Moral Compass

I think of parenting much in the same way I view God and religion. Parenting goes a little something like this: I've brought you here, now watch everything I do. Do what I do, and do everything I tell you to do. But know that everything I teach you, is because I love you and I think it's what's best, based off of my own experiences and my awareness and understanding of the experiences of others. You may not understand things now, but you will come to understand them in a later time. For now, you'll just have to trust me. If, once you have observed and learned and put into practice these things, if you do not agree it is the best way, you are "free" to accept or change or adapt these things. This is our free will. We are handed down - given and shown the will of our parents. It is then, afterwards, we impose our "free will". That it the beauty. We arrive here because someone else wanted us here. We do not arrive here by ourselves, none of us. We get here by the merging (relationship and cooperation) of X (mom gene) and Y (dad gene) and the immediate expansion of Z (each and every person in existence gene). Hence, the life equation seems to read X + Y = Z. In this logic, God would be the whole, or sum of X and Y, and we would be his Z offspring.

Everything on earth that is needed for survival, the tools and materials, it's all here, in abundance. It can be a life filled with beauty beyond belief, or endless grief and suffering. It is our job to figure out the most efficient and enjoyable way through life's maze in order to reach the end. As with any maze, some may get through it seemingly easy without many obstacles, while others get so distracted or lost or stuck. The restraints and limitations we place upon our willingness or lack therof to do certain things or behave in certain ways can prove to be a huge hinderance. But still, we all hope to cross the finish line having at least giving life our best effort. Others may sit in judgment of our best efforts because our actions do have consequences - direct, as well as indirect - and they do affect not only ourselves, but others as well. However, to this, there is only one course, and that is we must each sit in judgment of ourselves by comparing ourselves to a higher standard, and always look to discipline and better ourselves. When led by this example, it will produce magnetic effects and others will follow. It's hard to argue against a thing that makes sense and feels comprehended and acceptable. If others do not follow, there is fault in the logic and impact of words, or the actions do not speak for themselves and people will not feel safe in following.

Our words in any language are beautiful and powerful when coupled with logic, emotion, and intent. Effective communication is extremely helpful. Words, when articulated well, can carry the impact of a mass weapon. Stop saying, "don't worry about what I say", because yes I will. Stop saying, "It doesn't matter what I/you say", because yes it does. Words, language, communication - one of the 1st and most crucial things we begin learning immediately upon our arrival here on earth and continue to learn and attempt to master, right up until our last days here. Be careful and mindful of how you wield the word and the power of its mighty blow. The 1st and tiniest, yet greatest and significant component to life and it's very nature. The building blocks from which all else expands. So easily overlooked by so many!

To know a whole thing, you need to complete the whole, a cycle, meaning to say you need a starting point, and in order to know the thing completely, you need to aim towards an ending point - a start point (A), and finish point (B), if you will. In this way, you also come to know all points in between. You would essentially need to know the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the inside, the ouside, the perimeter, the base, the surrounding spaces and areas, what's present, what's not present, the highs, the lows, etc. The list can on.

So for example, if I have an apple and I tell you I wish to know everything about this apple, and you reply that it's a fruit and it's sweet. That's very nice of you to depart this information to me. Shall I esteem myself the knower of apples? Someone else comes along and says there's more! Apples have a core inside that has seeds. Have I now become the knower of apples? Someone else comes along and says there's more! Apples grow on trees and come in various colors. Am I now the knower of apples? Someone else comes along and says there's more! Apples come in different tastes and sweetness and bitterness. Am I NOW finally the knower of apples? NO! Because yet someone else comes along and says there's more! Apple trees are of this type of wood and grow best in this type of soil and you must be watchful as certain pests and insects can infest or damage your apples. Good grief man! Can I now say I'm the knower of apples!? And can you see, then, how it is meant for people to search for their entire life... always seeking out additional or new truths and facts to know and understand a thing better to it's fullest extent. And those who carry this task with intent and meaning and purpose will be the wealthiest in all matters important. They will reach the highest point of enlightenment. They will explore a matter from start to finish and while aiming to complete the cycle, they will begin anew in vast various other directions. In this way, they will have such a collection of riches that will be like no other. Others will gravitate towards them because they will be happy and willing to share their wealth with whomever in the world who wishes to understand. If they find their voice to communicate this wealth, they will become true teachers and true leaders.