20110324.002 PLAYING THE GAME

20110324.002 PLAYING THE GAME

Here I sit at the computer; staring blankly at the computer screen. Not because I do not have anything to write, because I have many things I could BLOG about. Rather I am overwhelmed with stuff to write about and that feeling of wrestling with the giants of the mind who are not completely dead yet can be and is a scary prospect.

I confess that in the past I have written because something has been caught by the trap called a mind and I have mulled it over and over until I felt I had a cohesive cogent thought. And this time is different because I honestly do feel guilty about not writing for a long time (about 3 months now) in this BLOG. So, among other issues, I am wrestling with why I honestly feel guilty. In talking about my BLOG with some friends one of them noted that I usually don’t write unless I am angry about something. And, although I know that is a possibility, a STRONG possibility (unfortunately), I would hope that anger is not the only driving force behind this “online diary.” I will admit that, when I feel compelled to write, passion is often the driving force. But that leads me to ask the question, what I am feeling passionate about today? What have I felt passionate about in the past day or week or month?

Mind you, it isn’t that I haven’t felt passion about anything, it is that nothing really rises to the top as something that has overwhelmed me with passion. Except for maybe politics. And when I say, “POLITICS” I am not talking about the various political parties and their various life or death situations that they pose to all of us! I am referring about the political games that humans play to coax and prod and get what they want out of life. There are times that I think such games are cute or funny; when my mom says “Geez, it sure would be nice to have some ice cream.” Or “I am so bad because I want some chocolate.” I find them cute & funny because I can see right through those statements. They are thinly veiled attempts at asking for something. But there are also times that I will say, “Mom, say what you want.” And she will retort with, “Can you get me some chocolate?” or “Can you dish me up some ice cream?” But when it comes to the “games” on a larger level, those games just frustrate me.

Last night I went out with some friends for coffee and one of the complaints I had was about some of the groups that we have participated in together playing such games. One friend stayed extra long and talked until we were “kicked out” of the restaurant. (They were vacuuming around our feet and finally turned out the lights! LOL we got the message!) But we were talking about Global Warming! Now, let me first note that I am an Eco-Christian. That means I believe we are called in our faith to love, honor, respect, and protect this creation called earth. My friend who I talked with is a Pagan and holds a similar belief because of her faith. But she made an excellent point about the “politics” about Global Warming. She said, “If those who were screaming ‘global warming is happening’ would be honest and simply say ‘we are shitting in our own mess kit!’ then I could stand behind them.” YES! HONESTY! I LOVE IT! But that is the problem! So many people have come to expect lies instead of honesty! How sad!

So why is it that we have given up on the idea of being honest? Political figures aren’t honest! (Yes, now I am talking about the various political parties!) But people in general have feigned honesty for getting what they want at all costs! Is that really the best option? This friend who I spoke with last night was “scolded” by a group because it was claimed by those who didn’t like her that she was embezzling. After an audit was performed and it proved that she wasn’t. But she still received a “scolding” because that is how the political games are being played! Another friend of mine is currently having an audit done against her in a church because those who are against her have made the same claim that she was embezzling. I have no doubt that they will find nothing, or if they do it will be something like “she stole a paper clip.” And yet, will she receive anything for the political games that others are playing against her? Most likely not! And the saddest thing is that she is not in good health and all of the stress is pushing her further down in her illness. Why has honesty become such a rare commodity? Why does honesty carry such a great price to pay for living honestly?

So, here I am, realizing that the more I write on this subject, the more angry I get! (Thanks Sharla, You are correct! . . . Again! ;-) Then again, maybe this is something worth being angry about! After all, I do take seriously the Ten Commandments. And one such commandment says, “You should not bear false witness!” Bearing false witness isn’t just about speaking! It is also about how you live, how you presenting yourself, and YES even the games we play! I am sure that if those who have called my friend embezzlers were to just come out and say “We want to have power and so we want you out of here” they wouldn’t get very far. But that is really the crux of the game! In order for them to win at their game, they need to practice deceits and lies! And so they continue in their game play, thinking they will get what they want. Well, all I can say is “Be careful how you live, because Karma is a bitch when it comes back to bite you in the butt!”

Well, I dare say that I don’t really feel better! Normally after write this BLOG I feel like I have experienced a catharsis! This time I don’t. Oh well! I guess I will just continue trying to live honestly! - I hope you all will do the same! - Blessings! - David L.