The Illusion of Life.
Posted: Monday, September 17, 2007
by straight talk
The Wake Up Series as a series of articles presenting real and hypothetical considerations.
In my opinion the life of all humans is one of illusion. We even wear clothes, dress, drive cars, and own homes that speak to being more then what we really are and, in effect, more than what we really need. You see we are a society and a world who judges the book by the cover. We actually, whether on purpose or not, seek out those we think have it all, are important or someone, to be around them, to hang with them to somehow get a piece of what we suspect or believe they have by being associated with them. It somehow elevates who we are. It is really an expression of our insecurity or a desire to have what we may never have experienced. It speaks to what we believe will bring happiness.
Now as I stated this philosophy or concept is just not applicable to America only but to many nations and cultures who have adopted this ideology. They have an insatiable appetite for more and more. They consume more and more and they never seem to find anything that can satisfy their desire for more. Even the wealthy are not satisfied. They seem to lust for more and more and actually strive to be on top, the richest and most powerful. Yes, just like the pharaohs of old they then build their momumemts to history as if to say don't forget me and who I was.
In my opinion just look at our President as a simple example. He has all he could ever want or need yet it is alleged that he chases after his legacy. How important is a legacy when people are starving, dying, homeless? How will he be remembered in history is what they say drives him. Evidently how he gets there is not the issue, only history is.
To say we are not all infected by the same is not fair. All of us seek “the good life", to be someone, to be important and accepted. All of us want the riches of this earth and the pleasures it offers. After all we are human beings and the world provides the carnal, physical, real pleasures of life. The fragrance that impacts all the senses and the mind. The spirit life only alludes to after we die and we yearn for pleasure and happiness now, in the living state. So, is there anything wrong with that?
Well to think that the spirit rhelm offers little is to not understand the spiritual reality that it offers, peace, love, harmony and the things we all so long for in our relationships. The spirit rhelm offers to the living that which is of true value. It offers the pricless things the world cannot ever begin to offer. To say otherwise is just not so. Only those who discard the soul chase after that which is carnal and physical and equate that to love. How sad for them?
Certainly for believers in God wealth or being rich is not a negative. It is how you achieved it and what you do with it, or how you use it that can make it right or wrong. I think if you gain your wealth not at the expense of others, their exploitation or abuse that is certainly a good thing. Yet, only you know the treatment you apply to others. It is not in the thinking you are kind and considerate or even the act it is the actual act that makes it that. To you it may be kind to give a worker two weeks notice with pay, but if you have not considered everything before taking that action or took that action for the bottom line and profit only then have you done what is right? You may appease yourself with it but it will not change the impact to those you have laid off.
So why is it that so many, in fact the vast majority, do not ever achieve happiness, prosperity or for that matter freedom, peace, health, security in all forms? Why is it that so many struggle, starve, or attain medium levels of prosperity, if that? Is it that the majority are underachievers and never reach their potential?
Many go from worry to worry even if they are educated and have abilities. Could it be choices or what we seek that is the stumbling block? Of course those who have no education or opportunity are regulated to low paid jobs, constant unemployment or crime to get what they desire. They are in a dead end with no future or real possibilities. Who contributed and what to their choices and subsequently their situation? To pass it all to them is not real. Their had to be contributors that shaped their situation. Of course the military is an opportunity which is available to rise up from the lowest ranks yet it is not for all.
Does it all come full circle back to people, systems, those with the power and wealth, governments, religion, education, motivation, just what? I suspect a little of each is involved. Yet, if we look through history we see a repetition of the same. The few who own or control it all, the masses under them who do the work and the poor who in the eyes of the haves, bleed the system.
So the real question for everyone who seeks a one world system is it about people or about power, wealth and money? Just what is it all about? In reality we all know the truth to the answer of that question. Now you have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to know and I do not mean by nature of the infirmity. Why is it that everyone can’t have those things we all need? Notice I did not say desire.
