Fortified Choices

Something struck me last year or the year before when I was reading James 1. It seemed to me that James was talking largely about having a resolute will. Yes, I am talking about the ability to recognise decisive moments and make fortified choices.

Of course, as in all things in life, we ought to be concerned more with the substance of our choices rather than their form. I was talking about something related to this with someone last night. We were talking about "fellowship". I told him that I really believed that fellowship meant REAL fellowship and not merely meeting together. For instance, that people disagree about things is a fact about life, but being reconciled after a disagreement is holy. That is true fellowship. So I say that if two people walk together but they are not in agreement, the form may be right but the substance is wrong.

I find human beings to be rather pathetic creatures. Why are we largely overcome with the desire to live regardless of how sickening and pitiful our circumstances may become? I don't understand why anyone can have a desire to carry on living when the hidden pain, the emotional pain, is absolutely unbearable! Regardless of how dreadful circumstances may become people want to live! At least most people...

Nobody has all the information that they need to make perfect choices. Why then does any person presume to have ALL THE ANSWERS? Why do people believe other people who think that they have all the answers? People are weak! And some think that since people are weak they should then be led by the stronger ones. But what you really have is the weak and pathetic leading the weak and pathetic. One useless idiot defers his power to choose to another useless bastard.

No! It cannot be right that any person should give up their fundamentally ability and opportunity to "choose" to any other person. It's suicide! Why after making so many choices to live would somebody choose to give up their life into the hands of a person who would kill them? And then you thank you "leader" while he is doing that? Why choose to die?

I choose to live. I think the one thing that gives any person dignity is the ability to choose. My belief is that those choices should be founded in the substance of goodness, and not merely have the form of righteousness.

In keeping with my choice to live I seek out ways in which I can keep on living and happily so. In doing this I am finding that despite my weakness and the weaknesses of others, if we engage in good choices together we lead one another. We develop a healthy symbiosis. We become responsible for eachother. We love.

Suddenly life does not seem to be so pathetic anymore. There are reasons to "live". There are reasons to pursue vitality. There are reasons for eat, sleeping, working, playing etc. Life then has meaning.

What I am saying is this: I think life loses any meaning when, given the godly right of choice, a person then gives up that right to another person who would take it. Managing ones own life is hard, but to manage the life of another is even harder. I think a fool of anybody who delights in making decisions for other people. Such a person is not a leader. A real leader will help people make decisions for themselves. Decisions that are good in substance.

That is the way to raise children. That is the way to run a business.

I think a fool of anybody who actually gives up his right to choose to another. Both the leader and the follower are fools. By walking together they will fall into a trap.

I hate people who hate people. I hate people who, under the guise of giving you a good thing, actually give you bullshit. I hate people who would give you a coat only to take away your shoes. I hate people who cannot see the emperor's nakedness. I hate the "flow" of things. I hate shit.

These things and people that I hate are my enemies. I cannot choose to entertain these life-threatening things and people. I am talking about the things that really threatens ones life. Being ignored is a threat to my life. Being misunderstood is a threat to my life. Being robbed or cheated is a threat to my life.

I've got a big sign over my heart that says "Tresspassers will be shot." Any person can endure a little fun and games but the idea of threatening my very life, my emotional well-being, is enough to provoke me to immediate and fortified retaliation. Yes, I will shoot to kill any person who threatens to end my life. I will shoot to kill any person who threaten to take the right to choose away from me.

I want to choose. I want to make my choices. I want to make good choices. My choices are my fortress. Tread carefully around my choices... you have been warned...

I have said much, but I hope you learn to choose...