Can't See the Forest for the Trees

Lately, I've been hearing, "Can't see the forest for the trees." I just heard it again. The feeling I get is that there are some people, on all sides, who are concentrating on a particular area/subject/topic (self-serving) and not seeing the "bigger picture" when it comes to President Trump and America.

Sadly, I see where their hate or desires are causing them to nitpick over what many feel are little things compared to this bigger picture. I've even read or heard these "prayers" for the personal things people want. I've had my moments too.

However, I've learned that "no" can often be the best answer to our prayer. I discovered this at a young age, living within a big family, that not everything was about me and my wants. As much as I hated hearing no, I understood, after the reason was given, the higher purpose behind it. My parents saw the forest while I was only looking at the trees.

Even with the path I'm on, in this life, it's been fraught with setbacks. I've often heard not now or no. Because of this, I've learned about control and letting go, whenever necessary, by looking for and accepting any bigger picture. In other words, in the higher realm of things, and through reasoning and understanding, the universe, like my parents, showed me the forest.

Religious Teachings - Fake News

Paul (Saulos Tarseus), was an apostle (though not one of the Twelve Apostles) who taught the gospel of the Christ to the first century world. According to writings in the New Testament, prior to his conversion, Paul was dedicated to persecuting the early disciples of Jesus in the area of Jerusalem. - Wikipedia 

Jeffrey Daugherty, former minister for the Assemblies of God Church, believes that the message of Jesus was changed by the Apostle Paul (apostle: someone sent out with a message) in order to create a structure to control the general populace of the Roman Empire. He also believes that Paul was hand picked by the Roman Emperor Nero to de-emphasize Christ's message that the kingdom lies within each person, and they don't require the guidance of an outside emperor or king. Daugherty feels that Paul was spinning the popularity of the Jesus message of salvation but trying to put it back under the sinner needing a savior type of scenario; crafting a beautiful guilded cage out of what Jesus had provided. 

Paul was criticized by certain medieval Muslim writers, as well as some modern ones. The main criticism revolves around the claim that Paul misrepresented the original teachings of Jesus. Even Thomas Jefferson, America's third president, complained about how Jesus' message had been usurped. He wrote, "Of this band of dupes and impostors, Paul was the first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus."

I believe that Jesus taught empowerment, the mysteries of the universe, and mind power. He expected to teach his students and have them move on - not have permanent followers. Following, to me, just means the teacher isn't getting the job done or the student isn't grasping the teachings. In that case, good teachers would ask students to find other teachers - not worship them.

However, Apostle Paul was not a direct student of Jesus, making it more plausible for his misinterpretation. I've learned, based on watching my students, that they aren't always identical to their teachers, even when taught directly. They often incorporate their individuality within what they've learned. Also, corrupt teachings could be due to an angry or jealous student, as well as, ignorance of the teachings due to an inattentive student. You can also see this difference in a teacher/student scenario with parents and children. Children grow up learning from their parents but will not necessarily be like them.

Therefore, it makes sense to me that verbal words could have been corrupted before putting it into written words and even corrupted after that, based on interpretation. Something else to consider: it depends on who was in charge of putting it in writing, as well as the one doing the translation. For emphasis, it's interesting to read how many "bibles" were around and why. 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Bible

In conclusion, history has taught us that religions, no matter the prophet, can have their good and bad sides. Not one has perfection over another's. Paul is only one example of how teachings can be changed - innocently or purposefully. We should be aware that any "prophets' words," that we read today, may have been erroneously translated or deliberately corrupted. With all the "fake news," we're dealing with today, we can see how easily this would have been done and why. 

Blog picture: Apostle Paul (494-495 AD), ceiling mosaic, Archiepiscopal Chapel of St. Andrew (oratory), Ravenna, Italy.

Want An Answer? Channel It!

Sometimes, I shake my head over social media comments that some people make. After the constant warnings of fake news, I'm amazed that some are still so fast to judge and still don't understand how their bias can be used to manipulate their emotions. It's, possibly, why I read a huge amount of arrogant comments on a daily basis. 

In particular, there are the arrogant remarks directed to people who they feel are opposed to their political idealogy (whichever side that may be), who are not commenting fast enough on any recent news topic. The typical: "Now what do you have to say? What? The sound of silence? I thought so!" Well, instead of being so haughty, maybe they should consider a few things. Let's put this in perspective. 

First: Maybe these people are waiting for the facts to add up instead of being caught up in rampant, fake news, which might lower themselves to the aggressor's standards by replying too soon. 

Second: Maybe they know that commenting would cause a pointless debate with someone of limited gray-matter and they choose not to participate. After all, just because someone tosses out a line, doesn't mean another has to take the bait. 

Third: Maybe, just maybe, they did comment, but on THEIR wall or on THEIR public page. Of course, people would know their opposition's feelings if they hadn't "unfollowed" them or if they had "liked" those many public pages. In the common sense department, this would be a way to read, and be more aware of, a different point of view.

Finally, if anyone really wants an expeditious response, and they're not just being bratty, they can learn to read people. It's not like many, including me, haven't spent years teaching the steps on channeling the God/Universal mind for truth and wisdom; which may help them know who's really telling the truth, once they learn to get their ego out of the way. In fact, even if they are being bratty, about wanting an answer, my response would be, "channel it." But, just as it takes effort to look up information on the internet, all this knowledge takes effort too... so, I'm not holding my breath. 

Look Beyond What You See

My life's story has taught me that one must remove their blinders in order to see beyond their current awareness. 

I shared this comment (below) on a post I was tagged on. It's in regards to the scenario of "why me and no one else in my family." I, completely, believe that not every mental or physical illness is inherited through family genetics or an environmental issue. Yet, what else can we call it without knowing more?

--------- My Comment
I heard this from a South American Shaman on TV one night and a light bulb went off in my brain. He said, "every ailment is spirit, whether it be yours or another's."

This is true, because many people forget they've been here before and may have brought past life diseases with them - from within their soul. This could also explain timing: why did it happen to me at 40 and not before? Because, you may be programmed to have it happen then, due to it happening many times before during that time frame. These are situations that can happen from our soul due to soul genetics. 

Outside of that, it could be from another's spirit - meaning as little as catching a cold from another to a full on plague going on around you that attacks you too. 

As far as "outside spirits," there can be those who are invisible but attached to your soul causing problem. Spirits you either brought with you, or attached to you, due to what you got involved in during this life. The proverbial magnet of the mind that draws you to something and keeps you there to serve another's purpose.

This could even be to feed into a medical system or to keep someone from walking away from getting just one tattoo. The obsessive-compulsive behavior that may not be directly our own, but an influence from another who may be keeping one locked into a situation in order to feed/clothed/shelter them at our expense.
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So you see, there are many scenarios of why things happen. For instance, besides the typical environmental situations, we, as I mentioned in the comment, may have soul genetics (past or present life) creating problems. These programmed soul moments, especially if it's a strong memory, can affect our current physical and mental existence, which has nothing to do with family genetics. In fact, family genetics may often protect us, in certain circumstances. 

Furthermore, based on my personal awareness, as well as others who have written to me about their experiences, some incidents can and have been "thought projections" from another. Have you ever had a feeling that "someone out there must not like me?" Or ask yourself, "what did I do in a past life to deserve this?" 

As Rafiki said, in The Lion King, "look beyond what you see." Our ability of looking beyond, via telescopes, microscopes and space travel, can and has opened doors of discovery, as well as answered many of our puzzling questions. Why not looking beyond and understanding the soul connection?