Music, in its countless forms and rhythms, has long been celebrated for its mysterious ability to soothe troubled thoughts. It can ignite the flames of creativity and sway the deepest recesses of the human heart. Its power is double-edged. It rouses us to acts of love and connection. Yet, history reminds us that, at times, it has also been harnessed to motivate violence or discord. Much like the old adage—”show me your friends and I’ll show you who you are,” music can become a mirror. The music we choose to envelop ourselves in reflects our own inner landscape. It quietly shapes the contours of our being.
In every act and decision, a moral imperative lies. We must not only seek what is advantageous for ourselves (1 Corinthians 10:32). We should also consider the ripples our choices send into the lives of others. Too often, comparisons draw us away from self-reflection, obscuring the unseen disadvantages that quietly erode our well-being. Yet, when we ponder music’s influence, we open a door to more profound knowledge. This is an exploration of our nature as human beings. We are vessels, both physical and spiritual.
We are undeniably creatures of flesh and bone. Yet, each of us carries within a spiritual essence. It serves as a silent witness to experience. When we cultivate spiritual awareness, we become attuned to the subtle impressions. These impressions can be forces, energies, or emotions. Others may, knowingly or not, impress them upon our physical selves. Sometimes, our focus is so wholly absorbed—whether in work, art, meditation, or exercise—that the senses of touch and sound recede. They are replaced by an inner clarity. In these moments, spiritual consciousness awakens, illuminating the dance between body and soul.
Consider practicing meditation or engaging in solitary exercise. When alone, the mind’s attention turns inward. It sharpens the senses to every nuance of our environment. These include the faintest movement of air, the distant hum of music, and the thrum of our own heartbeat. In contrast, group activities draw our awareness outward. They follow the guidance of a teacher or the rhythm of their peers. Self-awareness may take a back seat to collective experience.
The type of music we invite into these sacred moments carries profound consequences for our emotional and physiological state. Gentle, melodic music can slow the pace of our heartbeat. It coaxes our bodies toward relaxation and peace. Energetic, driving rhythms may quicken our pulse. They flood us with adrenaline and anticipation. Music is not a passive background. It is an active force. It can harmonize or disrupt, depending on our state of mind and openness to experience.
When focus is deep, we are truly present. We may even sense the emotional echoes of those we love. We feel their joys or sorrows as vividly as our own. This is the mysterious communion of souls, the spiritual resonance that music can amplify. Should an unfamiliar force or wave of fatigue suddenly grip us without warning, it might signal that another soul, one dear to us, is in pain or distress. Alternatively, it could be a warning to guard ourselves against negative influences.
In moments like these, wisdom calls us to pause, to listen. To slow down or stop our activity and tend to our own well-being before moving forward. In the symphony of existence, every note matters. It is not only the notes we play for ourselves but also those that ripple outward. These notes entwine us with the world and with one another.
So, the next time music drifts through your space, take a moment to notice not just its sound, but its effect on your spirit. Does it lighten the heart or quicken the breath? Does it connect you more deeply to yourself, a past encounter, or to those around you? In such mindful listening, you find the key to understanding music’s magic. You also discover the hidden depths of your own humanity.
Notes from my spiritual journey. For further reading on our spirituality, consider obtaining a copy of my memoir, Until My Dying Day, by B. M. Lustol, published by Dorrance Publishing Company. It is available on US Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and available in eBook.
To order phone: 1800-788-7654
ISBN: 978-1-6853-7140-1
If you want to read more about spiritual connections, let me know. I would also love to share my experiences. Please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading
“She can’t even spell,” I overheard my older sister’s comment about someone. Instantly, I thought to myself how outdated my sister’s comment was. Due to spell-check, a person who was once skilled at spelling has lost that ability. That is not the only issue. Personally, I have had words changed. These changes altered the context of my response. This happened easily because I hadn’t read carefully before pressing the send button. An action that can happen to anyone.
Everything that humans create has both advantages and disadvantages.
The creation of computers and their software elevates our intellect. One can choose not to incorporate them into their lives or embrace them. This choice leads to becoming wiser in thought and a better contributor to society. It has caused a retrospective look at how the introduction of computers has transformed society.
People gained the ability to communicate more quickly. They can store photos and data electronically. Yet, this progress also introduced new risks. Pictures and files, intended to support creativity and environmental sustainability, became tools for misuse—identity theft and corporate data breaches became all too common.
Some people have lost not only the ability to spell correctly and even carry on a conversation, but also their lives to cyberbullying. Questions arose about the adequacy of laws to protect individuals from these new forms of harm.
Having a computer allows us to be more engaged, as it both teaches and entertains us. Nonetheless, social media networks rely on an attention-oriented business model. This often cheapens, coarsens, and corrodes human connection on the internet. Computer and phones have become an integral part of our world, to the extent that we no longer need to leave our homes. Friends and family members have become distant in our lives, as most of our time is spent online.
Culture, Ethics, and the Law
Society’s relentless drive to be first pushes it to pursue profit. This behavior encourages the celebration of shortcuts. Sometimes, this happens at the expense of ethics. Hackers are stealing company information at a high cost to retrieve. Gaining access to individuals’ computers and disrupting their lives. Sending out email viruses that corrupt computers. These are not issues caused solely by computers, but by human behavior. Addressing the problem requires more than technical solutions; implementing stronger laws is also necessary.
With artificial intelligence now integrated deeply into daily life, there is a need to revisit and revise legal frameworks, drawing from real experiences to ensure justice for victims of digital abuse.
A recent headline brought back memories of a problematic site. This issue led me to remove my account. The title of the person’s book was the same as mine. I realized I should have investigated further after looking at this article, but I neglected to do so.
The Washington Post published an article by Will Oremus. It reported on the unauthorized use of millions of books by AI technologies. This issue is sparking lawsuits and legislative hearings.
Authors like David Baldacci testified about witnessing his son’s use of ChatGPT. His son used it to craft a plot in the style of a David Baldacci novel. In his own words, this is what he told U.S. senators at a hearing on July 19, 2025, regarding artificial intelligence and copyright. “Within five seconds, the chatbox spat out a pastiche of characters, settings, and plot twists that were uncannily familiar.”
Is AI now being used to inject criminal activity into people’s lives? It rapidly generates imitations of others’ literary styles. This underscores urgent calls for changes to copyright rules.
The Impact of Injustice
Life is meant to be enjoyed by everyone. However, many struggle against injustices. These are perpetrated by those already in positions of comfort and wealth. A lack of appreciation for fairness and justice exposes the allegiances of those who resist change.
Corruption and conflict persist because some individuals within influential institutions permit wrongdoing, allowing it to remain hidden and unaddressed. This perpetuates a culture of imitation—”Monkey see, monkey do”—where poor conduct spreads.
The Roots of Conflict
I have found that with most new products introduced into society, laws to protect the public are often considered last. They are only prioritized until a disastrous event occurs. The economy needs more jobs that cater to cybersecurity-related issues. Without such openings, the country will continue to experience more corruption that will not be easily fixed. At the heart of disputes—whether between individuals or nations—lies a failure of communication. Victims of digital abuse must speak up to help others. This will alert lawmakers to what is really happening. They can then implement laws that protect victims.
