It’s possible to do something you don’t want to do and to enjoy it, if you chose to.
Author: toseealife
The Quest: Interlude
(This will be a purely religious article, just as a fair warning.)
In part five I will be covering the question “Where am I going when I die?”
This question ended up being so huge I had to split it into parts, so this post is actually covering the lead up to the question.
Perhaps it seems like a leap from my previous topics, but it’s really not. Every religion in the world deals with this question; and they fall into three broad categories:
1. Atheism. You go nowhere, become nothingness.
2. Almost every other religion. There is a heaven (and usually a hell but not always) and you get there by doing what certain gods (or God in at least three religions) wants you to do.
3. Judeo-Christian. Heaven and hell exist but man cannot attain heaven on his own merit, but must accept the help and mercy of God Himself, through Jesus Christ.
I can’t know which group you fall into, but I will explain why I believe as I do.
In the broadest category are other religions. When man acknowledges good and evil, usually the next step is to prevent what they think is evil and promote what is good. Which is where religion and government come from. A religion is government of the soul. The trouble I have with this, is that religion is without fail Man’s attempt to reach God, and no two people agree on everything. Especially right and wrong. Man trying to reach God on Man’s terms is so silly. Think about it. If a Supreme Being is really interested in us (and He made us) then if he intends for us to reach Him, He’d have to give us the means Himself. Imagine it like this, you want to meet with the President of the U.S.A. But you have no means to contact him, you can’t just look up his number in the phone book or waltz into his house. He has guards, security, he’s about as far above you (if you’re an ordinary Joe) as can be. You may obey his laws but that doesn’t make you any different from millions of others. But what if he wanted to see you? Suddenly it’s a breeze, you have ID, you have an appointment and instead of keeping you out the guards escort you in. That’s like reaching God. We really have no means in and of ourselves to reach God, but if He wanted to reach us, who could stop Him? Hold that thought.
Before we even go there, the issue of morality must be discussed.
(A brief teaser: So, if God is interested in us, likely He has rules. No one agrees on what they are, but He must have them. We humans consider certain religions barbaric and others more civilized. I am all for that, but my point is, if we’re the ones trying to figure out what God likes, it’s like looking in the yellow pages for the Commander-in-Chief. We need Him to find us. I’ll get to all that in Part Five.)
That being said, there are some things common to all men that I think show us something about God, since He made all men. (From conception.) I feel this is beyond me, so I am going to quote one of my favorite authors C. S. Lewis:
“Everyone has heard people quarrelling. Sometimes it sounds funny and sometimes it sounds merely unpleasant; but however it sounds, I believe we can learn something very important from listening to the kind of things they say. They say things like this: “How’d you like it if anyone did the same to you?”–“That’s my seat, I was there first”–“Leave him alone, he isn’t doing you any harm”–“Why should you shove in first?”–“Give me a bit of your orange, I gave you a bit of mine”–“Come on, you promised.”
People say things like that every day, educated people as well as uneducated, and children as well as grown-ups.
Now what interests me about all these remarks is that the man who makes them is not merely saying that the other man’s behavior does not happen to please him. He is appealing to some kind of standard of behavior which he expects the other man to know about. And the other man very seldom replies: “To hell with your standard.” Nearly always he tries to make out that what he has been doing does not really go against the standard, or that if it does there is some excuse. He pretends there is some special reason in this particular case why the person who took the seat first should not keep it, or that things were quite different when he was given the bit of orange, or that something has turned up which lets him off keeping his promise. It looks, in fact, very much as if both parties had in mind some kind of Law or Rule of fair play or decent behavior or morality or whatever you like to call it, about which they really agreed.”– C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Chapter One.
I strongly recommend the whole book since I can but touch on the subject. Until next time, think on the values that everyone shares. Such as fairness, all people do not agree on what is fair, but all people agree fairness exists. Or courage. Honesty. Loyalty. Respect.
My parting thought is that this is the evidence of God’s rules, (though that term is rather crude,) but does this provide the way for us to reach God, and get into heaven? Is heaven worth believing in, and is Hell worth even thinking about? I’ll be considering that in the next section.
The Quest: Part four
The continuation of part two, today’s question: What is worthwhile?
After wondering what our purpose is, the next logical step is to wonder what is worth investing our lives, time, and money, in. World cultures each have different and yet strikingly similar answers. Wealth, power, and pleasure are common to nearly all, if not all. I even made up a saying ( I’m the kind of person who does things like that,) about the skewed value-system. Here goes: “We value too much what has little value, and we undervalue what has real value.”
