universe.
I don’t think that our leaders are bloody, violent men who care about nothing but their power. I don’t think that they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. I think everyone has the capacity to do both good and evil. We don’t need to protect ourselves from the “others”. They are us and we are them.
Those people carrying swords and rifles and shouting about how we must do the other side harm before they do it to us – are us. Those people standing in front of their congregation telling those seated in front of them that everyone is going to hell – are also us. They all love their family and their religion and their God and their lives; yet they are filled with fear. “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate, and Hate leads to suffering”. Giggle.
We do not have to be suspicious. We can be trusting. I’d rather be trusting and get hurt than live my life filled with suspicion and fear. Call me naïve, but I’ve made my choice. One who is trusting, calm, happy, grounded, purposeful and confident will be safe. They will know their true self, be aware of their feelings and thoughts, and be in-tune with their instincts and intuition. They will easily see what and who to stay away from. It is the one who watches, responds, and adapts who doesn’t get hurt. It is the one who is wronged but forgives, the one who experiences pain but chooses to learn and grow, who heals. We DO create our experience here.
I acknowledge that we should be alert around the Hannibal Lector’s of the world; but it is only by caring for those people properly that we will be safe from them. It is fear that makes us run and hide and hoard and protect ourselves from the evil “other”. If we see our leaders as evil, it is easy to see our neighbors as “evil”. It is easy to lock our doors and be suspicious of everyone we meet. It is easy to see this life as a horrible, dark place that we need to escape from. I do not long for “home”. I AM home.
People ARE saying we must come together as one people to solve the problems of this world. These people are EVERYWHERE. They ARE doing their part.
Paul Hawken writes about this movement in Blessed Unrest.
Sandra Seich of ANSIR has said that she believes our innate strengths are gifts. It is our responsibility to know what they are and to understand what we can do to contribute to the greater good. We are to create the better tomorrow here and now for ourselves, thus securing it for future generations.
Neale Donald Walsh looked within to find his truths. He wrote down his conversation with God (himself) and published some books. By making a difference in our lives, we make a difference in the world. A pebble dropped into the water does create ripples that extend beyond our imagining. We do change the world, one person at a time, starting with ourselves.
I mention these people only because you have already mentioned them in your blog. There are so MANY MORE that need to be mentioned. I think you should have LINKS to ALL the people and groups of people choosing to LOVE, living LIFE fully, and MAKING A DIFFERENCE in the world. No ONE has ALL of the answers. We all need to talk to and learn from one other. We each need to find our own niche and do our part. We ARE rising together to seek solutions that bring us together. Love will always win.
The Alliance for Climate Protection
Tikkun
One World
Caroline Myss
One Planet United
Marianne Williamson
Nelson Mandela
Clear Wisdom
Dalai Lama
Vandana Shiva
Friends of Falun Gong
100 Fires Books
Alice Walker
Acid Alkaline Diet
The Red Cross
An Inconvenient Truth
Eco Books
Gerson Institute
Celestine Vision
Mothering Magazine
Mother Nature
NARAL Pro Choice America
One Spirit Book Club
Pure Insight
The Corporation
Vshiva
The Water Cure
Between Worlds
Whale Rider
Akiane
Michael Moore
Posters for the Soul
Sasha Butterfly
Wiser Earth
Participate
Stop Global Warming
Center for Food Safety
Equality Now
Human Rights Campaign
Touch the Future
Tahirih Justice Center
Indigo Dreams
Live Earth
Michael Monroe
Noetic Sciences
Inspirational Quotes and Quotations
Life Quotes and Quotations
Sick Puppies Song
Free Hugs Capaign
Mr. Rogers
Spiritual Cinema
What the Bleep Scientists
Nursing Mother Working Mother Book
Rigoberta Menchu
Talk About Curing Autism
Make A Wish Foundation
Angelina Jolie UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
Oprah Philanthropy
Our Bodies Ourselves
Vegetarian Alicia Silverstone for PETA
Pauline Boss
What links would YOU add?