Not having devices protected with proper security software will give hackers easier access to your data. Get protection.
Put a sticker with your location on your phone. Make sure you have a hard copy of your phone’s information and passwords. I recently lost my phone, and felt as though a part of me was missing. Although my address was on it, the dishonest person has not mailed it. They have also not returned it to the lost and found department at the location.
If you’re single and living alone, consider getting some security for your apartment or home. Those who have entered my unit illegally victimize me. I fight daily to keep my sanity from deliberate actions that test my mental state.
The Erosion of Sanctuary
Homes, once sanctuaries of peace, have become battlegrounds for those whose privacy and digital lives have been violated. The fight extends to resisting psychological harm and spiritual warfare, as victims strive to preserve their well-being and sanity. The realization that material wealth carries no value beyond death remains elusive for many.
The True Power of Goodness
Power is meaningless without a sense of spirit and purpose. By choosing to do good, individuals can offer hope to those who are struggling, finding meaning in each new day. We are humans, far more intelligent than animals, and even they protect their pack. As a society, we need to look out for one another. This creates a better environment where we can all strive. It allows us to enjoy life.
Lately, with the development of new and improved software, I ask: Do we really need it? Or do we need to become better equipped at using what is already available? I’d like to hear your thoughts. Leave your comment below.
Kathy. “What is RPIE? You keep mentioning the word I don’t understand.”
Explanation was given as the conversation continued. A few sentences later, Kathy once again asks what the meaning of RPIE is.
Me. “What the fish-sticks? I just explained to you what the acronym means, and here you go again asking the question. It means Report of Property Income and Expenses. A curse word used before continuing the conversation.
I have been under stress for years. Due to this fatigue, I have become suspicious of many. During conversations, I often dismiss questions because I’m too tired to investigate the meaning behind the person’s words, and I feel agitated when I constantly must explain myself to others.
Let me tell you about 1Kathy. Kathy tries to hide the fact that she has a hearing loss, and becomes agitated when someone tries to explain themselves for understanding. Therefore, in a person’s attempt to justify themselves from her concluded thought, she becomes annoyed.
The difference between Kathy and me. Kathy has hearing loss, which does not allow her to hear all words spoken. If indeed she has, words heard differently alter the context of a sentence, giving a different perception of what was said.
In my case, my hearing is subjective. There is a constant sound, and it is only more dominant when in a quiet surrounding. My hearing is very sharp, allowing me to hear other sounds around that Kathy is unable to hear. This is not always obstructive, but rather productive, allowing me an evaluation of my surroundings.
The Bible book of James advises us to be quick to listen, slow to speak; an action that still applies today. However, not by some due to many life-altering factors.
Listening is so essential, yet an often-overlooked skill in business activities and social interaction. Even though 70% of our waking hours involve communication—among writing, reading, and talking—40% contributes to listening. Listening effectively can reduce stress, tension, and the interjection of personal thoughts from the perception of others’ lack of knowledge.
The ear is the most complex and compact part of the body and is the third most common illness that destroys a person’s life. Stroke is number one, followed by insomnia.
Approximately 50 million US adults have experienced tinnitus and suffer from hearing loss, in addition to millions around the world.
With millions of people suffering from or reporting hearing loss, only one in five who could benefit from a hearing aid uses one. They make sounds louder and often clearer, but not always. A person wears them for as long as required per day, with the recommendation not exceeding eight hours. Since they are battery—operated, they need to be changed every four hours.
There is no cure for tinnitus. The mechanisms prolonging the condition are unknown. The severity and persistence of tinnitus can range from short-term occurrences with no consequences to a chronic and life-interfering condition associated with stress, insomnia, depression, irritation, and suicide
THE COST FANOMAL
Hearing aids are expensive, ranging from $ 6,000 to $1,800, depending on the type of hearing aid you prefer. There are, however, hearing aids to fit and suit a person’s lifestyle, and there is some financial assistance, but with the government assistance, there is still an out-of-pocket, costly expense.
Types of hearing aids. Photo by Jesutobiloba Precious on Pexels.com
In every country across the globe, as communications are distorted, the cost effect is growing among nations to stop or prevent further conflicts.
Statistics indicate that in 2013, 4.6 million Canadians aged 20–79 were estimated to have hearing loss, which affected their ability to hear everyday speech. This was determined by their audiometric test, which revealed a pure-tone average (PTA) across the four speech frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) of greater than 25 dB. Measured hearing loss rose sharply after age 40, and this number is likely to increase substantially due to our advanced technologies that are seeing more than average time use of cell phones, loud noise of all sorts, and electronic frequencies from the atmosphere, in the coming decades.
The population 65 years and older—the age range most likely to have hearing loss—is projected to double from 10.4 million to 5 million by 2036. However, this estimate may be wishful thinking, as the level of surrounding noises has increased.
A released report, dated August 15, 2018, highlights the effects of excessive workplace noise, which contributes to elevated blood pressure, sleep disturbances, stress, and noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus, and other unfavorable health conditions, making Canadians particularly vulnerable.
An estimated 22.4 million US workers report that in their current jobs, they must raise their voices to be heard. Approximately 50 million US adults experienced tinnitus in the past year of this report, and 16 million had it almost all the time. Those who had experienced tinnitus during their lifetime amounted to 11.5 million.
THE STORY
I suffer from subjective (tinnitus) hearing loss that started in my late 50s and occasionally use a hearing aid. It started one night when I woke up to go to the bathroom, unable to move off the bed, and stopped due to the spinning effect of my entire surroundings. I called my niece, who advised me against making any attempts, as I might fall and cause further harm to myself. Later that day, as morning arrived, I called for the ambulance as I was still feeling a spinning effect. By the time the ambulance arrived, I was able to walk, but still had a spinning sensation. After a very long wait in the emergency room, where the nurses occasionally checked on me, the doctor could only suggest that perhaps it was from water in the ear. I was given a few pills, and one to take home in the event the sensation should occur again. It never did, but the noise in my ear continues to this day.
I have taken medication to cure the symptoms that did not work, to complementary therapy that helped relax my body, to a hearing aid that I worked with to allow me time to rest, which was worse, as the sound, although soothing, made it more difficult to sleep since I also suffer from insomnia.
Earlier, I mentioned that one in five would benefit from a hearing aid, and from my experience, I can only guess the reason. First, it takes time to get used to. Secondly, you must keep getting the sound adjusted to the right frequency suited to your level of comfort. In my case, because the sound is only in one ear, loud noises affected me, although the hearing aid assisted in balancing the intake of noises. When it comes to communication, I often miss out on words spoken, so I prefer not to wear them in a crowded room of people.
RECOMMENDATION
Categories of hearing loss are difficulty hearing soft sounds (threshold) that some can listen to:
Mild hearing loss 26-40 dB
Moderate hearing loss 41-70 dB
Severe hearing loss 71-90 dB
Profound hearing loss, greater than 71-90 dB.