For example: Beauty. We value a face and body, making a goddess of the woman who has what we think is the perfect look. (Ever notice that the perfect look changes from century to century? And it’s always what only a few women of the era can attain and not the mass population of them.) Chasing after the woman with the perfect look is something both men and women do, by the way. We then undervalue and even completely ignore whether a person has good, loyal friends whom she can pour out her soul to, or if she has the ability to be such a friend. And so on. Outward beauty is good, but it is not everything.
You probably knew I’d bring up that as an example, and you probably guessed sports would be next. I won’t go into a lot of it; and, again, I’m not saying either beauty or athleticism is a bad thing; but let’s just say it like it is: Just because the guy can do amazing things with (whatever kind you like) a ball, doesn’t mean he’s a winner in other areas of life. Do people care? I don’t know. Probably not, at least not all of them. Nonetheless sports, though great for many things, do not in of themselves make a man a man.
Okay, okay, I’ll stop at two examples.
Thankfully, cultures also share good qualities they value. The media and entertainment have done their best to destroy our values, and sense of right having any meaning, and wrong being an avoidable thing, but some values are indestructible.
Honestly is one. No one likes a liar. Everyone respects a person known for honesty (oh, except criminals, whose opinion I would hardly count as worth it.)
Loyalty is another quality you can’t help loving. People may exploit it, but that kind of loyalty is usually faulty, and a true friend will stick to all the good things in their friends and try to prevent the worst. (Not by being a fair weather friend, or trying to change people, but by bringing out the best in them.)
Generosity, when seen as genuine, is a quality most everyone is awed by. Because it does go against the grain. Even more so then many other virtues.
There are more, but you get the idea. I really hope you’re asking “So how can I apply this to my profession?”
Well, I confess to not personally having a lot of answers in this area, but I’ve heard good advice from people who have experience. (For a more thorough list please read my “Life Tips” Post.)
I’m going to start this off with a Bible verse that is perfect for the subject. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:3.) This means do everything as if God Himself ( Perspective: An All powerful, VIP, Super-genius,) had told you to do it. Not complaining or criticizing, but with a sense of honor. I hope you believe in God, but if you don’t, keep reading because this is still good stuff.
You must have values, everyone does, you can’t help it. Perhaps some of yours are ones I’ve already mentioned. I want to clarify what I mean by value. A value is any state of being, or trait, that you respect and admire in a person, place, or thing. Core values are the major values that govern your life. If you find out what yours are, and then apply them to every little thing task, it’s so cool how it’ll change the way you feel about it. Martin Luther King Jr. said this:
“If it falls to your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music… Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.”
If I might add a modern twist to that: you can scrub toilets and be great, if you do it nobly. If you realize every little thing done for another person can be a noble and unselfish act. Don’t complain because that devalues it, do not do it half heartedly because that denies importance, do it to the best of your abilities because that is who you want to be, and you will feel good about your work. I know this sounds like a tall order, and no one follows this advice (and I’m not the first one to give it) perfectly; but if you start trying, eventually you will see a difference.(Eventually sounds like a weak word, but it’s the truth that change can take time, so don’t be discouraged.)
If you still think that what you do is truly a waste of time then perhaps a different application of your occupation is in order. You can learn life skills doing almost anything. Being a waitress or waiter may seem like a waste of time (thought I don’t think it is) but take those skills to the next level. Wait on people like they’re royalty. Be creative. Or there’s always quitting, if you are honestly convinced it the wrong place for you. Nowadays quitting can be pretty risky, so unless you’re well-off it may not be an option. If it is, all I can suggest is to get into something you enjoy, or at the very least believe is important. That’ll be different for everyone.
So, when it comes down to it, almost anything can be worthwhile, this is one area where attitude makes it; (and personally, I want it to be God’s will.) I do encourage you to check out “Life tips” for some more suggestions on improving your situation. Or get some tips from wise people you know, whatever will work out for you.
The Quest: Part three
Okay buckle up, because it’s time to tackle question No#3 “How can I be happy?”
This is definitely rocky ground right here. When it comes to happiness, people tend to fall into two categories (with a small fringe exception.)
The first category is made up of people who think happiness is the supreme goal in life and they are people who think happiness is the supreme goal in life and they are constantly chasing it.
The second category is of people who wish they were happy but have concluded it is impossible for them to be so.
On the fringe (both ends of it) are either people who act happy all the time because of some denial-of-reality world view; or people who think happiness in unimportant and live for some other cause.
As depressing as that is, there is another choice and blessed are those who make it. If you’ve read the “About me” you know that I started this blog for the purpose of hope, among other things. In my Christian faith there is a person known as the Holy Spirit, when the Holy Spirit is around certain traits appear, among which are love, hope, joy, and peace. I want to talk about joy and peace a bit.