:- )
Take Care!
Love,
Jennifer
By gene on Oct 13, 2007 | Reply
First, welcome to One People One World. But we certainly have divergent points of view. In some ways. In some ways I am in complete agreement with you. And when I was younger than you are now, I was even more starry-eyed, in some ways, even now, I am still more starry-eyed, but in others, well let’s just say that if you live long enough you begin to see patterns that can only be seen through acquired experience. As you know, I am a huge fan of Robert Heinlein’s. I think his Stranger in a Strange Land should be required reading in every sophomore English class in the WORLD. And I think his, Time Enough For Love, should be required reading as part of every college, university and junior college’s general ed program. Not because I agree with everything he said but because he draws such a perfect picture of the “illusion” of time. And what one acquires simply through having survived some of it. I’ll save those thoughts for another time but I do want to respond to your comments. Here.
“What if this life isn’t an illusion? I don’t think we have to leave “here” to go “home”. I don’t believe in hell and I don’t believe in heaven. I believe in heaven on earth. One of the worst things we can experience is feeling separate from the love that we are. This life does not have to be about drama. This life can be about experiencing this LIFE.”
Okay, yes, CWG is all about the illusion. That no matter what, we can’t lose. It doesn’t matter what we do or don’t do here, we all go home when we die. You haven’t spent enough time in book 2 yet. So let me ask this question? Does “knowing” this is an illusion matter? My very first trip through book 1 after Brandon killed himself, well, I got the most comfort first, from the idea that we all go home, period, that there is no way to “lose” this “whatever we choose to make of it here” game, is a game. It is an enormous, mistake though to think of life here as just a game. I never liked the idea of being an actor on a stage. I get the veil. I have that written in the margins of my second copy of book 1, the first having been left on a bus – see main site for details, giggle. I understand the “descent”. I understand why God wanted to know Himself through experience, not just knowing. And I thought then, the same thing, I think now. I don’t give a rats butt whether this is an illusion or not. THIS is all I have. I KNOW there is something more, because of the lights, but do I “know” that is heaven? Hell no. Giggle. I KNOW it is something else. And in the presence of whatever that was, I felt the most perfect peace and love I’ve ever experienced, far beyond anything I have EVER experienced here. I have had wonderful moments here, Jennifer. Many. Transcendent moments. But not one of them touched on a scale of a million to one, even one, in comparison to what I felt in THOSE few seconds. So, illusion? Well, yes, maybe, if Neale is right, if that is God talking to him. Maybe so. But know that? No. I don’t. What I do KNOW is that there is something else, something more than this. WHAT that is, I have no idea. But I believe with every fiber of my being that it is far superior to this. Because of what I felt IN those moments. The idea of drama, well, that comes from the books. Is that true? I don’t know. And I don’t care. ALL I DO know is who I am here and what I have seen, felt and experienced here. THIS is the only reality I have. I have glimpsed something else. That glimpse has kept me alive. I’m not sure why. But it has. I KNOW this is NOT all there is. And that comforts me. Because I do not share your shiny view of this place and its bloody history. Maybe you are right. But my lifetime has given me countless examples that tell me you are not. I don’t mean to be blunt, well, yes, I do, but not in a mean way. But I am telling you that if you stood in front of that man who runs Myanmar and told him you thought he was a wonderful human being, the leader that he is, and that you fully expected your explanation of how wonderful he is to stop him from killing thousands of men, women, children and now buddhist monks, that you would end up in the fires as have they. Have you any idea how many “missionaries” ended up as supper before the first human to human contact happened? I do not say I don’t share your vision of the future. I believe that day will come, and it will come because people like you speak your truth. I only ask that you keep the boundaries within the realm of this reality and stay alive so that you might continue to shine your light upon this world.
What we do here does matter. What we do, how we treat others, and how we feel about ourselves impacts the WHOLE of us. We are each responsible for the whole of our body, mind, spirit, soul, friends, family, relatives, work, school, community, planet, and universe.