In my experience, although the test showed Moderate hearing loss. I find that my hearing remains very sharp. I could be having a conversation on the phone and would hear a click sound as someone hangs up. When the party member is questioned, if they heard the click. The answer is always, “No.” Even in crowded rooms, compared to others who don’t have this condition, my hearing is quite sharp.
Therefore, should you start to suffer from tinnitus, be sure to have a qualified practitioner examine you. Those I have seen have been more inclined towards getting a hearing aid, which, as I mentioned earlier, only one in five people benefit from.
TREATMENT
While there is an emerging technological treatment on the horizon. The realistic goal of treating chronic Subjective tinnitus is management.
The basic education—a doctor must take the time to explain what tinnitus is entirely, what causes it, and how to manage it, as there is no cure for this symptom; in some, it comes and remains a lifetime; its debilitating effect is on one’s quality of life. For others, it’s just a memory from an experience. Some management suggestions taken from The Ear Book – A Complete Guide to Ear Disorders and Health by Thomas J. Balkany and Kevin D. Brown are:
Sleep is essential for overall health.
Diet. Caffeine, alcohol, and smoking make tinnitus worse.
Sound therapy. Sound therapy uses external sources of sound to reduce the severity of tinnitus.
They should be reserved for cases where the basic methods are not effective alone.
Counseling and Psychotherapy. Because tinnitus is involved with anxiety, depression, suicide (rare but does occur), and insomnia, these issues must be dealt with directly when they are severe.
Complementary Therapy. Treatments include: massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, medication, hypnosis, to name a few. When therapy is successful, they all have one common element: a reduction of stress and an improvement in well-being.
Bimodal Neuromodulation, which combines sound and electrical stimulation, is a promising approach in the field. It involves using two different stimuli, sound and mild electrical pulses, to retrain the brain’s auditory and somatosensory pathways, potentially reducing tinnitus perception and distress. A future interest of treatment.
If you haven’t seen the movie Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts, you should. That movie showed a glimpse of what a person under stress is capable of. A woman with three children, already in a stressful situation, became irritated by her neighbor’s motorcycle noise and shouted at him, acting as if she had lost her mind.
From my experience and observation, I see the future with more people at an earlier age assessed with hearing loss. This is due to loud external noises and one’s inability to control their personal enjoyment level of sound.
So, the next time someone is finding it challenging to understand you, take a moment to assess the situation before becoming agitated. Perhaps they are experiencing a loss of hearing. Further, if a simple question leads someone to become defensive, it may be a sign that they are dealing with a lot of stressful situations, compounded by sleepless nights. Take a moment to pause before responding.
What the world needs at this time is love, kindness, and understanding to be expressed by everyone.
This post is from personal experience and observation. I hope to enlighten some with my experience, knowledge, and recommendation of The Ear Book.
If you find this post resonated with you, I would like to hear your experience. Thanks.
I stepped out onto the balcony on Thursday morning, June 26, for some fresh air. Although the air may feel fresh due to recycling, the construction surrounding the building has compromised the air quality. An object caught my eye hanging on the mesh around the balcony. A moment’s thought told me it must have been very windy to have blown the object from the road below onto my balcony’s mesh. I looked around me before taking a picture. I returned to the living room, and a past memory emerged having to do with a renter of ours who was having trouble with the neighbor beside her.
The day was likened to this day, but without the rainfall. Due to complaints about the neighbor’s mischief, I was there to take pictures of the premises, as I was doing so, she pointed to a heap of garbage.
“You see that, it’s him done that. He always throws his garbage on my side. Sometimes the garbage bin is thrown on my side. And you see the heap of wood and boxes he has there. For weeks, it has been sitting there.”
I called her name. “It is a windy day, and it is done by the wind.” She laughs. “Further,” I continued. “I called and left a message on his phone requesting that he remove the garbage. The pictures will show that he has not followed through with the Landlord’s request.”
“You all think I am stupid. You’re coming to tell me the wind did this, when I am telling you what I witnessed the man do often when he comes home from work is to throw his garbage on my side.”
I called her name. “I can understand your anger. I have been going through a very similar frustration with one of my next-door neighbors. So, I understand. The devil is evil and uses others to further frustrate our plans and disrupt our peace. As lovers of God, we must exercise patience.”
“I have been exercising patience for a very long time. I am tired, and you people seem to be afraid of him.”
“No,” I said. “Everything we are doing involves the law. Therefore, I must wait on the process.” I then explained to her what I had done so far, bringing her up to date on the situation.
Our conversation took her memory to bible scriptures, as I mentioned a few that helped calm her emotions.
As I have mentioned earlier, the devil, the ruler of this system, has many under his control. Without exercising self-control and awareness daily, our plans are frustrated by those who use them against us, as they also take away the peace of many.
There is a reason God has preserved his gift down to today. Throughout centuries of wars, his gift has not been destroyed. This gift is his word. Throughout history, the study of it has caused many to become clearer the responsibility of His servants, our authentic genealogy, and a clearer understanding of our fight.
The inclination to do wrong from conception to being born, if not trained in the way of God’s word, will move youths to follow the actions of a wayward crowd into adulthood with actions much worse than in their teenage lives.
The world we live in is much more advanced in knowledge, but we are still in need of help from a higher source; we must seek it. Here’s why?
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
In recent times, living alone has become increasingly popular among young and middle-aged adults of both sexes, often following a separation from a romantic relationship or a divorce. For some individuals, living alone is seen as a transitional situation before forming a family; for others, it was not necessarily planned or desired, but occurred because of circumstances. Others see it as a preferred way of life.
While some are forced into a life of seclusion, too weak to fight the ones used by Satan, which has caused them shame and lost friendships with those who lack the truth of their situation. Each day, behind closed doors, they fight to maintain a sense of balance.
As much as isolation has an advantage in allowing the one there to appreciate all that can be heard or seen, tasted, felt, or smelled, as the individual experiences growth in all aspects of being, isolation has a disadvantage.
The disadvantage isolation causes is delusion. A mental misconception or faulty reasoning in a pathological sense. It is a fake impression or opinion symptomatic of a mental disorder. However, as much as this is true. An individual assessment must take into consideration his or her environment and lifestyle.
Let’s go back to the renter’s situation. The individual known, do not take drugs or smoke, but inhales second-hand marijuana smoke from the neighbor, that has been affecting her. However, that truth alone needs evidence of whether prescription medications are being taken that may or may not be producing the mental disorder. A mental disorder in the logical evaluation of a situation.
No disorder occurs overnight. It is caused by stress from dealing with unexplained situations, distrust in others who have disappointed, and the fragility of one’s mind to balance delusional thoughts with observed actions and heard speech.
Now, looking at my situation. Unlike the renter, I live in an apartment unit. The neighbors on both sides and above are seen to be in some conspiracy against me. However, actions seen are blamed on one due to their reactions to my actions. My actions are not directed towards him; I adjust my music volume for my own enjoyment, and the walls are banged on. I go out to the balcony if he is there, he would call all the names from the alphabet to abuse or insult me. I am human, just like him—I would think, with feelings of stress that come from situations I must handle. Therefore, I cannot always remain silent. I must express myself to be heard or in deeds to have my truths known. This is needed by everyone, especially when actions are being done by the perpetrator that are not seen or heard by others.
