Discussion:
Have you ever heard somebody refer to something as evil? Good versus evil is a very prevelant fight that we all must contend with each day. We need to decide for ourselves which way we are going to go with it. Even then, we ourselves are not good or evil. We are told to love the sinner, but hate the sin. By doing this we are doing good. But still we are not good nor evil; we are just people. So you could say that we are not defined by that which we are doing at any given time. How then can we say an item--which has not the will to decide for itself how it will behave that day--is evil, or for that matter, good? We can't. The fact of the matter is that everything can be used for good or evil, depending solely on he who is control of that item at the time. My favorite analogy is fire. It has been one of the most useful discoveries in history and to this day many use it to heat their homes and cook their meals. Yet we lose so much property each year to the hands of arsony. Along the same lines, a person may take a quote from the Holy Bible itself, use it out of context, and lead thousands away from the truth. In the end, any item is not good or evil. We can't even refer to it by what it is doing at that time because it did not choose that. People on the other hand make that decision for themselves. And that is the final word on inherency.
For the first time, Real Thing is using the submission of somebody else as a discussion topic. I hope this will set the trend and more people will feel comfortable sharing their ideas. The time is six o'clock p.m. it is a beautiful day, with a flowing yet subtle breeze. I hear the ducks in the distance calling upon one another as if there is a major event going on in their presence. The sound of the leaves blowing through the trees gives me a strong peace of mind; it is like a crisp chorus line fading in and out. The sound of chirping birds, probably signaling to one another that they have found food for their young. For a chilly, yet peaceful night to come. There is a never-ending sound of locusts calling. I suppose they are predicting the onset of the autumn season. The distant hum of vehicles driven down Route 2 is definitely a reminder of the fast-paced living that we are accustomed to in our daily lives. There is a strong pine fragrance in the air. I felt as though it had been bottled up and sprayed around the park. I am sitting on an old wooden bench with a two-toned green paint-chip mixture, overlooking an inspirational view of a rather large pond, outlined in a pattern of white stone. Just behind this stone setting, are a mixture of trees. From the west end of the pond, there are three tall Birch standing next to one another... with a little bit of imagination, they remind me of three pillars in front of a mansion. Then furher down, a smorgasbord of breath-taking trees, intertwines with an old wooden-plank bridge. A very mature pine tree proudly stands, overlapping the corner of the bridge. The tree, with its bronze-like tips, is a beautiful accent of the strong green color this tree holds. Next we move on to a widely-spread maple tree with its bright red tips. They bring out a certain personality of the old maple tree. As if it is putting on its red dancing shoes, for an enchanting evening on the town. Directly across from this bend of beauty, is a weeping-willow tree. Its bright green leaves draped over and almost touching the pond, as if it was taking a small sip. My purpose of this essay is to express to people that we should slow down, take the time to absorb this beauty that Mother Nature has given us--It is all at our fingertips. -Micheal C. Struffolino, July 1997 As I read this, I
thought it was an excellent use of words to
paint the mind. Then I read the end and it
is very correct. All too often, I am forced
to say to someone, "Have you ever considered
slowing down?" It reminds me of the cliche
"Stop to smell the roses when walking down
the path of life." When we rush, we tend
not to enjoy the things we are doing.
Instead of living life, we end up only
surviving it, which is a terrible way to
look at things. In the name of
civilization, we have destroyed so much of
the beauty that God gave us. That does not
mean that it's all gone! It only means that
we have to want to notice it more. And the
number one sign of civilization is
population. People are all around us. In
fact, the saddest affliction from not
enjoying life is we begin ignoring those
around us and put our pets, toys, computers,
etc. ahead of them. Do you know what the
worst part about this is? When it happens,
we don't even realize it because we have
given ourselves something that we accept
unknowingly as an alternative. Nothing
beats the real thing. How do we prevent
this from happening? Check yourself. Every
day, check yourself. You'll be surprised
how everything seems clearer when you stop
to smell the roses. And that is the
final word on living.
The purpose of my Discussions is to help anyone who reads them to maybe see the good in things or perhaps even learn of a better way to approach a situation. How can we determine what ideas are most important? Isn't it dependent upon the circumstances? For the most part, the answer would be yes. At the same time, it should also be evident that there would be certain ideas that would help in practically every area. The most important after being honest with everyone including yourself, is doing the right thing. Let me tell you a little secret about doing the right thing. There is something about doing the right thing that many people forget about. That is the guarantee of victory. When you look around, what do you see? It seems as if all you see is the innocent being overrun by everyone else. I assure you that this is only on the surface. If you were to look at each case individually, you would find that these same people who looked defeated have actually won. How is what is different about them. For some people, just being able to maintain their happiness is all the reward they ask for. Others may find it in other things. You see, when you do the right thing, nothing can keep you down. For as long as you continue to do so, your happiness is guaranteed. You may have to endure what may seem like a bad time on the surface. In the end, this time spent is relatively short compared to its yield. We need to remember this when we encounter some sort of roadblock. Many will tell themselves that that is the end. I'm telling you that if what you're doing or believe in is right, then don't give up. If you stand your ground in whatever the case may be, you can rest assured that it will shine through. Though it doesn't always appear that way, good does triumph over evil. So press on! And that is the final word on conceding. Return to top or Main Discussion Page |
