"To be nobody-but-yourself—in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else—means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."
____ E. Cummings
And a battle it is. We are influenced by a secular society that bases human worth on money accumulated and goods possessed. We are influenced by a secular news and entertainment media that negatively manipulates tastes and values. Our youth are persuaded to substitute convictions for acceptance—popularity. Later, many are persuaded to trade their dreams and hopes for the false promise of worldly or government security.
Hope of a better tomorrow and a noble life cannot be built on today’s political pandering and promise of government succor. Ask those Americans on government reservations—free physically, trapped psychologically. Ask those seduced by welfare; those snared by the despair of rural poverty or imprisoned by the moral decay of inner-city ghettos.
And today, all too often, hope of a better tomorrow cannot be found in corporate promises. Ask the man or woman, who after 5, 10, or 20 years of loyalty and hard work found themselves no longer wanted.
In our quest to achieve the noble life, you and I must not allow others to manipulate our tastes and values. We must not trade our hopes and dreams for false security. And we must not compromise our convictions for popularity.
Never has secular soliciting for our national soul been so great. Going against this pressure is tough. It takes spiritual strength. It takes persistence. It takes fellowship with other like-minded individuals.
In business and politics—as well as our personal life—we need individuals who seek truth, not business as usual. Developing a noble life takes the intestinal fortitude to ask: Is this true? Is what I do consistent with what I say or what I believe?
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing... you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
_____ Romans 12:2
We need to be aware, and not let our dream of a better tomorrow turn into a nightmare of corrupted secular values. We need to take personal responsibility and not allow our tastes and values to be manipulated by ads, fads, and untruths of the day. We must not trade our hopes and dreams nor compromise our convictions in order to receive popular acceptance.
The rewards of a noble life are in direct proportion to our contributions. The more we serve the bigger our rewards.
A noble life in service to others or a self-centered secular life? The secular values of today’s political "progressives"did not get America through an agonizing civil war. Secular values did not give hope to struggling families during economic depressions and financial panics. Secular values did not sustain earlier Americans through death dealing epidemics and two world wars. America's Christian values and spiritual strength did.
___________ Michael E. Odell
For Other Posts by Michael E.Odell —click on "Blog Archive" at upper right
07-25-08 Monetary Crack Cocaine
07-02-08 Faith Based In Whom
06-13-08 Vote for Change?
05-19-08 Poverty & Envy or Hope & Prosperity
05-11-08 But What Can I Do? Christians Should Not Be In Politics
04-11-08 Sex, Debt, Drugs - America's Epidemic & New York’s Governor
03-28-08 Rare Coin Investments 101 & Choosing A Dealer
03-20-08 Gold Mining Stock Investing 101 - Booms & Busts
03-15-08 Gold Coin Investing 101
03-15-08 Investment 101 - only safe way to double your money
03-03-08 Real Men or Girly Men
02-29-08 A Cup of Hemlock for Washington State
02-13-08 Death & Suicide Initiative 119 Are Back
02-12-08 Thorns or Roses - The Choice Is Ours
02-12-08 Recession & Inflation - Government the Problem
12-08-07 A Hamburger Today & Pay Tomorrow
