thesoulpurposedotorg

It is rather humbling and occasionally humiliating to realize how many problems I have caused myself. At this middle-aged point of life, I can also see that the simple daily actions of taking responsibility for myself have also led to wonderful things. Things like eating and drinking the right things most of the time usually leads to good health. Paying bills on time, getting an education by sacrificing other things, putting money away every week…..these things make for a better life in the physical realm. Usually.

Life has also taught me that what I’ve written above is true on one level but the illusion of cause and effect being a way to control life is just that: an illusion. We can better our odds but there are no guarantees. We can however control our attitudes. Buddha (which literally means “I am awake”) first two Noble Truths go something like this: 1) Life is out of whack and it’s easier when we realize this fact. 2) The reason life is out of whack is because of our individual selfish desires. He, of course, goes on to provide hope through changing attitudes and behaviors.

For myself, I have found that I suffer most when I expect other people to be different that they really are. Even after all these years, I somehow expect people to be better than they are. I expect those in power to be trust-worthy and to do what is best for the whole. How naive is that??? I expect that when I do the right thing for other people that they will do the right thing for me. Doesn’t always happen and I become so disappointed. I remember a octogenarian once telling me, “People are rotten to the core, myself included. I wish I had your optimism about people but I don’t. And if God accepts me when I die, it will be purely by grace.” I thought the world of this man and found him kind, thoughtful and loving. But I think he knew something about human nature that I’d rather not see.

Buddha also talked about the importance of the people one chooses to be with. Jesus chose to be with the people who knew they were sinners and wanted to be more. Good advice.