TO OVERCOME
When the word demon is used, it is in the context of wicked deeds. Satan, the god of this system, is a demon, one consumed with actions of how to manipulate others to see them suffer. He is delighted when he finds a follower who will do his dirty work. Therefore, the victims of those wicked must be mentally strong; the only way to accomplish this is not giving room for negative thoughts; by constantly filling our minds with positive written self-help books, motivational cassettes, and God’s word, with vigilant prayers, we can overcome those who are wicked in their deeds.
As men scheme a plan. God has worked a plan.
As victims stay within the Word, God will make the pathway bright. So that we who have our eyes open in faith can see clearly his objective in allowing the wicked one to excel in their wickedness.
My growth, your growth, our growth depends on having patience with each other, as we add to our faith endurance for God’s plan to be realized.
MENTAL MANIPULATION
As mentioned earlier, I have been dealing with stressful situations for quite some time. I have lost friends whom I trusted, and my family members are distant. Those who enter my life are allowed to be themselves, as I get to know them through our communications.
Recently, I lost my phone. To make a long story short, I communicated with the lost and found at Union Station and their customer service department at the head office. The day the phone was lost and subsequently picked up by someone dishonest about returning lost property was Sunday, July 6, 2025.
On Monday, July 7th, I returned to the lost and found and was informed my phone had not yet been turned in.
On Tuesday, July 8th, I decided to gather all the evidence I would need to discuss my case with the investigating department. I gathered the ticket that was purchased for my destination on the day of my loss, the receipt for the temporary phone purchased, and reviewed my bank statement for the ticket purchase. “What is this. Why is this date incorrect?” Questions I asked myself.
Some of us are born with a sixth sense, called intuition, that never leads astray the one trusting. Sometimes when we go against it, it is like shoving aside God’s word that protects us from harm.
Although my suspicion of some people is extreme, I tend to indulge to find out their intentions. Their disappointed actions and concluded thoughts in the end only prove to me who I see them to be.
People in authority whom we trust to exercise justice are not always doing so; this is why many distrust the systems run by some. As the days, months, and years move forward, our lives will be in a delusion if we don’t keep our eyes open on that which concerns us, and ears open around our environment to detect any impending harm.
As I write this post, the same is occurring in the lives of others. Tenants’ and neighboring occupants’ actions that cause mental disorder. Situations that stress some to the point of mental insanity. And on top of dealing with those working for people in high places, some of us must deal with our own people, who society has taken from us due to their manipulation and lies; they themselves are too weak to fight, allowing the wicked to control their very souls.
STATSTICS
Statistics have shown that the intention to form a union among the population living alone between the ages of 34 and 64 has grown since the 2017 survey.
Men aged 34 and higher in common-law grew from 45.3 to 50.8, and for those much older, from 18.2 to 24.9.
Women in the same bracket as above grew from 11.0 to 16.2, and much older from 22.0 to 25.7.
In the age bracket of 65 and older, men in common-law grew from 66.0 to 78.5, and much older from 2.5 to 6.7.
Women in the same bracket as above grew from 0.7 to 1.9, and those much older, from 62.7 to 77.6.
Still today, the commitment from some to form a marriage union is about the same. This is due to many factors at play preventing some from making that commitment. Financial health, physical wellness, and various physical attributes. Further, as people age, they recognize the need for mental depth in their relationships; without this, they tend to prefer living alone.
Married or single, life is what we make of it. There will always be obstacles in the way that must be dealt with, and although at times having another to assist is helpful, the stress in today’s world of keeping it all together is painful and can lead to a messy divorce or back to being single.
For further reading, I will close with a scripture that applies to both men and women, I hope will assist—1 Corinthians 7:17-40—in your decision, whatever it may be.
Thanks for reading. If this post resonates with you, be sure to leave your comment.
Decisions are likened to the variety of fruits our creator has provided. Decisions placed before our eyes that our palette craves, we must make a decision. There are ever-ending actions we must make each day.
Remember when you were a child and your mom or dad took you to the store or the market? Depending on where you grew up, it would be to the mall. Where I am from, the grocery store or the market never had the Super in front of it. Over here, it’s called the supermarket, I would think, because of the vast space and the fact that within it, a person could get lost.
When you are a child, you never think of where the money comes from if you get what you want. I was different, and still am in my late years. I never did ask and was often surprised when what I desired was bought for me. Deep within my subconscious mind, I felt that if they could afford it, I would get it, so I never put my mom or dad in an embarrassing situation to say they could not afford to buy what I wanted.
I can recall my first cycle, which my late sister Patsy had bought for me. In those days, owning a bike was a big deal. Oh, how I cherished that cycle. The funny thing is, I don’t know what became of it. It was there for a season and a reason.
From childhood to adulthood, at some point, we must make the decision to move from our parents’ home into our own or an apartment, get that education we wanted that will come at a cost, get that car or motorcycle we desire, or do some things that make us happy that we have accomplished on our own (not for some). We sit back and, for a time, enjoy the fruit of our labor and accomplishment. As life goes on, there is another decision to make.
Decisions are the results of living in mediocrity or basking in wealth.
It matters not where we are in life. What matters is how we use what is available to us. Some of us live in countries where access to wealth can be accomplished easily, yet daily lack of appreciation is seen by actions of a few who take what is not theirs and expect to be handed what they have not toiled for. Be mindful that I am not judging anyone; every action has a reaction. And I don’t know what has happened in a person’s life whose actions taken towards another are unfair and unjust. However, I do know that if we seek, we will find. If we knock a door someone will open, and if we ask, it will be given. Therefore, some in need can avoid unfair actions and do the right thing, unlike what I saw on my way home a few weeks ago. I exited the subway and onto the streets to catch the bus to my destination. It was waiting at the stop.
The traffic lights soon turned green, allowing pedestrians to cross. I hurried to the bus as the driver exited. Apparently, he had not long gotten there when I exited the train station. I boarded the bus and took a seat. Soon after, others started to enter. Everyone was minding their business when suddenly a commotion was heard. All eyes darted to the front of the bus as someone shouted, “No, no.” A loud noise is then heard as someone was hit and fell. Seen running from the scene is a young fellow in a hooded outfit. A presumptuous teen who, in the light of day, tried to steal another’s belongings. When the young man got up, he was severely bleeding from the nose.
Could the attempted thief avoid his action, which may see him behind bars for assault? Self-control is so needed in our daily lives. This brings me to another point of decision-making.
Sometimes our want is not our need. My mother always told me never to put my hat where I could not reach it. In this saying, she meant, do not reach for that which is not attainable. Spend within your means, or from what you have.
Recently, I attended many Zoom meetings that involved building the life one wants to see oneself in. In addition to being encouraged mentally by the many guest speakers and the special offers to purchase their products, a decision had to be made immediately to acquire the offer at its cost. I had to decline.
In the next few days, I will receive emails with lower costs. As tempting as the deal was, I had a few questions to answer as I assessed my current economic situation. Landlords were evicting tenants for their own reasons, and many were protesting against unfair actions.
