Photo of me with my mother – I think that was snapped after I returned from deployment to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Desert Shield/Storm/Saber.
Pain
There are at least seven answers to “the problem of pain” or “how to be happy”.
The Buddhist answer. Existence is pain. Happiness is an illusion. Blessedness comes from the cessation of existence.
The Pantheist answer. Division – existence as a separate being – is pain. Happiness is found by becoming one with everything – cessation of existence as an individual being.
The Hedonist answer. Existence is pointless suffering and happiness is a lie. Existence can be rendered more tolerable by the maximization of pleasure and minimization of pain.
The Stoic answer. Existence is suffering. The self-commanded man can become happy by disregarding pleasure & pain, becoming indifferent to the travails of the world, and being motivated only by his sovereign will.
The Gnostic/Bolshevik answer. The current state of existence is a lie designed to entrap and disenfranchise men by an evil and arbitrary authority. The internalization of this evil system by men produces suffering. Happiness can be found if the current order is destroyed; thus, for salvation to be accomplished, both the current state of existence and the nature of man must be changed. This change can only be accomplished by transgression and destruction. The new order of salvation will arise once sufficient transgression and destruction have been accomplished, bringing happiness.
The Theistic answer. Suffering is brought about by transgression of the Law, given by God. Salvation comes through following the Law. If you are saved, God will make you happy. This understanding is fundamentally transactional; pay undeserved suffering & obedience, and receive happiness.
The Christian answer. For man, suffering, and death came with the Fall. God blessed and hallowed suffering and death by Himself choosing to suffer and die – so He does not ask of us anything He has not done Himself.
Boy band…white stripes.
Retro Blogger Photo
Famous blogger and author wearing a CIA ball cap and standing next to “The She-Devil”.
Deathwish
Hot/Not
1600 people were polled where the most and least attractive people in the country are from, 2013. So all we really know is where they were 10 years ago.
Stretch before you exercise.
I think that she’s in California…
I was looking for an old document on computer in the last hour and the first thing that came up was my mother’s eulogy I wrote in June 2013. A family and farm lady who never stopped.
Best Mother’s Day wishes to all those who can celebrate or remember.
RIP to your mother. It’s proper to remember her every day. Maybe especially more so today.
Hot/Not
I guess they excluded Tuscaloosa in their survey. Some of the best looking girls in the US can be found there.
It’s a college town and as such…
Happiness is a choice, comes from within. Suffering? Often come from either bad decisions or – mostly – from outside sources invading one’s space screwing with the life chi.
Most attractive/ugly residents…THAT’S important (not). Attractive Lives Matter…a sign of our vacuous times, especially considering the ‘survey’ was likely based solely on outward appearance…which fades no matter how hard one tries otherwise (though some are lucky in the genetics department). I have met some gals who got less attractive the more I spoke with them, while some ‘middle of the road’ gals got very attractive as they spoke. THEN…I met one who was attractive when I met her (my instant impression) only to get more ‘beautiful’ as we talked…and that trend continues today. MrPaulM.
‘Attractive’ is the shell, but Beauty is the whole being.
Then there was my mother…a beautiful woman and the glue that held our family together. She is missed.
Hahha..Was that a sign of the times Freudian slip typo, ’MrPaulM’. No, just a typo, MrsPaulM is all woman with zero doubt of her “gender”.
I hope that MRSPAULM wasn’t standing over you, seax in hand…and that your blog post was freely given…
She laughed, as expected. Does not take herself (or thankfully, me for that matter) too seriously until it’s needed on the important stuff.
Btw…love that picture of you and your mom. Pure joy.
I’ve met a lot of women of both types, Paul. Some decidely “average” gals made me swoon as I got to know them, and some of the “beauties” made me run away screaming as I talked to them.
Yep, “beauty” takes on all forms but true beauty comes from within.
x2
Since us males are visual creatures per God’s prescription we are initially attracted to the packaging, then beyond the chase the really good stuff comes out…or it doesn’t.
Like the Gal above…we see a very fit gal, clearly “good packaging” and a desire to take care of herself. But what’s behind the Ray Bans? It could enhance the image or seriously detract…but that’s the fun part of finding out, even if simple friendly conversation, sans the acquisition agenda.
Attractive – song by the Northern Pikes called “She Ain’t Pretty, She Just Looks That Way”. Our society could use more of that to counter the Beauty is All disinfo we’re flooded with. It’s been out there – at least as far back as I Samuel 16:7.
Beauty is skin deep. Ugly goes clear to the bone.
Life is pain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThDwS79HPhs
“Everybody who says differently is selling something.”
Anymore, it seems anyway, everything is sales and marketing and politics.
Trouble and desire:
https://youtu.be/9CszWdkZw5k?t=53
Happiness is accepting where you happen to be.
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
As Christians, we know that whatever crap we are tolerating now, none of it compares to the joy set before us. Milliseconds vs eternity.
My wife has been living in pain for months now.
My best friend, for a couple years.
They are both happy. Seriously.
“CAN I GET AN AMEN!”
Ed, prayers sent for your wife’s comfort.
Thank you my friend.
Looks like you inherited your hair color from your mom.
Indeed
Amen to the mothers! Without them AND their patience, we literally would not be here. And that is a picture I had forgotten about… LOL
May we all have the strength of that stool and the faith of that dog