No. And yes. I believe in the illusion. I believe that no one can lose this “game”. And in that sense I believe it does not matter how we play it, nicely according to the rules or not. I think it is how we choose to define ourselves that matters. Nothing else. We don’t ever get to make a choice for another. They will do, and be, what they will. But if we choose crucifixion to demonstrate our love, or immolation as has been the eastern practice, well those are valid choices too. I believe, as do you, that we demonstrate who WE are in how we treat others. Does that actually matter in the long run? I have no idea. But what I felt in the presence of those lights gives me security. I do not experience the “other” side as malevolent and so I am not afraid of it. And it is fear that traps us here. Fear we are taught from our cradles. Can we overcome that fear? Yes. We have countless examples throughout history of people who have done exactly that. I think you are one of them. :^)
I don’t think that our leaders are bloody, violent men who care about nothing but their power. I don’t think that they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. I think everyone has the capacity to do both good and evil. We don’t need to protect ourselves from the “others”. They are us and we are them.
Okay, that is a very existential statement. And we are going to have a disagreement about this. I am NOT they. Neither are YOU. THEY have chosen a path that I do not choose to walk. Neither do you. If our leaders were as beneficent as you think them, there would be no war. No need for a defense budget at all.
Those people carrying swords and rifles and shouting about how we must do the other side harm before they do it to us – are us. Those people standing in front of their congregation telling those seated in front of them that everyone is going to hell – are also us. They all love their family and their religion and their God and their lives; yet they are filled with fear. Messages ARE repeated over and over. I believe Yoda said, “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate, and Hate leads to suffering”.
We do not have to be suspicious. We can be trusting. I’d rather be trusting and get hurt than live my life filled with suspicion and fear. Call me naïve, but I’ve made my choice. One who is trusting, calm, happy, grounded, purposeful and confident will be safe. They will know their true self, be aware of their feelings and thoughts, and be in-tune with their instincts and intuition. They will easily see what and who to stay away from. It is the one who watches, responds, and adapts who doesn’t get hurt. It is the one who is wronged but forgives, the one who experiences pain but chooses to learn and grow, who heals. We DO create our experience here.
Of course we do. As I said, despite what I’ve seen. All I KNOW is that I am here NOW. And I define myself by what I do and do not accept. What I fight for and against. What I love, and, by what I say I am sorry, but I cannot love that. Tell me we have not created another generation of islamic children who will grow up, minus arms, legs, and family members, believing that the west is evil and must be destroyed. If you tell them you forgive them, do you think they will let keep your head? Do you think they will not seek revenge? That is a region still seeking revenge for “wrongs” done thousands of years ago. Illusion or not, Jennifer, if you go there, stand there and say what you say here? You will die there. Which is your right and your choice. Whether this is an illusion or not.
I acknowledge that we should be alert around the Hannibal Lector’s of the world; but it is only by caring for those people properly that we will be safe from them. It is fear that makes us run and hide and hoard and protect ourselves from the evil “other”. If we see our leaders as evil, it is easy to see our neighbors as “evil”. It is easy to lock our doors and be suspicious of everyone we meet. It is easy to see this life as a horrible, dark place that we need to escape from. I do not long for “home”. I AM home.
