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The suicide rate is rising dramatically. Drug overdoses are also rising. Fingers point in all directions as who’s to blame. What can we do about it?
First we need to define the real problem. That problem is an identity crises. We no longer believe what religions teach us about ourselves. Church attendance is less each year. Science tells us we are accidents of nature. There is no omniscient creator looking over and protecting us. Accepting these beliefs leads to a void within, a lack of meaning. A feeling it just don’t matter what we accomplish.
We are at a point in history where change is imminent. No longer can this spiral downward continue. It must be stopped. The people must have a vision or they will perish. Morality is good, but it is not enough. Our efforts should count for something greater than ourselves; and they do, in many ways not readily understood.
It is what we believe about ourselves and our world that makes us strong or weak in the face of adversity. Most of us just accept what we were taught as children. We believe what our friends and parents believe, going back far into history. The few that question old belief systems become rebels and, for the most part, show us new paths into the future. Society advances on the backs of those who think “out of the box.”
Most all belief systems: religious, scientific, political, or cultural contain an element of truth. But none can comprehend the whole truth of our existence. There are just too many questions without answers. Far too many theories trying to explain the unexplainable. Wisdom understands there is knowledge aplenty in accepting our lack of it.
There is an objectivity that comes from facing our dearth of understanding. A feeling of relief. We no longer have to pound a square peg into a round hole. We can say out loud, “I don’t know,” with confidence. In order to achieve objectivity we need to learn about life from the experiences of others. Those we agree with, as well as those who think outside the box of our beliefs. Give up black or white thinking, and consider possibilities. Start by working with yourself.
Take time to listen to yourself. Think about what frightens you the most and put it at the top of your study list. Fear is our greatest enemy. The more we fear the harder life becomes. We are not born with fear, it is a learned process. Others teach us what they have learned to fear. We learn to fear: God, hell, death, the afterlife, police, IRS, strangers, those with different beliefs and/or of different races. Aliens, zombies, demons, evil spirits, vampires, the dark, and certain symbols are more feared objects. The list is endless.
But the buck stops with you. The decision to fear, or not to fear, is your choice. Knowledge is what you use to break free of fear. Learn everything possible about what you fear the most, and the fear will diminish.
What helps in life is self-confidence. An understanding that you belong and have the tools to be successful in your endeavors. This means accepting yourself and approving of your accomplishments. It is a form of self-love, and the goal in life is self-love. You may think that impossible because of how you look, or what you have done at this point in your life. But that is only because you lack the knowledge of who you are; what you are doing here; and what happens when this life is over.
Knowledge, and/or experience are the foundation for answering the hard questions of life. Some of us have had a glimpse of the afterlife, and know why we exist. It is called a Near Death Experience. Millions of people in the U.S. are Near Death Experiencers. Thousands of their stories are posted on the Internet. It is through these experiences we can gain knowledge of our existence. Each experience is different because we are different. But there’s a thread of truth that exists in all of them. It is necessary to read a lot of them to better understand their meaning. Over 300 are posted on the “Thoughtful Living” site.
NDE’s take away our fear; change lives and give meaning to our existence. We are not accidents. We came into the physical world to learn about ourselves and others. There is a purpose and a goal for us to achieve. The physical world is a classroom, and not an easy one. We learn by experience, overcoming hurdles and obstacles in our path. It takes courage and determination to keep going. Those who become addicted to drugs or alcohol are attempting to find that meaning. Looking for a reason to endure. But it can’t be found in addiction, so they begin to believe there is none. Yet, the answer is close, in a different direction. It is within them.
Near Death Experiences teach us we are eternal beings, created from pure energy. We live in an energy world, sometimes called a spirit world, surrounded by caring and compassion. In order to grow we come into a physical classroom where caring and compassion are not so prevalent. Here, we gain knowledge about ourselves and others by bringing caring and compassion into the physical world. Through our acts of kindness we make the physical world more gentle and loving. Even the smallest act of kindness never goes unnoticed.
The tools we all bring into this world are profoundly simple. They include the ability to learn and understand the motives of others. The power of forgiveness for ourselves as well as others, and the ability to overcome fear with love. Please read all the Near Death Experiences you can find and all other information written about them. You will begin to see the pattern of reality they reveal to us. They will allow you to love and appreciate your life. They will add meaning and purpose to your physical existence. They will teach you to love yourself and others.
© 2018 – 2019, Lekatt. All rights reserved.
The old saw “What you don’t know, can’t hurt you” is wrong. What you don’t know can hurt you.
We are all raised in a specific culture, and in a certain part of that specific culture. I was raised in the United States in a fundamental Christian culture. Because of my early training I came to believe as true what I was taught. This is the same for everyone no matter what culture they grow up in.
I was taught the Bible was the living word of God. I was told belief not works was the way to heaven, and if I didn’t believe Jesus was God, that He died for my sins, I would go to hell. I would be burned forever in a lake of fire full of devils and demons. That scared me beyond belief. I was never sure I was properly “saved”, so I would answer the call to the altar frequently trying to lessen my fear of God, and hell.
