I don't have the words to say All the things that I must say I silently sit here, and I pray I will somehow make my way
To my shepherd, I will sing The holiest of holies, He is my king You know who I'm talking about As you join in to sing and shout
As the days of life rapidly disappear You will find me waiting here Joining in with the congregation To grow in faith as I reach for my destination
Even when I'm lost and feeling weak Even when I can't find the words to speak The Lord comes to comfort me His words paint my life's tapestry
That is the life that he wants me to lead By His yoke, I find that I am finally freed Faithfulness walked is a two-way street This is the path on which we will meet
(c) November 5, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
“Despotism often presents itself as the repairer of all the ills suffered, the support of just rights, defender of the oppressed, and founder of order.” – Alexis de Tocqueville
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Anyone who has not yet cast their ballot in this election’s choice between Trump and Harris, should take the time to read Alex de Tocqueville’s Chapter VI, “What Sort of Despotism Democratic Nations Have To Fear.” It would not be many paragraphs before they recognize the blueprint of governance Ms. Harris intends is quite close to what is warned against. Our republic is in a precarious state, and history points the administrative state directly toward despotism. This is not mankind’s progression but a vapid state of regression that, be it milder than monarchy, still leads us back into the chains of servitude. Equity is not equality and each of these is a destroyer of freedom that brings America under a central authority that leads to equality for none and even less freedom.
The belief that the elite will protect the poor is age-old and has seldom proven true. The greater power amassed and centralized in Washington, D.C., the more specific that obligations to protect and serve the people across America will be shed. The people who still have greater attachment to our overall nation than others among the privileged class will become more dependent on this centralizing authority and forget their attachment to populations with differing needs and perspectives across America. A tyrannical majority is still a tyranny.
“There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.” – Will Rogers, “The Manly Wisdom of Will Rogers”. “Friars Club Bible of Jokes, Pokes, Roasts, and Toasts”. Book by Nina Colman, p. 316, 2001.
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This quote is ankle-deep in cowboy humor and commonsense. It is also worth exploring some. There is an obvious meaning to learning by reading and observation. What is not quite as obvious is that there is a bit of scientific observation as to why most of us have to learn for ourselves. Instead, what is not so obvious is that learning through observation requires using a brain circuit to mankind’s evolutionary advantage. MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory felt a need to scientifically prove this. While most of us are satisfied with simply knowing this, MIT went to work at identifying a distinct brain circuit (anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA)) to develop the ability to interpret the social cues needed to learn from observation. For the most part, I think most of us will accept the common sense approach to this concern.
I bet my life on what I believe Speaking the truth, I won't deceive Pumping the brakes to live another day It's love's world, I won't get in the way
Every moment that we keep it steady We still know that we ain't ready Yet, we're doing our minute's best Standing at the foot of the cross to face our test
Life comes at us strong and aiming for good At all times, some things must be understood It's the seven good things that have traveled far And the seven precise visions of who we are
Life comes with its seasons, each with its needs Each of these provides us with the blessed seeds God works both outside us and within our inside Teaching us what we need to know despite our pride
Love and faith grow and manage to persevere To become as we're needed and patiently revere All seeing and all-knowing throughout our history God teaches that hate gives way to love's mystery
These are the paths of immovable grace As the children of God run to His embrace God won't be bumped off His firm stance Truth is not a matter of circumstance
We know that to reach our final destination From time to time, we must check our foundation Staying with the goodness wanted and needed Is the essential wisdom to be heeded
We've found our ways to reach our salvation But Haven must get through us for our sanctification By the grace of God, we're carried through Until at last, we receive what is our due
Believers are search deeply in heart and mind With none of us among those left behind Wicked are the habits that humanity has kept And provides the reasons our God has wept
The true God is the God set apart We know this truth within our hearts Set ablaze with the strength of holy fire God's love is the love that always inspires
Belief cannot be half-hearted but full contention Tolerance creates the evil in our condition We guard the boundaries of our hearts We, the believers, are to be set apart
There is no time for procrastination's sorrow Forgiveness is tied to repentance and our tomorrow Christ is the answer beyond the slippery slope There is only one path that gives us hope
Holding on and holding firm brings us victory This is the truth shown us throughout history There's an amazing grace for us all to behold And it's written in the pages of the Bible as foretold
(c) November 3, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
“Tolerance is an attitude of reasoned patience toward evil… a forbearance that restrains us from showing anger or inflicting punishment. Tolerance applies only to persons… never to truth.” – Fulton J. Sheen, “A Plea For Intolerance” (1931)and “Old Errors and New Labels” (1931)
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Such tolerance leads to a church divided and thus diminished. Truth from and about God is not to be diluted in any way. In Sheen’s view and mine, there is either good or evil and either Christ or chaos. False broadmindedness has confused the modern world into believing Satan’s biggest con – that there is no true good and evil, just perceptions that differ between reasonable persons. Truth and first principles demand an intolerance toward falsity. But we are all sinners. As such, while there cannot be tolerance for these first principles, we should show mercy and grace toward mankind. The love of Christ should be shown to all.
“Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5
These verses describe the characteristics of unbelievers and the false teachers they follow. While it has become the pattern of modern times to preach unrestrained tolerance, this passage clearly condemns 19 separate qualities as ungodly. These qualities include selfishness, arrogance, slander, hedonism, and the denial of God’s truth. This condemnation also includes holding to a form of godliness that denies its power. We believers would do well to keep this in mind as we observe the world around us.
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools.” – Plato, there are several alternative translations of this passage taken from Republic, Book 1, 347c (part of a 12 volume set)
One popular approach to modern politics is to refuse to participate in the morass of the political process. The downside is the proximate result of being governed by persons who are, at times, less than desirable. When some remain apathetic, we find our republic’s leadership rife with those who lack wisdom, knowledge, and/or altruistic intentions and thereby devoid of practical leadership qualities and skills needed to steer our nation in the 21st Century.
Politics is the social arena in which laws, regulations, and policies are decided that impact a nation’s citizens and foreign nationals living within its borders. It is only through participation that concerns may be addressed. Abstention silences the voices that need to be heard and widens the influence of those with less capabilities. This decreases what is known as Jean-Jacque Rosseau’s “general will” and damages what might be considered the best or better interests of a given democratic society and/or republic. To the extent that some might avoid participating in this societal scheme, there are a great number of potential negative consequences to consider. Political disengagement distorts the betterment of society and its decisions.
Active participation and engagement ensure the well-being of society. Multiple valid concerns drive this disengagement. The political dynamics at stake and play in society make it urgent that the best among us participate in this process and the discussions inherent to this process. Society cannot afford the abdication of power to shape the world we live in for the self and the benefit of others. The political process is how to affect change, hold leaders and others accountable, and contribute to the betterment of society. By active participation, governance by persons of lesser intentions is avoided.
“Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.” – Socrates
I cannot help but like Socrates, who is quoted as saying that poets are the interpreters of the gods. We are not, and that would be very vain to think so. Still, the humor in that compliment makes me smile as I attempt to be a poet worthy of that simple aspiration.
Life is hard, and we will fall from time to time. This is no significant error; it may be considered a failure only when we stay where we have fallen. Setbacks, obstacles, and rethinking are simply part of life’s journey. How we react and respond to these encounters determines our successes.
Staying down is nearly always the erroneous choice. There can be no giving up, surrendering, and refusing to learn from mistakes made. Instead, we need to dust ourselves off and make further attempts. Resilience, perseverance, thinking, growing, and learning are suitable approaches to overcoming perceived failures. A classic example of this in the business world is the number of attempts Thomas Edison’s company made to achieve a workable lamp filament. Use your stepping stones wisely and grow. This growth mindset allows us to view every challenge as an opportunity, not a failure.
Heading out of Australia to escape this Aussie winter. First stop Japan, then UK/Ireland and if work doesn't call me back, onto Chicago. I will make it up as I go along
ALOHA PROMISES FOREVER 