I am glad you are at home. As far as we KNOW there is no other home. No one has ever come back from the other side, well, apart from Jesus, and that is a well-crafted story without an iota of proof, to attest to anything at all. All WE know, from here, is that when it is over, it IS over. Past lives, yeah right. There are charlatans making their livings from such nonsense, but there is not a shred of proof that anything beyond this life exists, is. Except, maybe, me. Those lights happened. Sure I could be a liar. And, hell, in lots of ways, I am. And I can’t prove a single thing I’ve said. So why say it all? Because it happened to me. In a way, I can’t forget, I can’t shake, I can’t deny. My purpose HERE is what I said on the main site. Hope. I want people to know there is HOPE. I’d love that to make them change their ways, beat their swords into plows and start hugging everyone they see, but I am not so naive as to believe my “visions” can make them do that. I don’t think that is why we’re here. I think we are here to live this life, do with it what we will. Period. Maybe there is a figuring it all out session later, maybe not. I only know that if I ever get a chance to step into those lights? I’ll do it, without a backward glance. If you think Hannibal Lector is the only danger we face, all I can say is, you poor child. And advise that you never take an after midnight walk alone in the near north side of Minneapolis, or Central Park in New York, or downtown Baghdad. You, being female, might survive, but your son would not. I am not saying teach him fear. I am saying teach him truth. For now, there are safe places and unsafe place, safe practices and unsafe practices. Pollyanna would not long survive in this world. Sadly, any part of it. I grew up in a place and time where people never locked anything, left the keys to the car IN the car, where someone could be gone for two weeks and come home to find everything, including lawn mowing had been taken care of while they were gone. And THAT was the dawn of the cold war. We practiced, in 1956, as a first grader, ducking under our desks to avoid a nuclear strike. Should one of our beneficent leaders decide that was an appropriate action at the time. Why? Because we trusted them to have our best interest at heart, all the time. Time has shown that, in fact, very few “leaders” have ever had anyone’s interest at heart but their own. Have their been such that transcended that “hindbrain” way of thinking? Yes. Certainly. In my time, Martin Luther King. Who time has shown not to be a “perfect” man, according to the standards of this world at this time, but in my experience, he was a saint. A man of ultimate courage. A man who told the truth.
Now, a lot of people from my generation would have started this list with JFK. And I have to admit, he was the first politician with whom I fell in love, giggle. And, no, I am not gay. I think it was mostly that I was growing up in a republican “we like ike” stronghold and so all of the adults around me supported Nixon, besides, a catholic wouldn’t really have the interests of the United States at heart, he’d take orders from the pope. So, being the contrarian I was born to be, in the first debate I’d ever seen, switched my allegiance and my heart forever to the man who spoke of love of country, who spoke of freedom for all people and who promised to use his presidency to try to bring those ideals to the world. And, according to some, was having a little extra-curricular fun with women who were most definitely not the first lady, quite a lot of the time. But it wasn’t JFK who truly inspired me, Jennifer. It was first Martin Luther King, I was in basic training when he was assassinated. We were “mobilized” that night, given guns with real bullets, and thank gawd, they made us stay “home”, because no one knew who the “enemy” was then. And a lot of people believed there wasn’t one. But, the first politician who really won my heart, and with whom, a little piece of me died, was Bobby Kennedy. He was the strong one. The iron hand behind John. While John smiled, Bobby brought the full force of the law down on those who hurt others. For a long time that is how I saw him. Just another “john law”. But I watched him change, I watched him grow up as I was growing up. I watched him develop a love for the underpriviliged in our society. Oh, a lot of people said that was show, that he’d say anything to be elected president, but that is not what I saw. I have not always trusted my inner vision, but in this I have never wavered, I believed in him. I think had he lived he would have become president and I think the entire world would be a VERY different place than it is. He would have built bridges, not dams. He would have opened doors, not built walls. The Cold War would have ended under his stewardship, because he was a man who could walk on water. And the world would have seen that. That he died as he did, is, I think, one of America’s greatest tragedies, indeed, one of the world’s greatest tragedies. Because he would have been a leader on the world’s stage whom everyone could have loved. He changed. He grew. From the righteous Attorney General enforcing the law, to a man who understood and felt at his core the suffering that creates crime. People aren’t evil just for the hell of it, giggle. Mostly. There are those, and in this I agree with Neale, who are here to show all of us what we are NOT, and there are people on a smaller scale who do the same thing. Illusion or not. I am not Gary Gilmore, though I could be if I wished. But I don’t wish. And one of the reasons I don’t wish is that I KNOW what he did and I KNOW I am not that. Bobby Kennedy could have done that for the world. And that he never had the chance, I think, is one of the reasons we see what we do now in the world. This may be home to you, Jennifer, but it is anarchy to me. Home would be a much happier place, for me. It’s cool, you’re okay with this. But I will never be. Illusion or not.