Did I have at least six months ‘ rent in an unforeseen circumstance?
Technology is now progressing on our computers with AI and Copilot; do I need the offer, or is it just a want?
If I spend the currency for the offer, how am I replacing it? Replacement will be more costly now than when I saved it.
If I accept the terms of the new offer, who is to tell the company will not pull the plug on the usage of the software once a payment or two is missed? These were questions that needed an honest answer.
I have witnessed plans made in good faith sometimes fail due to unforeseen circumstances. We are living in a world where privacy is no longer our own. Due to the invasion of our technical gadgets, which are unknown to us, our lives are guided by the wise. Therefore, careful thought must be given before a purchase that may eventually put you in financial stress; it should be given careful consideration.
In the eyes of each one, the decision made is in his or her best interest. But is it? The bible states Jeremiah’s acknowledgement that to earthling it does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step. Jeremiah 10:23. Therefore, before making decisions, give prayerful thought to the one who sees ahead of us with complete trust that he will direct your steps in what is best for you.
Keep in mind, a simple life, having what is needed, is the best way of living.
Money depletes with expenses.
A Home eventually decays and requires repairs.
Technology, man will never be able to keep up with its changes.
Wealth is taken from a man by a thief or natural disasters.
Death leaves everything we struggled for behind.
Therefore, live with appreciation, and spend within your financial budget. Stop taking what is not yours or harming others because of your greed. Stop finding reasons to discredit others. Grow up. Jealousy and covetousness belong to thieves and those who think less of themselves.
Appreciate what you have, create from what and where you are. Applaud those gifted to entertain, educate, and enlighten; in doing so, you will have the knowledge to gain wealth.
I will end this post with a quote: “We are all visitors to this place at this time. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, learn, grow, love, and then return home.” –Aboriginal Proverb.
Thank you for reading. If you enjoy this post, leave a comment.
It was a very tiring day. I saw the destruction of some through my own personal experience, and due to technology and science, the meaning of failure came to mind.
Failure, in my opinion, is just another opportunity to succeed at our best. The journey of learning never ends. Failure isn’t defeat unless we allow it to define us. Every situation in life comes to teach us something. It is up to each one to look for the question being asked or the answer being given. When the question or answer is ascertained, we can go forward with enlightenment in achieving our goal or handling a situation.
Understanding the difficulties life throws at you when you are consumed with matters that require your attention daily, especially when working for others, is challenging. Unless time is taken to relax and reflect, putting the pieces together is like being mentally confused about finding your way out or how to solve the issue.
When we distance ourselves from an issue, understanding comes. Sometimes, the difficulties others cause in our lives are the only way they know how to communicate. Is it out of love, hate, or confusion? This is the question we must ask ourselves when facing a problem; most of the time, the answer is found.
The question, “Is it me?” is irrelevant. Of course, it is you. Now, whatever issues are being filtered within their thoughts, your interruption, presence, or question is a twist in mental navigation that the person would rather avoid, as their trend of thought is to accomplish a goal of their own or one of the force’s intentions.
In the world we live in today, everyone wants to be seen more than those wanting to be heard. The fact that they want to be seen is what needs to be kept in mind so as not to embarrass oneself in public by reacting to their actions, whatever that may be. If a reaction is required, do so with respect that shows your own.
I want to give you an idea of the day that was so mentally tiring.
I had an exam scheduled for a specific time. I woke up on time to take the transit into an area I was not familiar with. Exiting the building and heading towards the main street, I first noticed a fellow with a camera. I am very shy and hate drawing attention to myself. Again, the world today doesn’t ask if they can take a picture; they take one anyway to use as they please and hope not to be caught. I quickly walked past, giving the gentleman a good morning smile. When I got to the main street, the bus arrived. I boarded, tapped my card, and was driven to the subway station to catch a train.
Finally, in the area, I asked for directions. I repeated the bus number and was told that it was correct. After letting the driver know where I was going, I hopped onto the bus with the number given.
Minutes later, he pulled away and stopped to chat with a co-worker. Everyone on the bus was then told to take the other. However, before getting off, I inquired if the other driver was going my way. “Yes, he is.” I thanked him and boarded the other bus. In about ten minutes, I thought he pulled away from the station on the way to my destination. When I finally got up to ask how long I would be at my destination, I was told I was on the wrong bus. After a briefing about my disappointment, I exited with instructions. Fortunately, I returned to ask the young man sitting in the bus shed if he could call a cab. After briefly explaining my situation, I was told a bus would arrive shortly and take me to my destination. The bus came, we got in, and I was driven to the wrong campus.
What was supposed to be a peaceful day, with the anticipation of completing my exam and finally relaxing, turned into a series of unexpected challenges and frustrations.
A bus was seen waiting at the stop when I got out of the building, so I began to run, only to find out the driver was not there. I took out my phone and checked the map’s direction; it would take me about 40 mins. Time was not going to be on my side. So, the student who came onto the bus earlier, I asked if he had the Uber app on his phone so he could call me a cab. As he was about to do so, the bus driver arrived. In a panic, I asked if she could give me just one minute after briefly explaining my situation. “No problem, go ahead.” I rushed back to the young man and told him to tell the driver where I’d be standing. “It will be twelve dollars and change,” he said.
“No problem,” I responded as I rushed to get off the bus so as not to inconvenience the driver. “Thank you,” I said, now off the bus as she closed the door and pulled off.
I am standing there waiting in a panic, sweat running down my face. “Darn wig, I am so hot,” I echoed within thought. “I should have had my hair done.” The phone started to ring. It was the cab driver who did not see me. I waved my hand as I spoke to him on a second call. I got into the cab and told him where I wanted to go. I briefly explained my situation and the importance of getting to the location on time.
The phone started to ring. “Hello,” I answered.
“This is….” He gave his name and reminded me about the cost, letting me know he paid and how to get the funds to him.
“I am so sorry. Thank you so much. I was thinking that I would be paying the cab driver instead. I am so sorry.”
“No problem. I’ll send you the information.”
“Really, I am sorry, and thank you so much.”
In trying to get the information put into my bank’s request, I had a problem. My mind was now in chaos, and my thoughts were another. “What time do you have?” I asked, then responded, “Could you please hurry? That will be good if I arrive at least five minutes before the time.” While I tried to key in the information again, I was still experiencing a problem. At this point, I was frustrated and wanted to give up. The driver stopped the cab.
“We are here, thank you.” I took five dollars from my pants pocket, got out of the cab, and began to walk and run into the building. I didn’t know where I was going, so I stopped to ask the girl at the desk, who pointed as she spoke about where I needed to go.
In a state of panic, I began to walk and run. I made one turn and then another, only to find the door closed. My Heart sank. I moved to another open door, only to find the room filled with seated students. “I am so sorry,” I said as I walked in, feeling nervous, sweating, and completely out of breath.
“May I have your ID?” she asked.
“Sure!” I fished it out of my pants pocket and handed it to her. After filling out the information on the form, I was instructed where to put my belongings. She assisted me in filling out the top sheet I needed to hand in. I thanked her and walked briskly towards the back of the room, put down my backpack, and returned to where she was. I took my seat, feeling like I was having an out-of-body experience. My body was trembling, and so were my hands when I went to pick up the pencil. “I am so nervous.”
