The Catalyst

How’s it going?

First, let me say thank you to everyone who has been open to follow me where I’ve been going with these last couple of Catalysts. To be honest, I’ve wanted to touch on this subject for a while. I was hesitant because I know people never like to be challenged. No one is relaxed outside of his or her comfort zone. For many people, religion is taboo and should never be scrutinized. I know because I’ve fallen victim to this train of thought. Once again, I do believe in God. I go to church, religiously (pun intended). I believe that the Bible is an incredible work and the philosophies that are shared within the covers are invaluable. However, when you break it down, the Bible is a book. And like any other book, the reader gives it meaning.
People think that when I discuss topics like free will and God’s Will that I’m being argumentative. Not so. I’m just bringing fresh new ideas. If you believe the same truths now that you believed 5 years ago you haven’t grown (mentally). You mean to tell me that you were never wrong about an idea and forced to change. If that’s the case chances are you probably have the same friends you’ve always had. You only hang around people that agree with you. You go to the same places to have fun and if this describes you that is fine. Live your life. But I wrote these past Catalysts for those who love radical, outside-the-box thinking. People look at religion for answers. Too bad you won’t find them because the source of all learning begins inside you. You have to know yourself before you will ever learn anything. Your perspective filters all the information your brain receives. Have you heard the term of looking through “rose (red) colored glasses”? If you’re wearing glasses with red tint, everything you see will have a reddish shade because that is the perspective you’re looking out of. The same thing happens in life. When you have a certain perspective, this point of view will filter everything you sense. That is why we disagree on topics such as religion. We all look out of different colored lenses. Remember when I said that you and me have different Gods? That is not true (see, I accepted a new truth in less than 2 weeks). We have the same God we just look at Him differently. It makes sense when you think about it. If you have brothers or sisters each of you will have a different image of your parents. That is why it is so important to begin inside when you’re seeking answers. If you want to change your circumstances you have to change your thinking. NO EXCEPTIONS! It’s that simple yet it’s that difficult. One of the hardest things to do is change your thinking or paradigm, if you will.
Change can be scary. You have become accustomed to behaving a certain way. If you were raised in the church like me you’ve been conditioned to act accordingly or face hellfire, brimstone, and eternal damnation. That is why you are scared to question the Bible. I can agree that the Bible is holy but it is still a man made book. God did not write it. He influenced it. God did not translate it. Men did, and hopefully, correctly. Can I keep it real? I don’t believe that God interferes in our lives. I believe God has given us all the power we need to dominate in this world. He’s given us the power to heal ourselves. We have the power to bless and curse. We can give and take life. You don’t pray for a cut to heal but you’ll pray if you get diagnosed for cancer. Your body is designed to heal itself. You pray for a new car but all you have to do is save your money. I’m not taking anything away from God. He has blessed us with tremendous abilities. It’s just sad that we are so dependent on Him we rarely utilize them. We are like 30 year olds who still live with Momma (no offense to whom this applies). If we would just act right we wouldn’t need God to perform miracles all the time. Everything God is going to do for you has already done. The rest is up to us. You’re sitting there waiting on God to act and in reality He’s waiting on you. Don’t foozle* your life away. You have developed your identity based on your routine thoughts so if you change your thoughts, you will inevitably change who you are. To some, that may be liberating. To others, that is frightening. You will think to yourself, if I change I will no longer be me. If I’m not me, who will I be? What will the church folk think if I don’t agree with the pastor on a particular point? Will my friends like the new me? Probably not. Trust me, I know. But the new you will bring new, better friends. And even if you don’t (which is highly unlikely), as long as you love yourself you will have all the company you need.
If you haven’t learned anything just remember this: God is not going to be mad at you for asking questions. He wants us to understand Him. One of my main questions is how come God doesn’t help everyone in need. I’m not talking about a little extra money until payday. I’m talking about Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. He had the power to prevent these catastrophes but He didn’t. What up with that? True story: I lived in an apartment and I heard a man beating his wife and kids. One would expect that I do something. I knew I had the power to go over there and interrupt the tumult. I could also call the police. I could have minded my own business but what would that say about me? I prayed. I asked what I should do. God told me that the decision to act would be completely mine. He also said that my choice would not lead Him to view me any differently. Then I asked why He didn’t do anything to help. God replied that help was already there. I asked where it was because I didn’t see it. The Lord said the help was praying and waiting for answers. Sometimes it’s better to act than look for signs. If you truly have faith you will never need anyone to validate your decisions.

“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” - Galileo Galilei

Dream Big. Live Bigger.

The All-American
http://www.rallostyles.com/
http://thecatalystexperience.blogspot.com/

*Word you’ve never heard…

foozle /FOO-zul/ verb - to manage or play awkwardly: bungle