I finally have a moment to set back down and write again. There has been a thought lingering on my mind this week, so I thought I would reflect on that for a moment. Here’s a question for you; Have you ever thought about that sometimes when you notice something, you tend to see it more often than normal? For instance, if you buy a certain model of car, you then see that car on the road more often than you had before. This phenomenon is called a ‘frequency illusion’ or ‘frequency bias.’
I’ve been experiencing this a lot lately in my own life, and in the lives of those around me. I’ve noticed myself and others have fallen in to the trap of complacency. Wanting to move, but stuck. For what? Fear of the unknown? Hope that things will change?
People say that wisdom comes with age. To this, I can agree. I’ve reached a point where I’ve had enough life experiences to have learned far too often the harsh realities of human existence. There are some who think me much smarter than I am. In some regards, I am knowledgeable about certain topics. In other areas, I am a fool.
I can admit that I can be a bit hard-headed. There are some life-lessons that I have to learn numerous times. I’ve written before about the fact that time wasted can’t be returned to you, and my post ‘Seeking Ruth, Finding Sophia’ has been my most popular to date. Sadly, in the school of life, I am a poor student.
I’ve always had what could be called ‘The Samson Problem.’ Expecting one thing out of someone, only to be led into the hands that would see me tortured. It’s always the same. This one says they’re different. They have plans for the future. Maybe this time. At the end of the day, I’m left with my eyes gouged out and a building collapsing atop of me.
Before you think this post is my newest petty-party, I have a point that I’m working towards. Some people say you should always try to find the good in every situation. The problem is, sometimes a situation has no good. Many times you options are only ‘bad,’ or ‘worse.’
Even if there isn’t something good to be found, there is always something to learn. I may not be a star pupil, but I love to learn. As of late I’ve learned that just because someone is close to you, that doesn’t mean they can be trusted. Also, not everyone has your best interest at heart regardless of how nice they act. And, my favourite lesson as of late; I’ve learned to better recognize pureness in spirit.
I tend to be blinded by ideas, and only later piece together the puzzle of deceit. Will it ever happen again? Probably. It’s kind of my thing at this point. But, I’ll be more discerning if it does.
Most horticulture enthusiasts can tell you that apple trees don’t grow true. A tree may produce good fruit, and that fruit will bare seeds. But, the seeds of that fruit if planted, won’t grow a good tree. It will produce different fruit from the parent tree. If you want a grove of good apple trees, they have to be grafted from the type of tree you want to grow.
As it is with people; Ones fruit isn’t good solely because the parent is, or claims to be. For one to be good, they have to be grafted. There are many people who claim the title ‘Christian,’ but who live contrary to the word. To echo what Paul said to the Galatians, you have to die and be reborn so that it is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives through you. If you haven’t been grafted from the tree that Christ was nailed to, your fruit will not grow true. And, as Jesus said, every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
This leads back to original point. I’ve seen numerous people lately in similar situations to mine. Some are surrounding themselves with people they shouldn’t be. Others, in relationships that aren’t good for them. Even more, pursing relationships that they shouldn’t be in. What of you? If you’re holding on to something, what and why? Is it truly good for you, or are you afraid of the unknown? If you’re situation isn’t baring good fruit, at what point will you have had enough?
I urge everyone, and myself, not to continue on down this road. This path only leads to destruction. It’s a never-ending cycle of anguish; tantamount to Sisyphus being condemned to rolling a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down for him to do all over again for eternity.
There comes a point when we have to recognize that it’s time to walk away. It’s not easy. But, few things in life are, it seems. Sometimes you have to make hard choices. The ‘Serenity Prayer’ written by Reinhold Niebuhr, often used by ‘Alcoholics Anonymous,’ comes to mind. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
My hope is that we can all grow in wisdom in the days to come. To close, I leave you with the words of King Solomon, as written in the Apocrypha;
“Wisdom is radiant and unfading,
and she is easily discerned by those who love her,
and is found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
He who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,
for he will find her sitting at his gates.
To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding,
and he who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
because she goes about seeking those worthy of her,
and she graciously appears to them in their paths,
and meets them in every thought.”
Book of Wisdom 6:12-16
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Random stuff and things. 