CJ's World

[warning: here you will get a little glimpse into my philosophical nature; what stimulates my thought processes, the complexity and oddity.]

This morning I read,
“No man is born either naturally or supernaturally with character,
he has to make character”  (O. Chambers, 1935).

The nature of evil has permeated my thoughts for many decades, as observed in my personal and professional life (in the mental health field). Research and spiritual quests have not provided me satisfactory answers.

I have lived through the pendulum swinging “nature vs nature” debate, which morphed into “genetics vs environment, and the latest term, “epigenetics,” the environmental influences on  genetic expression, which is just the same concept using different language.

The last week or so, I have violated my set boundary regarding the amount of news consumed. Now over stimulated with evil acts mankind perpetrates on each other, the vitriol anger, extreme labeling, lack of cognitive reasoning and measured emotions. Such diametrically opposed opinions and actions just keep magnifying, rare attempts to find some little morsel of agreement, lack of desire for peace making.

I apologize for my little rant. All this just brought back the deep regret I feel when I examine the forces that destroyed my family connections. With siblings vehemently taking opposing sides, bombarding our ninety year old mother, ending up with her hospitalized multiple times, me in the middle.

Deep breath. Or two. Back to my calm, middle-child, mediating self. Although I am not seeing the way forward for mankind and culture, I do not give up my quest for understanding. Next I read, “God is engineering my circumstances.” I wish He would stop.

If you have made it this far, thanks for tolerating an exposé of my thought process. And may you be a light for peace in your immediate world. I start by smiling at store clerks, amidst grumpy customers.