Now I am going to preach a little bit. About your beneficent leaders. This is from George Will’s column in the 10/12 StarTribune. For those of you who do not know, George Will is the most erudite conservative who has ever existed on this planet. And he has a conscience. That part is important. There are lots of well-read and well-spoken conservatives who have humanity’s interest at heart (note, PLEASE, that I do not include Karl Rove among this group) who truly want opportunity for all and freedom for all. George Will is one such. That we disagree, as often I do, on the manner in which we achieve this, is not material. In the end, we are going to the same place. So, please read what he had to say, and understand this is a man with tongue firmly in cheek and a command of the English language that we should all admire.
“Enough, already, with compassion for society’s middle and lower orders. There currently is a sympathy deficit regarding the very rich. Or so the rich might argue because they bear the heavy burden of spending enough to keep today’s plutonomy humming.
Furthermore, they are getting diminishing psychological returns on their spending now that luxury brands are becoming democratized. When there are 379 Louis Vuitton and 227 Gucci stores, who cares?
Citigroup’s Ajay Kapur applies the term “plutonomy” to, primarily, the United States, although Britain, Canada and Australia also qualify. He notes that America’s richest 1 percent of households own more than half of the nation’s stocks and control more wealth ($16 trillion) than the bottom 90 percent. When the richest 20 percent account for almost 60 percent of consumption, you see why rising oil prices have had so little effect on consumption.
Kapur’s theory is that “wealth waves” develop in epochs characterized by, among other things, disruptive technology-driven productivity gains and creative financial innovations that “involve great complexity exploited best by the rich and educated of the time.” For the canny, daring and inventive, these are the best of times — and vast rewards to such people might serve the rapid propulsion of society to greater wealth.
But it is increasingly expensive to be rich. The Forbes CLEW index (the Cost of Living Extremely Well) — yes, there is such a thing — has been rising much faster than the banal CPI (consumer price index). At the end of 2006, there were 9.5 million millionaires worldwide, which helps explain the boom in the “bling indexes” — stocks such as Christian Dior and Richemont (Cartier and Chlo¿, among other brands), which are up 247 percent and 337 percent respectively since 2002, according to Fortune magazine. Citicorp’s “plutonomy basket” of stocks (Sotheby’s, Bulgari, Herm¿s, etc.) has generated an annualized return of 17.8 percent since 1985.
This is the outer symptom of a fascinating psychological phenomenon: Envy increases while — and perhaps even faster than — wealth does. When affluence in the material economy guarantees that a large majority can take for granted things that a few generations ago were luxuries for a small minority (a nice home, nice vacations, a second home, college education, comfortable retirement), the “positional economy” becomes more important.
Positional goods and services are inherently minority enjoyments. These are enjoyments — “elite” education, “exclusive” vacations or properties — available only to persons with sufficient wealth to pursue the satisfaction of “positional competition.” Time was, certain clothes, luggage, wristwatches, handbags, automobiles, etc., sufficed. But with so much money sloshing around the world, too many people can purchase them. Too many, in the sense that the value of acquiring a “positional good” is linked to the fact that all but a few people cannot acquire it.
That used to be guaranteed because supplies of many positional goods were inelastic — they were made by a small class of European craftsmen. But when they are mass-produced in developing nations, they cannot long remain such goods. When 40 percent of all Japanese — and, Fortune reports, 94.3 percent of Japanese women in their 20s — own a Louis Vuitton item, its positional value vanishes.
James Twitchell, a University of Florida professor of English and advertising, writing in the Wilson Quarterly, says this “lux populi” is “the Twinkiefication of deluxe.” Now that Ralph Lauren is selling house paint, can Polo radial tires be far behind? When a yacht manufacturer advertises a $20 million craft — in a newspaper, for Pete’s sake; the Financial Times, but still — cachet is a casualty.
