Meet My Id

Id and I were in the midst of an argument. I had said "be grateful, feel blessed, things happen for a reason," and that triggered the point of no return. We'd come too far to stop now.

"There is no reason, no 'look on the bright side' argument to this," said Id. "Things happen. You're either lucky or unlucky. Stop looking for a 'goodness' reason in all things. Accidents happen because they happen."
For a moment, I had a flashback to a favorite line from the movie "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World," where Mrs. Marcus says with a know-it-all attitude "...These things happen? They only happen because this whole country is full of people who, when these things happen, they just say these things happen, and that's why they happen." That's it. Period. End of argument. Maybe for Id, it was the end of argument, but not for me.
"Yes, accidents happen because certain factors in the process of life come together at that particular moment in that particular way resulting in a particular outcome which you wish to call unfortunate. It may not be unfortunate unless you wish to make it unfortunate." I had to speak.
"Do you mean to tell me I am creating my own misfortune?" asked Id.
"In a way, yes," I said softly. I had to be gentle. My Id, much like me, is passionate about life. But we differ, my Id and I. " If you see yourself as the victim of a situation, then that's what you are. See yourself as being in that situation because you choose to be, and soon you'll see that life proceeds from your intentions for it. Life is a process of elements and factors, and the result of your thoughts about it, positive or negative, is a choice you make," I repeated.
"So, let me get this straight. I'm standing in a crowd watching a parade and a bird flying overhead drops a load and out of all the hundreds in the crowd, the crap lands on my head, and you're telling me I'm supposed to look on the bright side and be grateful because lucky me, there's got to be a good reason behind this because I just got crapped on!?" Id was mocking me.
"Precisely!" I beamed, ignoring his sarcasm. "Out of all the hundreds in the crowd, what are the chances that the bird would land a load on you!! How lucky you must be to be singled out. Imagine if that had been a gold coin that fell from the sky. Would you have considered it fortunate or unfortunate? So the point is to accept these things as a process of life, as a small piece of a larger mosaic and your struggles of fortunate and unfortunate will cease." I stood my ground.
"Accidents happen," Id mumbled.
"Yeah, but nothing happens by accident," I chuckled.

This I humbly speak.

Poetic Passion

"I'd rather spend one moment with you in the presence of God than a lifetime of being alone with wisdom." (Words of a Greek song heard at a concert)

Since God and wisdom are one and the same, in plain English " 'tis better to have loved for one moment than to not have loved at all."

Sounds better in Greek, don't you think?

Ah, the poetic passion of Greeks!
Seems the country is also bearing the brunt of their passion, be it through corruption of government or the unrealized expectations of the people.

This I humbly speak.

What is Love?

The room was noisy, the atmosphere cheerful and appetites were starved for want of food set before the delegates at the dinner buffet. The event was an end to a busy day of meeting of the minds of ladies, bishops and clergy representing their parishes.

"What is love?" asked the bishop at the dinner table. "How would you describe it?"
Ordinarily, such a universal question would create a quick and impulsive response from all genders and ages. But this was not an ordinary table. Seated was the bishop, priests, women, married with children and without, a single young girl, a young man and I.
"Love is that feeling of need, an unquenchable want for something that cannot be attained," said 'C'.
"In other words," said 'E', "unrequited love. "
"That's not unrequited love," said 'B'. "That's lust. Lust and desire, they hold on, they clutch what you have."
"Much like conditional love," said 'A'.
"Yes," said 'E'. "Conditional love is based on fear. True love cannot have conditions attached.For example, take the unconditional love of a mother toward her child."
"Uh-huh," chimed 'D'. "Love doesn't constrict. Love lets go. It shares, it soothes, it comforts."
"True," said the bishop. "So let me rephrase the question. What is perfect love?"
"Love is perfection of goodness and understanding and mercy and compassion," said 'F'.
"Love can be blind," said 'A', "and yet be perfect in the eyes of the beholder."
"How can it be perfect when blinded by love creates a false reality about whom you love and why you love?" asked 'B'.
"Love encompasses awe, mysticism." This from 'F'.
"That's stricken or smitten by love and not true and perfect love," responded 'B'.
"Love," said the bishop, "in its perfection, engages mind, body and soul in unity. It requires wisdom."
"But youth doesn't wait or know wisdom. Youth gather knowledge, pass through experiences, cherish hopes which as a rule can only later be fulfilled. So they're at a disadvantage, given your explanation," said 'C'.
"Perhaps, yes. But it's not to say that those experiences do not lend to the 'I' in you. They lend to find your bearings as an 'I' and the life of your entire being, mind, body and soul, is constantly enriched as you gain wisdom," explained 'D'.
"The older we grow, the more we begin to love the wisdom revealed by life. The more love of life wisdom increases, egoism and expectation of gaining something from our wisdom decreases, " said the bishop.
I smiled. It was my turn.

"It is the sum total. The everything. The Alpha and the Omega," said 'I'. "Love is the ultimate in selflessness of mind, body and soul."

This I humbly speak from my heart.

Meet my Soul

"I know what you're saying, " I said, "but I believe that..."
"Ok. Stop right there," said my Soul. "We can't go on with this conversation."
"Why?" I asked her.
"Because you said 'I believe,' and when you use the word 'believe,' you speak with such firm conviction it leaves no room for an exchange of ideas. Belief is beyond reproach. It digs deeply inside oneself to discern what one truly commits to."
"Then how am I supposed to express my opinion or thoughts on the subject?"
"Just like that...give your opinion. Your opinion is open to discussion because it is created on the basis of accumulated knowledge. Your belief, on the other hand, is your credo, and your credo is based on a conviction of faith. It manifests as the ultimate reality. How do you think wars were started? " she continued.
"Because of MY belief?" I asked in disbelief.
"No, not yours, but of beliefs of unshakable faith. Belief is founded in religion. Unshakable. Belief is rooted in faith, and faith almost always implies certitude even when there is no evidence or proof. So how can I have a converstaion with you when you state 'I believe?' You allow me no room for an intellectual exchange that could lend credence to either side of the conversation." She pouts.

My Soul is young. Do I tell her that religion is NOT about believing things? Do I tell her that religion is about behaving differently instead of deciding whether you believe in God or an ultimate deity? Do I tell her that the cause of our present woes is not religious but political, due in fact to religious illiteracy? I decide to let it be. Besides, I wasn't going to take a chance at starting a war!

So , this I humbly speak...... with faith.