“I know,” she said. “Relax, breathe in and out. You will be fine.”
It was easy for her to say, but what I was experiencing was far from being mentally relaxed. Moments into the exam, I was interrupted as I read the question for understanding. I looked up at the teacher, a bit angry, as I was honestly trying to calm my thoughts.
“You need to be quiet,” she whispers.
I nodded in agreement with the thought. Are you kidding me? It was as if the force had opened her ear channel wider for sounds. It never ends everywhere I go. At that moment, it was as if a window to my mind had just opened, and all the information I had stored from studying night and day had gone with the wind.
I looked down at the paper in front of me, and the last thing I needed was to be reading someone else’s story to give them an answer. I wanted to leave the room, especially when my calculator was not giving me what I was looking for. Still, some unknown force kept me seated as I read each question, forcing my mind to recall what I had studied. As the teacher called attention to the time remaining, I became restless, not knowing if I’d be able to finish all the questions. “Close your eyes and pick an answer,” I recall the coach saying during one of my pre-study classes; the action I took when the teacher announced, “You have two more minutes.”
One part was over.
I returned to the room, and the students were seated before me. Again, I was seen as the one late when I arrived this time, five minutes before the start. Once again, I was asked for my ID. I knew it was placed in my pant pocket, but I would not find my ID until the end of class, doing another search through the cards in my pockets.
“I knew you had it; that’s why I told you not to bother. Just take a seat.”
This was the end of my day. I was hungry, having not eaten all day, mentally drained from navigating my thoughts, and aware that my return home would not be peaceful.
I would like to conclude by saying the willingness to learn is a choice we are all given. Each day provides us with signs or shows us situations of others; take from what is seen and shown, and inculcate the good points into your lives for advancement. The ability to learn is a skill, wrote Brian Herbert. Indeed, it is.
Therefore, don’t give up on yourself; nurture your mind with others’ knowledge through their experiences. The good book states that knowledge is for protection. The more we learn, the better we handle situations and wicked people. Besides, man’s wrath does not work out God’s righteousness. –James 1:20.
Therefore, as you move forward, remember each letter in the word failure, which will guide your reaction to actions.
F— FACTS needed to be recalled that must be,
A— ADDED to memory. So, take a bit of time to meditate.
I— INFORMATION, is key, we need to have it and to retain.
L— LEARNING any new skill takes time for…
U— UNDERSTANDING how to navigate life’s unforeseen circumstances, composed of twists and turns we must go through to get to our destination. And when we become overwhelmed by a situation,
R— REMEMBER, relax by breathing in and out for calm and clarity when handling each twist and turn. For…
E— EACH turn on the road travel will leave experiences that add to our happiness.
Further, failure is another opportunity to move forward from past defeats. Mastering any task requires time, dedication, and focus; we must remember this. Rome was not built in a day, nor were dreams realized overnight.
“’Truly I say to you, unless you turn around and become as young children, you will not enter into the kingdom of the Heavens. You must be humble like a child.’”” Jesus said, to be humble just as a child. -Matthew 18:3-4.
Children are known to be curious. Curiosity is a good thing. It will motivate us to discover what is concealed behind an object, an appearance, or something said. They will move the object to uncover what is hidden. They will also question you until their desire to know is satisfied.
The other day I was on YouTube and came across a title of a podcast “Before Sucking a Vagina. Many do not know this! Wise advice from a 76-year-old elderly.” A message from Dr. Maya Angelo.
My curiosity moved me to touch play to hear what the content is all about. Now I am no expert on sex. However, I do know the desire of a woman, being one. When a woman is emotionally satisfied there is an inner peace that nothing can disrupt her sense of self-worth. She glows and flows with energy, creativity, positivity, joy, and kindness.
I positioned myself comfortably, put on the headphones and gave full attention to the podcast. Only to find out that the details covered my sister Patsy’s life in concluded observation of a suffered woman.
Violence comes from a dark place someone had no choice but to accept. Yes. Accepted because those in authority did not see clearly. They were blind sighted by the clever manipulation of the victim’s life. The victim was abandoned by loved ones, not of her own choosing. Unnurtured or misunderstood emotions can lead to reckless actions that hurt those with genuine love. If only the wicked one eventually recognizes their evil thoughts and malevolent actions, they may repent and cease their misdeeds. However, drugs and alcohol blind many individuals’ awareness of their weaknesses and flaws.
While packing away my sister’s history, I found her hidden shame of secrets. This hidden until the end. A woman talked much of others. She mostly spoke about her family mistakes and wants. It’s often said that when you point a finger, there’s nine pointing back at you. She had her own nine hidden mistakes and needs she concealed. She hid behind these while pretending to be emotionally strong and doing it all. When in fact, she was at death’s door. She being assisted by those who claimed to love her, but wanted her downfall. I am now understanding subtle words used during our conversations. How could someone be so cruel?
Patsy lived with a man who kept her emotionally trapped by his verbal abuse. He physically controlled her with his mental manipulation.
They both had many fools, making this statement to be truthful: What a fool sees or hears, a fool believes.
Earl’s family letters to him about my sister’s attitude painted a different picture of the person behind closed doors. And Patsy’s letters to Earl painted him differently to those who knew him in public. However, court documents and pictures tell the truth of the secrets held behind closed doors.
Help can only be given when someone asks. If they don’t ask, speaking on what is observed can make people defensive. Persistence may cause a breakdown of friendship or family closeness.
FACTS
Neuroscience is associated with our brain and nervous system. When the body does not receive the physical care it desires, a person becomes dissatisfied. If the mental state is threatened by external circumstances, they may also feel distressed. Such individuals are more prone to negative emotions such as anger, guilt, and depression.
It also supports the truth that when a person’s emotional safety is threatened, the body shifts into a protected state. This could be caused by criticism, a raised voice, or constant interruption during conversation, making physical closeness even harder. This is not because closeness is not needed; it is because the body is too guarded to receive it.
EMOTIONAL PAIN SEPARATES
My sister had experienced so much pain. She declined to give her attention to those she should have focused on, even in her time of need. I remember, one of her workers said, “Your sister wants to love you (he meant me. I was visiting at the time), but you will not let her.” Yes, she had become so emotionally difficult. I could not see a way to make her understand my wanting to be close. It was not for financial reasons. She knows from a youthful age I worked side by side with her, and that my independence fulfilled my values.
Her sense of self was shattered. She felt misunderstood and so closed off her emotional connection.
When a person is understood, the heart begins to open again. When the heart is open, physical closeness flows. It happens not out of obligation but as a natural confession of trust and emotional warmth.
Violence can be verbal or physical. Whether it comes from a woman or a man, it puts a veil between your desire and your need. The reason many choose to be single.
If you have been hurt during childhood or as an adult from physical or emotional abuse, consider your situation in this way. Life’s journey is like a winding road. It leads to self-discovery of beautiful experiences or regretful ones. Either way, you are now wiser because of the experiences given.
