May 28, 2008
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Marker: action
What you see before you is physical reality, as is the case at any given point. But it is weird that wherever you go you can hear these invisible whispers of meaning inside your mind, and other people can hear them too, but only each person can hear their own. These invisible ideas that we experience—thoughts, meanings, and emotions—are the basis for humanity’s story; they are the primary medium by which our lives our conducted. This makes it extraordinary that they are invisible. Thus although all we can ever see is just physical things that we can touch and feel all around us, the real focus of our attention at any given point is on these invisible ideas. This is because we are always apprehending meanings from what we are seeing, thinking about the relationships with the people we interact with, assessing our mood as it changes throughout the day, and thinking about the story of our lives.
That only we can know our thoughts is like someone wearing an iPod, which I see people wearing in public quite often; how amazing it is that they are experiencing an entire musical reality, where the song they are listening to is filling the world to them, but to us it is just their physical body walking along. So it is the same with thoughts.
I walked along thinking to myself. I can either cut my hair or cut expenses. One of these isn’t going to make the cut. But I would need a new barber because my old one just hasn’t been cutting it. Although at least they have never cut me. I know someone seeing this is just thinking, “Cut it out!” Fair enough. I’ll cut the crap.
Jesus says to let our light shine before men, but in the very next chapter tells us to pray, fast, and give in secret. This dichotomy is interesting in itself, but the latter part is even more interesting because of what it implies. We have already spoken of how everyone experiences the invisible world of thoughts, but here we learn that this world is not only there, but is important as well. Further, when alone, the ‘you’ that is in the center of all your thoughts, thinking them, enters a state of honesty where your true self will always be found, and through choices in those solitary places, continually be made. For in order for us to truly do something, for it to actually be a decision made by the choosing force buried deep beneath the layers of social sediment within us, we must tell no one.
For those of you who are aliens just arriving on earth who have found my site, a quick important note. The older food and beverages get, the worse it becomes to consume them. Except, that is, for wine. The older wine gets, the better.
But hey, don’t ask me…I didn’t make the rules!
G’night to all of you!
Annnnnnd … cut!
Comments (4)
Extremely interesting post! I have a few thoughts on the apparent dichotomy of letting your light shine and doing things in privacy. I know that we are cautioned not to make a big to do about fasting and shriving and tithing because it calls attention to ourselves and not to the One to whom the attention belongs. We also cannot buy our way into heaven based on our good deeds. We can be a light to others based on who we are and how we act around others. People watch and take note all the time. So many shout that they are Christians and make a big deal about what church they go to or how much they give at church, but will totally ignore the old woman next door or the young person with the flat tire. This is so annoying. And the messages these erstwhile Christians give out is that it’s all in the show, not in the heart. Well, guess I bent your ear long enough. Hope you have a great day.
I think I would be a much more humble person if my thoughts weren’t secret.
It’s an interesting dichotomy, indeed.
As I read the paragraph about being light to the world, it made me think of fire. Really. If we try to bring light to a dark area by lighting a fire, such as a campfire, or a bonfire, the flame, once it takes off, will burn hot and fast. It consumes the fuel quickly, and unless someone is standing watch over the fire, the flames die quickly down, and the light goes out. BUT, if in trying to bring light to a darkened room we light an oil lamp, with a reserve of oil, and maintain the wick, the flame burns steady, and for a longer amount of time. Yes, oil will need to be added and the wick trimmed (just like we need to refuel through prayer and time in the Word), but the light is more constant, and burns brighter for a longer time. This is like the praying, fasting, and giving in secret. The light of our faith doesn’t come from what can be seen (like the fast burning logs on the bonfire), but what is stored within us (like the lamp oil).
Matthew 6:1- 6 ~ Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Good job, Phil
This is something we just went over in my small group. I loved the weblog. But, wait……you forgot, cheese, up to a certain point, gets better with age. I mean, if it’s TOO new…then it would just be cream….right? o_0