As Adam Smith wrote in “The Wealth of Nations,” for most rich people “the chief enjoyment of riches consists in the parade of riches, which in their eye is never so complete as when they appear to possess those decisive marks of opulence which nobody can possess but themselves.” Hennessy understands the logic of trophy assets: It is selling a limited batch of 100 bottles of cognac for $200,000 a bottle.
There is some good news lurking amid the vulgarity. Americans’ saving habits are better than they seem because the very rich, consuming more than their current earnings, have a negative savings rate.
Furthermore, because the merely affluent are diminishing the ability of the very rich to derive pleasure from positional goods, philanthropy might become the final form of positional competition. Perhaps that is why so many colleges and universities (more than 20, according to Twitchell) are currently conducting multi billion-dollar pledge campaigns. When rising consumption of luxuries produces declining enjoyment of vast wealth, giving it away might be the best revenge.”
People ARE saying we must come together as one people to solve the problems of this world. These people are EVERYWHERE. They ARE doing their part. Paul Hawken writes about this movement in Blessed Unrest.
Sandra Seich of ANSIR has said that she believes our innate strengths are gifts. It is our responsibility to know what they are and to understand what we can do to contribute to the greater good. We are to create the better tomorrow here and now for ourselves, thus securing it for future generations.
Neale Donald Walsh looked within to find his truths. He wrote down his conversation with God (himself) and published some books. By making a difference in our lives, we make a difference in the world. A pebble dropped into the water does create ripples that extend beyond our imagining. We do change the world, one person at a time, starting with ourselves.
I mention these people only because you have already mentioned them in your blog. There are so MANY MORE that need to be mentioned. I think you should have LINKS to ALL the people and groups of people choosing to LOVE, living LIFE fully, and MAKING A DIFFERENCE in the world. No ONE has ALL of the answers. We all need to talk to and learn from one other. We each need to find our own niche and do our part. We ARE rising together to seek solutions that bring us together. Love will always win.
Do you think so? Do you think that is the point? Sandra Seich is a wonderful woman whom I have been blessed to meet, in fleeting moments, who has an incredible gift and insight into us. But what is that insight worth if it is not acted upon? If I could, I would make EVERY person on this planet take her profile test. Because I actually believe that understanding oneself is only half of the trip. It is understanding others, and meeting them where they are, that accomplishes great things. Sandra is an absolute genius, a savante, at what she does, but she, herself acknowledges that the profile itself is a beginning. Now, I freely grant I have not seen every tool for self-analysis/understanding that exists, but I have seen most of them, and as I have said before, those are pre-school, while ANSIR is post-doctorate. I suppose one could say her gift is God-given, and maybe it is. Or maybe it is the life she came here to experience. Does it matter? Whether life be illusion or not? Again. It does and it doesn’t. Maybe we are here playing a game. But if we are, we do NOT know it. No one has EVER come back from the other side, except, allegedly, Jesus, to tell us what is there. ALL we know is HERE. Who we are here. What we DO here. Is all ours to choose and create. If it IS a game? What grander can you imagine? Does it matter what side you choose? Maybe not. Maybe so. But, Jennifer, like you? I don’t believe in hell. But unlike you, I believe in heaven. Not here. I think we can create it here, certainly. I don’t think that will happen for millennia, but Jennifer, you, your ideas, your thoughts and beliefs? Where else could they have originiated but heaven? So, applause for you, you’ve found your heaven here on earth. And, I believe you will be happily received when you return “home”. But I think the rest of us better keep our eyes open as well as our hearts, because, here? Sometimes you have to duck. Or you will lose not only your head but your chance to make a difference. much love, :^) gene
By Jennifer on Oct 13, 2007 | Reply
I know that the CWG books pretty much saved your life after Brandon died and I am forever thankful to them for giving you that hope about “home”. Any book that can save someone’s life is a book worth reading.