Much later in life, after I started to read, and learn about the world I lived in, I discovered the value of knowledge.
Reading Bible history I discovered what I was taught as the living word of God was really a Biblical interpretation by Martin Luther during the reformation. An interpretation not held by many Christians.
The more I read the more discoveries I made. I used religion as an example, but science is not any better. Many things found in science books are only theories and not reality. History differs from country to country. Also the teachings of public schools and colleges are subject to change with time.
The purpose of this article is to get you to read outside your comfort zone. If you are religious, read science, and vice versa. Read the history of religion and science, don’t be reluctant to learn.
New knowledge will not change who you are, or what you believe in, only you can change yourself. So don’t be afraid to read material you disagree with, it will help you gain insight into the beliefs of others, and help you better understand your own beliefs.
© 2009 – 2019, Lekatt. All rights reserved.
I grew up in Christian churches until I became old enough to choose whether I would go to church or not. I chose not to go to church around the age of 16. I had listened to all the lessons diligently and knew them by heart. But they had little appeal for a teenager setting out to make his mark in the world.
A big surprise when I went to college, and took a minor in religion. I was asked to read the entire Bible, and found that much of what I had been taught in church wasn’t in the Bible, and there was a lot of stuff in the Bible that I had never heard about in church. Disbelief, confusion, and other emotions rising from this discovery caused me to become agnostic, and generally forget about religion altogether.
I remained agnostic right up to the last second before my near death experience. During the experience my beliefs about life and the physical world were shattered and lay as dust about my feet. I gained a new knowledge, an expansion of consciousness, an enlightenment that has stayed with me for over twenty years now, and will remain with me forever.
I now know the difference between spirituality and religion, that I am loved unconditionally, that I am eternal, that I am spirit, in a physical body, living in a physical world created by Higher Intelligence. But the most valuable thing I received was an understanding of the teachings of Jesus.
People are leaving church today more than ever before. I think it is because the churches are not teaching love. They seem more concerned with doctrines and social issues than following the teachings of Jesus. I even had a minister tell me the teachings of Jesus were OK for His time, but were impractical in today’s world.
Jesus taught: John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
This is the core teaching of the near death experience. Surrounded by the light of unconditional love, every experiencer feels the compassion and caring of a loving God, and knows he is expected to emulate that love with everyone in the world.
Jesus taught: Matthew 5:43
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
This is consistent with near death experiences and the theme of love one another. We can not love only those who love us, we are to love all people. There are no exceptions to God’s love, nor should there be to our love of one another.
Jesus taught: Matthew 18:21
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Jesus said: Matthew 7:1:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
Near death experiencers feel total acceptance in the light. There is no judgement from God. We are loved for who we are, God’s children, and not what we believe or what we have done. There is no religion in the spirit world, only love. Experiencers do go through a “life review.” In this review their whole life passes before them, they feel the pain they have caused others as well as the joy. It is like changing places with others you have hurt and feeling exactly what they felt. It is a learning tool and not a judgement. We learn through the life review just how important it is to treat everyone with kindness and love.
Jesus said: John 14:1:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
“Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
Jesus said: Luke 17:20:
“The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
These teachings of Jesus are about the Oneness of all creation. The Oneness that near death experiencers feel within the light. We are within God and God is within us. We are One. All creation is One. Like drops of water in the ocean, or leaves of a giant tree, we are all connected. The sum total of all creation is God. If we wish to know God we look within ourselves with prayer and meditation. Asking for knowledge, strength, and gratitude to be like Jesus, to love ourselves and all others so we may do as Jesus does.
Jesus said: Matthew 25:35:
“For I was an hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee as hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Most near death experiencers are impelled to help others. The experience, almost always, causes profound personality and life style changes in the experiencer. Some NDE experiencers go back to school to become teachers or counselors. Some lecture, write books. Others do volunteer work at Hospices, Nursing Homes and Hospitals. Some open “Centers of Learning” or start classes/support groups. Even those who don’t “go public” with their experience are changed into kinder and more loving individuals. The impact of the experience is to change the experiencer, and the change lasts a lifetime. As Jesus said we are to help others, especially those in need.
This does not begin to cover all the teachings of love by Jesus. But it is a beginning in the right direction. I wish churches will begin to return to the teachings of Jesus as their main message of hope, and purpose in life.
Below is a quote from Paul lest we forget the real definition of love, and then a final quote from Jesus. God bless all.
“Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love doesn’t demand its own way. It’s not irritable or touchy. It doesn’t hold grudges and will not notice when others do it wrong. It’s never glad about injustice, but rejoices in truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends”. — Saint Paul.
The final quote comes from Jesus.
Jesus said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” –John 14:15
Some near death experiencers see and talk to Jesus during their experience. They say He is always kind and loving to them, just as He asks them to be with others. I hope this helps in understanding near death experiences.
© 2009 – 2019, Lekatt. All rights reserved.
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