Witchvox Article

Author: Aoibhin [a WitchVox Sponsor]
Posted: November 30th. 2011
Times Viewed: 147

I think some things go without being said, things that need to be said. All too often we complain about society after watching the news. It�s almost to the point where you need an anti-depression pill just to get through an hour of television. Violence is turning this society�s heart black with hate and ignorance. This is, no matter what religion you choose, taught against. Things that we know are morally wrong are happening, but the view as become, "Well it won't happen to me". To have that thought about the issue is wrong. It is happening to you, only in a less noticeable manner.

Our laid-back, non-confrontational attitudes toward issues like drugs and violence is allowing them to infiltrate our homes and schools. By sidestepping the problem we open the door to it and invite it into our homes and lives. These issues must be confronted for future generations to stand a chance. We have become accustomed to placing the blame on others, but when we point a finger we must learn that three fingers point back at us. This is stated in Wiccan beliefs as the three fold law. What we put out in our lives we simply must expect to get back. This is Karma. Do unto others as you want others to do unto you is the Golden rule.

View life if you will as one huge pond with many fish. When we toss a rock in the center of the pond ripples break away from the starting splash. The splash is the action and the ripples the reaction. As the ripples push away from the splash, they start to fade, but they have affected other fish on a smaller and smaller scale.

Society for the most part has forgotten what taking responsibility means. I looked it up in the dictionary, which defines it as, �The state or fact of being responsible.� I think it means more than that, so I asked my friends what they felt it meant. Mike (who is an amazing Raiki healer) explained it best by breaking it down like so:

(Response) How you answer a call/challenge/opportunity. (Bill) it's not going to be free. The cost could be in time/labor/materials or even mentally. (T) This is the choice part because the �T� represents a crossroads. This is where you can choose to say no and walk away or accept the challenge.

It�s really what defines your character. Looking at it in these terms, we can see where the breakdowns are happening.

The Call: We as a whole are being called upon. It's not a full-on alarm yet, but it's getting there. Violence has become part of life. We hear more and more about it. Women, children, and animals are being abused. Random shootings and robberies are normal now in a lot of places. We see the hungry and homeless, we know the tired and the sick, and we lock our doors and close our windows when once the cool night breeze rocked us to sleep.

The Challenge: Fix what is broken. You may be asking yourself "What really is broken?" Society is what's broken. The human love, spirit, and faith in mankind are fading. We all have let a bunch of small things equal one big mass. The issues have grown out of hand and must now be fixed. Differences in faith have brought hate. It does not matter what path you choose: Christian, Pagan, Muslim, other, or none; moral and universal laws still exist. Hate breeds fear where we need courage.

Why is love only shown in a selfish manner? Love is something to be given without thought of receiving. Start with your children. Don't be afraid to talk to them. Hold them every day you get the chance, and tell them you love them for who they are. Lead them by example let them know that hate only hurts people it doesn't help. Let them know that drugs are not an answer to fix a problem. Don't do drugs yourself, so your family doesn't see you like that because if you can't first love yourself you can't love anyone.

If you fall, know you haven't failed. Brush the dirt off and try again. Remember, when you pass a homeless person, know they are a person with a spirit and feelings. When you pass a charity collection and don't drop the change in your pocket in it because you�re busy or you�re short on cash, remember the person in need could be you one day.

The Opportunity: Sometimes all people need is an opportunity to change. Maybe the wife that is being abused needs a friend to show her they care and give her the courage and support she needs to take the opportunity to leave. Maybe the sickly looking child that rides the bus with your children needs an opportunity to get help. Perhaps their parents can't afford healthcare, and they need treatment, or their family can't afford enough food. Now remember that collection bucket you walked by?

Pay the (bill) forward. Nothing in this life is free. There is a cost to everything. Time is the only true thing we have to give. We give time for our jobs, time to our families; give some to a stranger. Donate some of that time to help out a soup kitchen. Give some time to teach something. Life is labor intensive, so help take the load off each other. Help an elderly lady push her shopping cart to her car. If someone at work is having a hard time doing something, teach him or her how to do it. It's said you can bring a man a fish, and he eats for a day, but teach him to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime. Be friendly to each other. Smiles are free; pass one along. Say hello to a stranger.

Now here's the (T) in the road: What path will you choose? Will you turn your back on someone in need? Will you walk the path that will make you stronger in your faith? It doesn't matter what faith you are right now reading this, you�re human, breathing the same air as the next person reading this. What does your character say about you? We aren't so different, so why treat each other like we are?

I chose the rocky path. I help the elderly lady, I buy a meal for the hungry person, I donate my time and money to help another, and I will love you the same no matter color or religion. I will stand up for you when hope looks lost and pick you up when you fall. I am strong in my faith, and I am proud. I am a parent, wife, sister, a daughter, I am human, a stranger, and no better than anyone else. I'm sure that this may have offended someone somewhere reading this. For that, I'm sorry, but these are my views, and I can't and won�t change who I am. I can only hope I have made a difference in someone�s life for the greater good and start a change in people by writing this.

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Aoibhin

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