However, before coming to awareness others will hurt you from words thrown into actions done. You will have many days of emotions that will want you to give up, but you must be strong. I have been there. Do not satisfy the wicked ones attempt to move you to self-destruction. Try to reach out to others for support. It will be difficult, trust me. When there is an abundance of [experience] wisdom, there is an abundance of vexation. He that increases in knowledge also increases in pain. -Ecclesiastes1:18.
At the time of Jesus’ crucifixion his last words before he expired was, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they have done.”
It is the same sentiment as those who continue to fight against violence.
Unless the wicked ones attain a state of self-awareness, they will remain affected by an inner mental psychological disorder. Which can be from a dream that occurs in wakefulness, their minds too weak to control, they give into the force that actuates the thoughts.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
It can take a lifetime to recognize one’s inadequacies and weaknesses, understanding one’s identity, and knowing one’s inner world. This is where true friendships come in to assist. A friend who is liken to a brother in times of need.
UNEVENLY YOKE
Before making a decision to live with someone or marry them, take time to get to know them. If your situation calls for such a decision, talk to a family member. Speak to a good friend about your decision before making such a move.
My sister married to secure a visa.
Violence is not pretty, and no one should remain silent. I urge all those like me and my sister who have endured violence to stand up, speak up, and walk out. Today’s society has shelters for individuals experiencing abuse. A person had the strength to fight for others, lacked the strength needed in the battle for her life.
In memory of my dear sister, until we meet again, Rest in Peace!
For our young men and adults follow the link below, to understanding a woman’s desire….
MARRIAGE…it is a beautiful union of two individuals who genuinely love each other.
Before you say I do, get to know each other as much as possible during the dating period. During marriage, both men and women are anxious for the things of the world. Paul wrote on how each may gain the approval of the other. This scripture is still true to this day.
HOLDING IT TOGETHER
A house or an apartment is not a home when there’s no one there. Being there for each other will call for strength in the days we are now living. Keeping things together calls for some financial wealth. Due to some racist attitudes and political bias, those in hiring positions cause undue stress on job seekers. This stress affects those trying to fulfill family responsibilities or assist with household financial needs. Moving one or both, to start their own business using the skills they have. If this is the case, listen to each other’s ideas. Present the advantages versus the disadvantages, discuss the expenses, and your combined financial assets before your move.
Keep in mind it is not unusual to find women of today exhibiting more of a masculine attitude. This may be due to her upbringing having to carry the burden of the parents’ responsibilities. So, in adulthood, the take-charge attitude is seen as more dominant within her marriage. The man’s upbringing may be the same. This is why it is very important, before saying, I do take you as my wife or husband, that a discussion on as many topics is done. Each with an understanding of what they will need to work on. Keeping in mind that it will not be easy. Marriage is a give and take. As an example, there will be times of anger when one is forced to speak. That’s the time one is taking.
The most important thing in all relationships is the acknowledgement of God. Trust in Him who performed the first marriage. With His guidance, your relationship or marriage will always be at peace. For it is written: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. Peace, he trusts in you. -Isaiah 26:3.
Consider your responsibility in marriage. Think of it as having God as the mediator between you and your partner. This mediator is God and His word. His words will relieve the stressful situations most marriages have to endure these days. Yes, by looking into His words and praying, He will guide you.
Please read me, for what I am about to write, it is of importance. We are living at a time when the spirit forces are very active. One may hear a whisper in a dream. Awake to see the reality of what was seen in a dream occurring before your very eyes, or in some cases hear of it. Do investigate. Not all things are real, and not all things heard are true. All these things happened in the days of Jesus. Today, technology is more advanced and people are more wicked than in those days. Peace among us involves communication and loving kindness. The bible did warn of this so that we would be prepared to stand firm for Jehovah’s kingdom. A world prepared for us to inhabit.
My entry, your entry, and our entry depend on obedience to God’s counsel. They also depend on mutual respect. We must exercise our rights in a fair and balanced manner. Additionally, love for each other is crucial.
So, before you say, “I do take this woman or man to be my wedded partner,” be sure you have resolved in your heart that marriage is what you truly want.
Marriage is a serious commitment to each other. It is not a game, to play with each other as if a toy. Both individuals are humans made of flesh and blood, exhibiting emotions, thoughts, intuition, and sensation. All of which need each other to nurture, care, and receive attention.
May your days be happy with the man or woman of your choosing. Remember to be spontaneous and creative. Laughter is good for the soul. Laugh with and at each other, funny words or deeds.
This Sunday, April 20, 2025, many will gather at various religious organizations to pay respect for Jesus’ sacrifice on behalf of the world. At home, families will celebrate the Last Supper with elaborate meals. Others will give to charities or invite the poor for a meal in remembrance of Jesus’ death.
My mother taught me dignity when she invited the poor for a meal on Easter Sunday. It never occurs often; I have only seen this act of charity twice, which I can recall. We were among the poor, but a little better off financially.
I was christened a Catholic and baptized as a Witness in my young adult years. I can recall the Easter Sundays when I went to church to celebrate the Last Supper. After the Priest sermon, many will form a line towards the altar. Each person kneels before the Priest. He makes the sign of the cross before putting a wafer on our tongues.
The truth is, I never was thought the full story of Jesus’ journey and the meaning of his sacrifice until I started studying the Bible, and attending meetings with my second sister, who was affiliated with the Jehovah’s Witness kingdom hall.
During my childhood, I attended other religious organizations, such as Temples. Taken to the facilities by a white woman, of whose name I cannot recall. And the truth is, I do not know the relationship she had with my parents. This would be my mother, as my dad was mostly traveling, being a fisherman and all. I do not know the relationship she had with the white woman or her with the family.
“A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness launches forth mere lies.” -Proverbs 14:5
Lies come from the stem of fear. Fear is an emotion characterized by dread or expectation of harm. In my Review of the account in Luke 22, which tells of the Last Supper. A question I answered.
Peter said he was willing to go to prison or die for Jesus. Jesus did inform him that a Rooster would not crow until he had denied knowing him three times. And to Jesus’ word Peter proved right.
Do keep in mind that Peter is only human, and his experience with Jesus. Peter’s witness of Jesus’ arrest not only put doubt in his mind. It also diminished Peter’s boldness to admit he knew Jesus. He was not willing to lose his life. This proves Peter’s lack of faith and confidence in Jesus’ protection of him.
Before him stood the man he knew. This man healed the sick, cured the blind, and raised the dead. He was now standing before a mob. They were mistreating him by pulling on his beard, spitting on him, and hitting him. Yet, he just stood there, not defending himself. This terrible, frightful sight forced Peter to deny knowing Jesus. While he was still speaking on his third admission, “Man I do not know what you are saying.” At this moment, the Rooster crowed, and Jesus turned and looked at him. Peter immediately came to his senses, ashamed of his action, and left the area in tears.
This passage also brings to light God’s word about where two or three are gathered, “I am there.” It also shows that in a court of law, the word of one witness must be corroborated by another. This is necessary to prove a point. In Peter’s case, there were three claims against him. In Jesus’ case, many were witnesses of his works. However, high officials’ operative agenda was to keep the word from spreading and the people suppress by ignorance.
