I Choose to Believe or Faith is a Matter of Choice

Central to my and many others belief systems is the idea that we have free agency. Free agency means that while we may be influenced one way or the other we are free to choose our path. Most often people refer to this in context of visible life choices: what to wear, where to go, what to do. And this is true, they are choices we can make. Within our domains, we are surrounded by choices daily. The vast majority are insignificant: apple or orange, this or that. Some are more profound: take the job or refuse, say yes or no. Then comes the conundrums: moral or not, right or wrong.

Still these are the obvious choices. These are the ones we think about; the ones that consume our lives. But there are other choices to be made, the invisible ones. I say they are invisible because we really don't think about them as a choice. Most often we think they just are. It could be we are naturally inclined to make some choices and so act on them. Sometimes the choices we make are justified by existence, other times not.

Take, for example, the Speed of Light. Science tells us that it is about 300,000 kilometers per second. It's a fact. There is seemingly no disputing this. So we believe it. For one microsecond, one split moment of infinity, we had to choose whether we believed it or not. We chose to believe it because people we respect tell us it is so, the math shows it, we can observe it; in short evidence abounds.

But what if I told you that the Speed of Light is in flux and not constant? What if I showed you that it was infinitely faster the closer we were to the Big Bang or Big Crunch? What if I said that the closer light was to a Super Dense Cosmic String the faster it would be? Would you reconsider your choice? Probably not. You chose. You chose what you observed and those you trusted.

Another example and one dearer to many people is that of religious belief. I speak not only of which religion we follow, but of the very idea of an external system or force directing the universe. At some point we choose to look at the universe and see a guiding hand or a series of coincidences governed by a few physical laws. That choice will support the following choices. If we choose the coincidence, your choices become more worldly. If we choose the guiding hand, we must choose if we will follow it or not. We must choose where we think it is. We must choose how we think it should be followed. We must choose. And keep choosing. In either we will see evidences to support our thoughts, we will have choices to support our choices.

A famous quote from the Book of Joshua talks a little about this choice:

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

The Jews had an actual choice. They could choose to follow other gods. They would not be forced to follow the God of Abraham. Joshua recognized this and chose.

Psychology tells us that we can learn to trust by choosing to trust. We can choose to share, to confide, to open ourselves up to others. It also says that we can learn to love and increase the love we feel by choosing to love. The same is true for faith. We can choose to trust God. Choose to love Him. Choose to follow and love Him. This choice will be shored up by the evidences we then see and the following choices we make.

I myself made this choice. I chose to believe in the Judeo-Christian God. I chose to trust Him. I chose to believe what I learned of Him and follow those teachings. As such I have seen evidences in my life. These support my choice, and help me to continue to choose as I have. I believe it is our choice as to what we believe, as to how we act, and how we live. As such I hope we all choose wisely.

How to give offense

Hello, if you are reading this you wish to offend someone. This guide is here to help you deliver the most astounding insults ever. The process is simple and easy to understand, just follow the easy steps below. 

Step One - Decide the degree of insult intended. Do you really want to hurt someone or just banter spitefully yet playfully? Do you want to leave the person emotionally scarred and crippled? Do you wish to strip away their ego and self-esteem leaving them an emotionless husk ready to fall apart at any moment? (Helpful Suggestion: When giving offense it is better to overshoot your mark.) 

Step Two - Select the appropriate situation. Some insults and offenses are most powerful only in given locales or situations. For example, saying 'I'd rather french a blender,' right after he proposes conveys the adequate level of rejection and emotional destruction all due to timing. 

Step Three - The Insult. This is the most tricky part of the procedure. Wrong wording will lead to openings an opponent may use for 'the comeback'. If seen in time, such openings will allow you to prepare in advance and may even be used to heap bigger and better insults on your opponent. Remember, not all insults need be verbal. One of the most overused, but effective is the simple rising of the middle finger. When beginning in the insult circuit, stick to comparisons or name calling until you have developed sufficient speed and skill to create witty phrases. (Unfortunately, a large and increasing number of people believe they can skip right to the more skilled insults without betraying themselves as idiots.) Since you know your opponent best try to chose something that will touch one of their hot buttons or sensitive spots. 

Step Four - The delivery. Your method of delivery must be in such a way as to strike to the heart of the target. A good insult delivered in a bad manner, ruins the effect. Be creative in the delivery. For example, an insulting birthday gift may only be construed as a joke gift unless taken to the extreme. Try giving rubber sheets to a bed wetter publicly. 

Step Five - The Gloat. No insult no matter how trivial is complete without a proper gloat. The most simple is often the most effective, a self-sure knowing smile. However, in some situations the gloat itself may be used to add to the insult. For example, after delivering a stinging comment to or tripping a nerd, laugh loudly and point. 

I am assured that these five basic steps will guarantee that you will become a master of insults in no time at all. You will be the envy of your friends.

I would fight my way out of hell for them: An honorarium to my friends

I received an email yesterday (2007) that left me speechless and on the verge of tears. I don't mind saying so because it shows my point.

The email was from a dear friend. It was simple and to the point. It was an expression of how much I was missed, how good a friend I was, the influence I had, and even that I was remembered all wrapped in a few humble words.

I have a habit of doubting any compliment I receive, of thinking that they're self-serving, but not this one. This one struck to my soul and left no room for doubt.

I racked my brain to find some way to express how I missed not just this friend but all my friends I had left behind in the move. I thought of poems and essays and stories. I had wonderful imagery.

Nothing captured what I felt. What I feel now. What I always hope to feel at remembering those words.

I thought of how wonderful my friends were and are. How their selflessness and outgoing nature gave me strength. How their going about their lives as themselves gave me the courage to be myself, to come out of my shell. I thought of the times we fought, and had fun. I thought of the good and the bad. And I thought that they never really knew just how much strength, courage, and love they gave me.

They never knew that most of the time I was unsure of myself, but for them I made decisions. They never knew that I did things I'd never done before because they were with me. They never knew that I came alive because they showed me life.

They never knew.

And words fail to properly grasp the debt I owe each and every one of them.
A debt that grows everyday.

Despite the miles that separate us they continue to give me strength, support, and courage.

I wish I could make them feel even a fraction of the love and honor I felt at reading those words. I wish I could adequately show them how much they mean to me. How their individual talents, quirks, and abilities helped me.
All I can do is give them this small praise. One that fails by far to capture the scope of my feelings for them.

There are many people who say they would go to hell for someone. My friends are people I would fight my way out of hell to join.

And to them I say, "Thank you."