One of the most important things for us to do as a nation is to prepare our children for their future, with the first decade of life being the quantifying period of their existence. Hopefully, this blog will catch and subdue some of the angry souls who will read, searching for a point to argue. This blog is non-fiction. It’s about personal feelings, observations, and the “Cause and Effect” of what we do and say to one another. Adults, at any given moment, are unsuspecting role models to our children, especially those in political power. This blog is made, in essence, as if I am speaking to the Choir. Therefore, it is not intended to explain the already known, advise, or convert anyone to a particular way of thinking. Its intent is for the altruistic and not the pugnacious personality to wit a continuous exchange of productive ideas would be impossible. We all have our paths to travel, and we all must make, and be responsible for, our own decisions. This blog, like all of my previous blogs, is a continuing effort to put my spiritual beliefs in writing, reaching out to the soul of America for those individuals who prefer to talk with other people for interpersonal growth, rather than about people on the downside.
Metaphorically speaking, many of the citizens of this great nation have boarded a despicable bus. A bus that is traveling on the road to nowhere fueled by brevity in 140 characters or less. Although I believe morality is intuitively present in most, if not all of us, it is inconspicuously seated at the rear of the bus.
Several years ago, at the beginning of the Christmas season, while visiting friends and relatives, I observed a child, (who shall remain nameless) compiling a Christmas list of expectations, or so I thought. I became nostalgic, caught up in the display of his enthusiasm. Being presumptuous of his age, I naturally assumed it was a letter to Santa. My melancholy ended when the adults began to converse, finding it amusing, as I soon realized the child was in competition with his siblings and friends. Behavior tantamount to gambling or counting chickens before they hatch. The boy was gathering names, making a list of expected gift-givers, and not the traditional wish list to Santa.
While I welcomed the child’s joy and wanted his happiness to carry through, it was hard to move past the feeling of submissiveness. I wanted to say something about the possible arrogant, conceited, and boastful seeds I felt were being planted, a progressive avenue toward a prerogative feeling of entitlement. Later, in the absence of the children, I was tempted to say something but refrained. I didn’t get the sense there could be a “Spiritual Partnership.” Anticipating pushback, I remained silent. Feeling, perhaps my words would create a platform for a verbal crucifixion. In other words, push back — Twitter style — in the flesh, with persecution for acting holier than thou. In no way do I feel I have a submissive personality, but there are situations where silence is golden. In essence, I went along – to get along. Etiquette and the principles of meaningful communication, for growth in the spirit, have become diluted through the empowerment of instant and brief communications. As a child, I learned so much from my grandfather, who had no formal education, only wisdom through the word. Many of his words ring so vividly now. “God warns man against quarreling.” Those are his exact words. Subversion is of no value except to the perpetrator and ruins those who listen, our children.
How many of us just go along to get along? Likewise, how many of us take the rear seat and watch others influence the mentality and direction of the bus driver and the faith of our children? How many of us see the trees, but ignore the embers to a potential Forrest Fire? The fate of our nation and our children is at issue, with fear and hate in the driver’s seat. This is not my last blog.
Henry Lee Faulkner
“Guidance Against the Odds” ©2016
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