This passage in Luke 22: 55-62 reminded me of a situation between my sister and me. With her own eyes she witnesses an ornament I picked up from the shelf, as I walked to the doorway. In the heat of anger, I told her not to dare raise her hand at me. At that moment, the figurine in my hand shattered to pieces. This had surprised me as I am sure it did to her. An incident that proves the strength anger and love has to move obstacles. Months later, she called me a liar during a conversation. She then brought forth a figurine that resembled the broken one. My response is not to continue arguing; just let her know she was calling God a liar. Was it fear holding her back from admitting the truth? My answer without confirmation is yes. She will bear the consequences for whatever reason she holds back from admitting the truth. Those guilty of their actions against the truth will also face consequences.
The account of Peter proves that Love will not allow the conscience to deny a truth for long. It will take a minute. A day, or a year [with men, years] for the word of the spirit to prove a fact. Eventually, this brings death sooner to those who continue to deny the truth.
Jehovah is not slow respecting his promises. He is patient with us. He allows each one to turn around and repent from a wicked course.
Jealousy breeds a person’s wickedness. They desire to end a beneficial or good process of progress for a person or people. This is what the Pharisees wanted in Jesus’ case. He had to be silent from opening the eyes of those who were blind in an intellectual sense.
To remain silent or boldly speak out comes from inner truths and beliefs. Jesus’ silence showed that strength is not always flashy, but in one’s calm and quiet disposition.
Thus. This Sunday, April 20, 2025, those who decide to partake in the wafer, which signifies Jesus’ body, are called to reflect. The wine signifies His blood. Be sure, my dear ones, that you have resolved the truth within your hearts. For it is written: Do not be misled. God is not one to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. – Galatians 6:7.
The account with my sister is in my Memoir. In the book Part Two, Chapter 7, the reason for my partaking in the evening meal is given. The title is Until My Dying Day by B. M. Lustol, published by Dorrance Publishing Company. To order your copy, call 1800-788-7654.
FAMILIES…families are not just our immediate blood relatives. Families consist of close friends/ or friends and those you associate with regularly, once love prevails. The word extends because of our spiritual connection. It also includes those with whom we have a close psychological connection over the years.
I live in an apartment building. Over the years, I eventually ignored the game played on me by those above and next to my unit. I became wise to their actions in greater attempt that causes me to speak out as if a person mentally insane. I had fallen into their manipulated game. They wanted others to perceive me as they dictated. I had delivered.
Over the years, I hoped their actions would stop. Unfortunately, logic fails to dismantle madness no matter how one tries. For example, the one whose mental faculty is in tack and knows what he or she wants to accomplish, so it is with those gone mad. The difference is that madness does not know right from wrong.
My observations cause me to pay more than the usual attention to my life from what they were attempting to do. I had already lost privacy on my electronics as did my movement within my unit. I had nothing more to lose except my life. Therefore, I hope that through my written work and in my speaking , it will behoove some of you to action.
Wisdom and Understanding are essential. One without the other can damage others, as it will to oneself at some point in one’s life.
Today, more than ever, there is so much information that individuals can find to educate themselves that the word ‘don’t know’ will be seldom used amongst those who live to learn. Anyone without knowledge can search the Internet, YouTube, and books to find the required subject knowledge.
This scripture, found in Ecclesiastes 12, verse 12, is proving to be true not only for books but also for the many written programs available today. If we are not careful, our minds will become overloaded with information, sending some of us mentally insane, as it has already done to some. Balance is the key.
Someone called me the other day regarding a link I sent to them. I was in pain when the call came in. I did not want to answer, as anyone knows, when the body is in pain, the last thing you need is someone bothering you, especially with negative comments. After I hung up, I replayed our conversation. Because I was in so much pain, I ended the conversation and in writing this piece, wished I had called her attention to the scriptures mentioned below. Sometimes pain causes loss of thoughts
I am a person who loves to read and listen to what others have to say on topics of interest, or on a topic that reminds me of conversations with others.
A link that enlightens us about our transformation in life and after death, according to the speaker’s experience, out of care, and for the individual better understanding of the force that moves us, I thought of sharing. More profoundly, some of the speaker’s words resonated with my personal experience. Spiritual experiences were given as I still understand my being.
Many of you may have read Until My Dying Day by B.M. Lustol, published by Dorrance Publishing Company. That memoir speaks about the writer’s spiritual journey. So, when I picked up the phone and inquired about her health, the first thing out of her mouth was not to send her anything like what I did. Her words were like another stone my enemies were throwing at me.
I expected kindness, not jealousy, heard in her voice. The person whom I speak is my sister. The book includes chapters on our interactions and my observations of her life.
Books are a passageway of getting to know others, and so are podcasts of thoughts expressed by certain individuals on YouTube.
The Bible presents various events described in Psalms chapter 78, detailing interactions between Jehovah and his people, who did not accept him. They did not put faith in him nor trust salvation by him. They had become backward in direction and not forward. Some people were unafraid then, and they remain so today. I guess you could say this is due to lack of knowledge of God. His acts of forgiveness, graciousness, chastisement, a God merciful, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness. A God who is patient because he does not want to destroy the one he created for a purpose, but one who will exercise justice in his own time, should be feared and respected.
Some individuals have reported instances of kindness and will share their experiences such as in a podcast or books.
Jehovah is a God of the living and not of the dead. Although faithful ones in the past have died, today they speak through faithful ones; those who have come to have accurate knowledge of Him and his requirements. Experiences of such ones related are spiritual guidance for lovers of Jehovah.
Those who are among the living are to advance in knowledge, for when we die, there is no further room for knowledge; we go to sleep to rise again at the sound of his call.
In the meantime, our experiences encourage those who listen to gain strength in the face of adversity, to get up and move forward. Experiences tell, enlighten our knowledge, and let us know there is more this life has to offer through our interaction with others.
First Corinthians, chapter fourteen, verse one, tells us to pursue love, yet keep seeking spiritual gifts, preferably that you may prophesy. And in Chapter Twelve of the same book, it talks about the gifts we each have, gifted by the Holy Spirit. Allowing us to see that wisdom is acquired through association with others spiritually or religiously inclined.
Hear again, not all teachings are beneficial for the soul, especially from those who do not know God. One reason the Bible was preserved down to this day. Another reason is that we are given a conscience to distinguish between right and wrong.
Jehovah hears and sees his peoples’ cries. Was there a reason behind Jehovah’s act of language separation? Of course. His angels spoke different languages. In his image we were created. And our existence he forward through languages the desire to live to learn. He himself referred to us as gods. Yes, through the angels’ reports he is confirmed of our actions on this planet.
The Bible, a book of our ancestors’ struggles, given prophecies, jealousies, love, betrayals, deceptions, and Jehovah’s wars, accepted morals and principles are all there for our guidance into his promised New World. The Bible’s content of reminders is for us to inculcate into our hearts and minds so as not to forget where we come from as we move forward, respecting Him, the one who created and is capable of our existence.
Therefore, to my dear sister, I believe in, I love God, and choose to walk in his way.
To all my readers, may you have Peace.
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Better The End 
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