I’m going to refer to a recent movie “Inside Out.” (Comment if you’d like movie or books reviews to be a thing on this blog, or a good site to get them.) Even if you’ve only seen previews you likely gathered that the Joy character is really happiness/positively; and sadness was really depression and negatively. What does it matter? Well, the story was sad but it had a good ending. I’m not going to outline it, but I was intrigued because so often people assume joy is just an elevated form of happiness. Joy is a mysterious thing which no one has ever been able to explain or define, only those who experience it know what it is. Happiness, dear friends, is a feeling and an attitude. Which is fine and I am not bashing it. I want to be happy as much as the next person; but, chasing happiness is not the way to get it. Happiness is a bit like a wild bird. If you chase it, it flies away. It might come close if you don’t try to catch it. Happiness as a feeling can depend on everything from how your day goes, to what you eat, to hormones. Happiness as an attitude is entirely up to you. (That’s where positivity is a big help.) But I propose that Happiness does not satisfy, you always want more.
So then, if you’re wiling, go a little deeper. Deep happiness comes from peace. Peace is one world almost nobody knows the meaning of anymore. Stress. Fear. disaster. Tragedy, Insane. Unstable. Those are the words of our cultures, no matter where you live. These words get in our minds and our souls and affect us more than we realize. Try an experiment. Unplug from everything for even ten minutes and if you succeed, what emotions start rising to the surface?
Love. I talked a little about it in part two and I’ll be talking more about it later, so suffice it to say, there is no joy or peace where there is no love.
Joy does not come from having a perfect life but from having an imperfect one and overcoming. Joy is akin to the thrill of winning a championship, or in any sport you’ve worked hard at to excel in. That is joy; but joy goes even deeper still. Joy is what comes from knowing all is well, or all will be well. Joy is the exhilaration of realizing you will be finishing the race no matter what obstacles are thrown at you. Joy is also present when someone forgives you from their heart or does an act of true love for you. When you feel like your heart is singing, joy is the song. Maybe you’ve never felt it, and that’s okay, I spent many years when joy was a foreign concept to me. I will unashamedly admit I never tasted joy or peace till I became a Christian in 2012. Joy also comes when you feel right inside; and joy does not shut out sadness nor ignore it. I want to be clear, sadness in not depression nor negativity, though it can turn into those things. (If you struggle with depression, and especially if you take medication, I strongly recommend looking up Dr. Caroline Leaf, you can find her on YouTube and she’s also written books.) Joy will shut out both depression and negativity, but as I said, not sadness. Joy is the strength to accept sadness yet still know deep down that it’s all going to be okay. A human being can not make themselves joyful, but they can open themselves up to it. Joy can never be taken by force, nor self-generated, only given. The beautiful thing is when we have joy, sooner or later, we will be happy. Provided we do not let anything steal it. (Hint: Don’t suppress anger or pretend any negative emotions do not exist, not that you should take them out on other people, deal with them in a mature way. I give them to God, and I journal, ad sometimes vent to a trusted person.)
Giving joy is a really good way to keep it in yourself; and soaking up beauty or hanging out with good friends are two great ways to get some; but it originally only comes from one Being, and I think you all know who I mean. That’s today’s truth: “If you want to have joy go to the source.”
The Quest: Part Two
Imagine blogger speaking like a game show host
Well folks, we will now be looking at Question Number Two! Which is: “Why am I here?” We covered “Who am I?” Very briefly. Each of these questions builds off the others. Before we continue I want to make it clear that these questions may not be ones you’ve actually asked in words but ones you’ve sought the answer to through actions, books, vocations, and so on. “Why am I here?” It is surely obvious that God’s existence must be assumed if we are to even ask this question. The answer actually comes in two parts: a general and a particular part. Today I’ll be covering the general.
Firstly, we (read: you) are here to make the world a better place. As cliché as that sounds, notice that it is true of the majority of creatures. They all benefit the planet in some way, with the exception perhaps of parasites, everything contributes to balancing and beautifying life. We ourselves are given the ability to find use for, and the ability to find beauty in, every creation. As for parasites, I can’t speak for them all, but some I know of are redeemable. Weeds can grow flowers; some other plants, such as holly, can be used for decoration. I personally love the redemption story found in this. Of course food plants also have flowers. Carrots have flowers, which I didn’t know till we left one of ours in the ground too long; also onions (they look like spikey, fluff-ball fireworks). I’m one of those people who has to find meaning in everything; other people have to find beauty. It makes sense then, that our own purpose would be to beautify and better the world and each other. Of course it is diverse. Some flourish in the domestic: gardening, sewing, knitting, cooking, etc. Others in managing, teaching, inspiring. Whatever it is you do, if you want to do it well, try to benefit someone or something other than yourself.
