Charles mentions twin vines that grow up intertwined ...and he also mentions a thorny vine that seems to grow underground, attaching itself to the roots. This is called comparison ...and nourishes the thorny weeds of the intertwined expectation and disappointment.
When I entered the employ of the Department of Mental Health, I chose to work in the children's division ...but, my first interview and tour was in the adult division.
It truly was an adult division, as it was divided according to levels of functioning. The men in the highest functioning group were very energetic, almost too much so. They were all full of smiles, and would converge upon you in mass.
I felt somewhere in between how I imagine Jay Carney feels, pressed by reporters and bombarded with questions ...or like a rock star caught in a wave of adoring fans. Being either one, I would consider a waste of wisdom after what years of growth, called maturity, grants us advantage ...to steer us away from that which often ensnares us.
If we follow a moral compass, allowing us confidence in what direction we are going ...and who we are, then we don't have to rediscover ourselves. And it is even worse if we try to defend who someone else is, if it involves burying ourselves in deception, or attempting to bury everyone else with ungrounded and fictitious claims ...while claiming any opposition is fictitious.
But, I digress ...at this time I was more concerned with those who daily would live in wait, and I, being their present target.
Wait!!
I need to make one correction here. I was not the only one being led on the tour. There were also a couple females in our group of three, and as we entered the all-male adult unit ...the two females were pressed so close to my back that I almost stumbled. It would have perhaps meant I would have to be later discovered ...underfoot by the eagerly stampeding crowd.
Though I wasn't used to this kind of commotion, and it made me feel uncomfortable ...I have to admit it was worse for the females, as the adult males were probably focused on them, and they certainly didn't want to get mugged. I was not their target ...but understandably women may feel uncomfortable in a man's world, and especially in the unpredictable and unstable world of mental illness.
Nonetheless, from that most active unit, we eventually reached the least active. They were all seated in one room ...nobody was walking about. And it seemed likely they did not even know we entered. Activity was at such a minimum ...at the very best, a few were twiddling their thumbs.
Hindsight forces me to accept the fact that it may have been a result of medication ...having perhaps once been on a more active unit, and possibly much too active, but at this time undoubtedly limited ...and staring vacantly.
This group seemed to define true apathy ...with no indication of a care in this world. I thought, "Those who say they don't care, actually do care ...otherwise they wouldn't say."
Anyone who wants something ...cares.
Even those who say they don't want anything, and insist they don't care ...must. They cared enough to say something. And those who don't say anything, and just act ...that also is a statement. A person acts upon cares.
A person who says they don't want to be alive, can only say it because they are alive ...and want a change, it appears. Often what a person says is not truly what they want.
But, if they could change places with someone else, they would likely want to stay alive. Often it is not death that people truly want, but another type of change they've given up believing in.
We've got to believe that Jesus is real, and there is a purpose why He died on the cross. He wants a change for us ...from earth to Heaven.
Some of the happiest children are those who are impoverished ...and delighted to have a meal. They are delighted that someone cares, and is thinking about them. Most children don't want to starve, they don't want to be sick, and they don't want to be alone.
Most children like to be around others, to laugh, and to play. Most children like to be liked by others ...because they like themselves.
How do people who like themselves, get to the point where they proclaim they do not??
I contend that a person who says they don't like themselves, in fact, do like themselves. Those who say they don't care ...would be content to twiddle their thumbs.
Like I mentioned before, most of us don't like being alone ...but some people enjoy being alone at the top, or alone having the power and prestige.
Lucifer wanted to improve his position ...thinking that if he gained enough followers, it would grant him an esteemed position. But, who would trade that for a promising future ...promised by God??
We may want to be left alone ...thinking we are on the bottom and feeling down. We may want to be left alone by those we feel make us feel down. But, can anyone really make us feel down if we are celebrating our standing with Jesus??
People have said, "If you feel down, go out and help lift someone else's spirit." Don't drag them further down with your complaining. I know it has been said that misery loves company ...but don't encourage your company to feel miserable.
And if you feel used, then allow yourself to be used by God.
I felt somewhere in between how I imagine Jay Carney feels, pressed by reporters and bombarded with questions ...or like a rock star caught in a wave of adoring fans. Being either one, I would consider a waste of wisdom after what years of growth, called maturity, grants us advantage ...to steer us away from that which often ensnares us.
If we follow a moral compass, allowing us confidence in what direction we are going ...and who we are, then we don't have to rediscover ourselves. And it is even worse if we try to defend who someone else is, if it involves burying ourselves in deception, or attempting to bury everyone else with ungrounded and fictitious claims ...while claiming any opposition is fictitious.
But, I digress ...at this time I was more concerned with those who daily would live in wait, and I, being their present target.
Wait!!
I need to make one correction here. I was not the only one being led on the tour. There were also a couple females in our group of three, and as we entered the all-male adult unit ...the two females were pressed so close to my back that I almost stumbled. It would have perhaps meant I would have to be later discovered ...underfoot by the eagerly stampeding crowd.
Though I wasn't used to this kind of commotion, and it made me feel uncomfortable ...I have to admit it was worse for the females, as the adult males were probably focused on them, and they certainly didn't want to get mugged. I was not their target ...but understandably women may feel uncomfortable in a man's world, and especially in the unpredictable and unstable world of mental illness.
Nonetheless, from that most active unit, we eventually reached the least active. They were all seated in one room ...nobody was walking about. And it seemed likely they did not even know we entered. Activity was at such a minimum ...at the very best, a few were twiddling their thumbs.
Hindsight forces me to accept the fact that it may have been a result of medication ...having perhaps once been on a more active unit, and possibly much too active, but at this time undoubtedly limited ...and staring vacantly.
This group seemed to define true apathy ...with no indication of a care in this world. I thought, "Those who say they don't care, actually do care ...otherwise they wouldn't say."
Anyone who wants something ...cares.
Even those who say they don't want anything, and insist they don't care ...must. They cared enough to say something. And those who don't say anything, and just act ...that also is a statement. A person acts upon cares.
A person who says they don't want to be alive, can only say it because they are alive ...and want a change, it appears. Often what a person says is not truly what they want.
But, if they could change places with someone else, they would likely want to stay alive. Often it is not death that people truly want, but another type of change they've given up believing in.
We've got to believe that Jesus is real, and there is a purpose why He died on the cross. He wants a change for us ...from earth to Heaven.
Some of the happiest children are those who are impoverished ...and delighted to have a meal. They are delighted that someone cares, and is thinking about them. Most children don't want to starve, they don't want to be sick, and they don't want to be alone.
Most children like to be around others, to laugh, and to play. Most children like to be liked by others ...because they like themselves.
How do people who like themselves, get to the point where they proclaim they do not??
I contend that a person who says they don't like themselves, in fact, do like themselves. Those who say they don't care ...would be content to twiddle their thumbs.
Like I mentioned before, most of us don't like being alone ...but some people enjoy being alone at the top, or alone having the power and prestige.
Lucifer wanted to improve his position ...thinking that if he gained enough followers, it would grant him an esteemed position. But, who would trade that for a promising future ...promised by God??
We may want to be left alone ...thinking we are on the bottom and feeling down. We may want to be left alone by those we feel make us feel down. But, can anyone really make us feel down if we are celebrating our standing with Jesus??
People have said, "If you feel down, go out and help lift someone else's spirit." Don't drag them further down with your complaining. I know it has been said that misery loves company ...but don't encourage your company to feel miserable.
And if you feel used, then allow yourself to be used by God.
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