I do not think that this world is all bread and roses and sunshine and light. I do not think that people who do evil things are wonderful humans and that my belief in their good will somehow protect me from being harmed by them. I am not young and starry-eyed only to be waiting for the day when I grow up and realize the true, dark, harsh reality of this world. I get that bad things happen. I get that people do bad things. I’ve experienced pain and grief and loss. So what?! We all have our own stuff to deal with, learn from, let go of and move past.
My point was not that this world is all shiny and happy and good. My point was that we each have our own reality of what this world is like.
The things you have felt and seen and experienced and your interpretations of them make up your reality.
The things that I have felt and seen and experienced and my interpretations of them make up my reality.
Your last blog post seemed to be talking about this world and it’s people as if everything is dark and bad and wrong and horrible. You so much want to give hope that things can change. I think that is commendable. Good for you! I’m proud of you for doing what you can do to try to spread light and give hope. I love that! I responded because I wanted to throw out the possibility that maybe this world and it’s people aren’t so bad and dark and wrong and horrible. Maybe part of the hope comes from knowing how many people are doing good things and trying to make a difference – just like you.
Maybe there isn’t ONE way that this world can be viewed. Maybe there are as many realities about this world as there are people living in it. Maybe if we all understand that we each have different worldviews, we can start the discussion about what happens next.
Of course there is more than this earthly life. I know that in every cell of my being. We are so much more than what we could hope to imagine.
Our leaders are only people, like we are. That’s what I mean. We are them. They are us. We’re all human. That doesn’t mean they are all wonderful people who do good things with their power. I agree with you about that. Sometimes it is quite the opposite. Power has a strange way of corrupting. If we’re looking around for leaders, maybe we shouldn’t be looking at the Priests and Presidents and Dictators of this world. Maybe we should find the leaders amongst us? Maybe WE are the leaders? I don’t let anyone decide for me who I will look to as my leader. I really never liked that whole you lead I follow stuff anyway. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
We do NOT have to be suspicious. We only need to be AWARE. One of the things that we need to be aware of is the fact that, like you said, there are people who believe the West is evil and must be destroyed. Giggle. I might be one of them. So let’s change it!
I’m not saying I’m “home” and there is nothing else. I do not long to leave my earthly body so I can die and return “home”. I am HOME wherever I am. The house I grew up in and every house I’ve lived in since has been home to me. When I’m at work, that is my home. When I die, I’ll be home. I only mean that I am at home wherever I am.
I’m also responsible for my view of my home. Sometimes I think it is all run down and old and crappy. My bathroom is missing a wall, my garage door doesn’t open, my doorbell is broken, there is mold in the basement, the floor squeaks, everything needs paint, everything is wrong and bad and broken and dirty and I don’t have the time or energy or money to fix any of it.
But other times I think it is so beautiful and nice and cozy. It has so much potential. I know that eventually, everything will get fixed and I know that eventually more stuff will break. That’s okay. I know that this house has windows that let the sunshine in. It has a frequently used hammock in the back yard. It has a basement to keep me safe when the storms come. My home keeps me warm. It takes care of me and I take care of it. I love my home.
When I step outside of myself and look down on my home, I see both realities. Both views, both realities make up the truth of my home. You were talking about the world, our home, as if it was so bad. I was showing the other reality of the world, our home. I’d ask you to step outside of yourself and view the world from above and see that we are both right. Both realities exist. We have to keep this in mind when we make decisions that impact the world, our home. Bad things do happen here; but there is so much good!
Good. You’ve added Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy to the list. Fantastic!
Martin Luther King
Robert F Kennedy Jr
Giggle. I might have the wrong Bobby Kennedy there. I apologize.
Robert F Kennedy Memorial
Which reminds me – I forgot Habitat for Humanity:
Habitat for Humanity International
:- )
Take Care!
Love,
Jen
By gene on Oct 15, 2007 | Reply
Yes. Wrong Bobby. That is his son. Who may be a wonderful man in his own right. More your generation than mine and I’ve not kept up with the Kennedy’s at all. No gloves off, Jennifer. Nor any on. No boxing. No sparring. No jousting. Just an exchange of ideas. That’s enough to do here. :^) gene