Secondly: (These are not listed in order of importance or this would be first.) We are here because God wanted to make us. There is no other reason to create a creature with the ability to deny your existence than because you want to, and you want to out of love. Love already existed before man, which is why it does not come naturally from us and our own abilities (I refer to perfect love), but it can be a learned trait. Why make anything if you didn’t love it? I hope any artist reading will forgive me for this analogy: Painting is just a mixture of things, made into a mixture of colors, put onto paper. Which has no use. Aw, but it’s more than that you’ll say. yes it is, but only if you love to do it, and you love what you paint. Love wants to share the good it has more and more. Love sees a beautiful things while it’s alone and says “I wish my beloved were here.” (Nowadays that would be the most innocent reason behind taking a picture of it.)
Thirdly: To govern the earth. This is another part of that sharing business. Of course an all-knowing, almighty God, sharing dominion over the earth with human beings, is like letting a two year old pretend to drive a car; but the kid will have fun, and that is the point. God loves to make people happy, when it is not hurtful to them–people don’t always want what’s best for them.
In conclusion: There’s really no easy answer to Question Number Two, and other than what I just gave, the rest is up to the individual to seek out. I’ll be exploring it a little more in part four. Let me now how you’re enjoying The Quest series. I’m aiming for seven parts. Please keep in mind I’m only touching on each question, and what I’m really hoping is that you’ll be inspired to find out more yourself.
life tips
I’m just going to throw these out. They are based on my world view and values, so if you don’t want my advice, don’t read this. They are how to be a better person in the more practical areas of life.
Respect:
When it comes to work, my dad, who owns his own business, says, “Never be late” be the person who respects their employer’s time enough to be there when you agreed to be.
Do not ever badmouth your boss around other employees. Do not listen when/if they’re doing it. Do not disagree with your boss in front of customers, and in front of as few people as possible. Do not say anything of your boss that you would not say to his face (and this goes for, if your boss is one of your parents, and if you’re a volunteer and not paid.) Of course there are some exceptions to these rules, but they are few and I trust you can figure them out yourselves.
Do not ever support anything illegal. I don’t care where you are and who is doing it. Respect the law.
Messy blessings:
Be the one to pick up trash without being asked.
Do extra things at work without being told, don’t tell anyone you did it unless they ask.
At a park, pick up trash before anyone even says to, pick up other people’s trash.
Clean the counter at work before you’re told. (Now, if someone else is already paid to do any of this, don’t take away from their pay by doing it for them, but if it’s for any given employee go ahead. This is about thinking of others before yourself.)
Take out the trash before your mom reminds you. Mop, clean toilets, wash dishes, clean a room in the house, all before your mom has time to get to it or before she has to remind you. Make your siblings beds for them, help them with their chores.
Knowledge to be shared:
New guy at your work? Show him the ropes. Don’t play jokes on him (or her,) offer to help. If they do something wrong, help them make it right. (I do not refer to not telling your boss if they do something against policy or unethical.)
Help you siblings with their schoolwork. Or let them help you, sometimes they’ll learn better that way.
Time.
Don’t procrastinate. Time is your most valuable asset. Give enough time for every task, but give yourself time to rest. For the Christian this is completely biblical. There are allotted rest days, allotted work days, and allotted celebration days. God made time and we can do what he says with it (and He says to rest as well as work.)
Don’t take on too much, too fast. I multitask I’ll admit, I don’t do it very well. I can do one thing with my ears and another with my eyes and hands; but I can’t do two things with my eyes, and hands, and another with my ears, further more I find it stressful to. Your abilities may be more expansive than mine, but know your limits. if something is hard for you, don’t rush it. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:15. It’s okay to separate things by the day.
Don’t be too busy. If every day of your week and month is full, you have a problem.
I love this next one. I honestly believe God gave me a revelation through this passage in Psalms. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.” Ps 127:2 Did you know that was in the Bible? Or Christianity? I want to commit this verse to memory. This verse just tells me, I do not need to stay up late working on something, nor get up way too early to do something. To my fellow millennials out there just turn off your phone at night. Tell your friends you now have a cell-curfew. I’m sure it might be difficult to sleep at first, but your body will adjust and you’ll feel so much better. I’m serious, all my friends are always tired, mostly because of late nights. I’m tired a lot, because I need this tip too.
Don’t go to bed upset. This one is hard, but I take the “bread of sorrows” to mean that. I don’t sleep well if I’m upset, do something to feel better.
He who is faithful (constant, trustworthy) in little will be faithful in much, he who is dishonest in little will be dishonest in much (Personal paraphrase.)
drybonestruth 