Of Good Report

(Article of Faith 13, 3rd blog post)

Image credit to Secular Yakking

"If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." Article of Faith #13

Oh, how I wish the world would take these words to heart . . .

I 've just spent a wasteful amount of time trying to find news sources that tell me the real news, or in other words, the real facts. I've come to the conclusion that there is no such source. All this, so called, "Breaking News," is breaking our country apart. I'm done with it.

Suggestion: instead of looking for things to throw at each other, why don't we have a contest to see who can do the most good? At the end of four years, the American people can decide, by their votes, who was most successful in improving our country.

You might say, "I don't have any power, only the people in power can change things. I have to protest and get their attention so they will fix the things I want fixed." I say, you have more power than you know. However, marching doesn't fix the problems. Action fixes problems.

Mother Teresa had little political power, and yet she did a great deal of good in the world.

"None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful." Mother Teresa

Let's follow her example and see how  we can make, not only our country but the world, a better place.

As for me, to start with, I'm going to quit commenting or reacting to things on Facebook and other media about things that I disagree with, or find unnecessarily negative in either direction. If you post something that annoys me, and I don't comment, it isn't because I don't have something to say, it is because I find your post unworthy of the attention. Posting only gives more fuel to the anger and debate and does nothing at all to solving this world's problems.

Second of all, I am going to try very hard to post things of my own that are uplifting, that I feel might be helpful. For instance, I love gardening and I think a lot of the world's problems could be fixed if we only had more gardens. My next post is going to be about that.

Thirdly, I apologize to anyone who I may have offended by anything I've done or said. Even if I disagree with you on things political or moral, I still love you as my sibling in spirit. I know of at least one person who dropped me on Facebook because I ranted about a nasty post she shared. I'm sorry about that.

And last of all, but not least, I challenge all my friends to follow me in my quest to better the world through positive actions. Together we can make things wonderful. We can fix wrongs and heal hearts that are broken. All of us has a circle of reach that is wider than we know. Lets see how far we can send out our love, one overlapping circle at a time.

Chased by an Elephant

 (13th A of F, 2nd post)

Sorry, I was hoping to keep these posts light hearted and fun but this one just wouldn't cooperate. It's a "heavy" subject. I promise the next one will be more fun.

 

(photo found at:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinkpicturegalleries/9737226/Elephant-dung-coffee-Black-Ivory-beans-passed-through-the-animals-guts.html)

Article of faith 13 begins "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent . . ." or "chased by and elephant" as my friend back in grade school always said it. I often chuckle inside as I read or hear this verse, because those words come to mind.

But what does it really mean?
These words, chaste, and benevolent are so old fashioned and seldom used now that I'd be willing to bet that some people don't even know the meaning of the words, let alone the concepts.

For chaste, Merriam Webster has four definitions, one with two parts:
1:  innocent of unlawful sexual intercourse
2:  celibate <Monks lead a chaste life.>
3:  pure in thought and act :  modest <was sincerely trying to be chaste>
4  a :  severely simple in design or execution :  austere <chaste classicism> <the pure, chaste lines of   ancient Greek buildings>
b :  clean, spotless

Definitely not something you hear promoted these days, is it?
Chastity has become so politically incorrect that it has become an elephant in the room that's chasing us.

Photo credit goes to : https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://trustworks.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/elephant-in-the-room.jpg&imgrefurl=https://leadingwithtrust.com/2012/10/14/heart-to-heart-talks-three-steps-to-discuss-the-elephant-in-the-room/&h=457&w=600&tbnid=oviqaKyDYtnHyM:&vet=1&tbnh=152&tbnw=200&docid=hflgi13InqcnHM&itg=1&usg=__3Yj651UdcsGiFeCwSxEuYHHqG2s=&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi_9Kfr--XRAhWiqVQKHYHTBrcQ_B0IgQEwDw&ei=wiWNWL-LGqLT0gKBp5u4Cw


In fact, the very idea of being chaste seems to offend some of those who proclaim to be progressive thinkers, as if refraining from free sex or immodest behavior makes a person frigid, intolerant, illiberal, or unenlightened. Why, how dare anyone imply that chastity would be a logical choice over abortion? How can you be so frigid and judgmental as to say a woman is more beautiful covered in modest clothing than parading nude on national television? How backward to think that we should teach our children abstinence rather than giving them free contraceptives.

It makes me sad. Is sex the sum of our existence? Is it so important for us to satisfy our bodily desires of the moment. that we throw away all other considerations? This is not freedom from repression; this is a form of slavery. This is the type of thinking that turns women into objects to be used and men into mindless addicts.

This truly is a massive elephant thundering down on an unsuspecting society.

As for benevolent?
1 a :  marked by or disposed to doing good <a benevolent donor>
b :  organized for the purpose of doing good <a benevolent society>
2 :  marked by or suggestive of goodwill <benevolent smiles>

Well, let's just say I'm attempting, by writing this post, to promote a more benevolent society. Please take my comments as I mean them, not to judge, but only to discuss my opinions on the matter. I'm trying to live by the 13th article of faith and practice benevolence, not to stand above anyone, just to point out how confused I am by the attitudes of the day.