Many people are perfectly happy with the necessities in life. They do not need the rich or opulent. Is it more practical to ask why do some need so much? Is the question to be asked of religious that could it evidently be that God does not desire it for everyone? I think not. I think it is the element of man that prohibits this from ever happening.
Why, think this? Well Christians are aware Jesus came that they should have life and have it more abundantly as He even desired it for all. I can’t speak for other religions but is that not the case as well? Is that abundance of this world, or the after life, or only for the select few? So just why is it not so for all, at least those who believe in Him? Just what keeps many from attaining that which we profess and what we believe will be for us? Could it be that we seek more then what Jesus was talking about, or more then what we need to be happy? Is what Jesus talking about what we even perceive? Is that why when the world was offered to Jesus it was rejected by Him as worthless, corrupt and decayed, or, will you say He obeyed His father. Yes, that is true but He also knew the worthlessness of worldly goods and its corruption.
So we must now turn to the secular society. In America we are proud to say everyone has an equal opportunity. Yet, do we believe that? Do we really believe everyone has an equal opportunity or is the opportunity tied to who you know, what you have, who you belong to? Is it tied to chance, being in the right place at the right time or coincidence? What about the other nations of which the majority are poor or middle class and where few own even limited wealth?
So just what is it? In my opinion it is an illusion to think the average or poor people of any society have an opportunity to get rich. Only money makes money and they do it on the backs of the masses. The poor and the middle class do it on credit and by encumbering themselves to debt. They in effect mortgage their life for the things they perceive as important. Many of us have been there or are there.
Well as I stated since time began the attainment of money has been related to killing, the weapons of war, the exploitation of the weak, stealing, the fostering of power upon others, the taking by force, the pillaging of the wealth of others.
The sad part is the majority of those who fought and died and still do for this concept were and are the poor, the average of the world. Yes, they fought in the early days for the promise of wealth and riches. Today they fight for ideology, religion. It matters not the wealthy sit by the wayside and reap the profits, the riches, the power. Only the vanquished lose it all.
So the towns, cities, and places all over this world where the poor and average live they have their vets, their wounded, their lame, their handicapped their sons, daughters and fathers who served their country and fought for its ideals and its beliefs. It was the same throughout history.
Now here in America we believe we have noble ideals and worthy to fight for. Of course those we fight against do not see it that way. Freedom, choice, opportunity which we sincerely believe we all have and to a large degree they are right. A few can literally become wealthy. Other nations yearn for what we have or at least we believe that. We are the wealthiest nation on the face of this earth. It is a fact that many of our people do well and live good. Even the worst of our poor live better then the poor anywhere on this earth.
However, with all that said many are struggling to survive to secure or keep their piece of the pie. People in other nations are not anywhere close to us even though we are handing them America on a plate. So in all our efforts, our trillions of dollars, the dismantling of our industry our nation and our way of life the world remains the same. The world is changing but America is going, going gone as the auctioneer says.
So what am I getting at? I am saying that with all the wealth of this world, with all the trillions spent on war, a very profitable business and for all the exploitation of the masses, just when if ever are the masses going to wake up? This is not anti business or anti profit, You may call it anti exploitation and greed.
You see there should be with all the wealth of the industrial world, with all the trillions wasted on blood and death a way for humans to help their fellow man move out of the slums, the poverty, the sickness, the financial sorrow. Yet it cannot ever be. It cannot ever be because mankind does not think in this way. Mankind is fixed on the ways of this world. They do not see because they are blind. In fact they re resentful if anyone speaks the truth. They turn away and do not want to face reality with the pathetic, “what can I do?"
We simply and without pretense start with one and it spreads from there. From one to two to two to more, etc, etc, etc. Yet, this cannot ever be because we are fixed on the “me". It is ingrained in us from the moment we open our eyes and few ever overcome it.
Yes, there are many but a small percentage who overcome the desire to want more then they need. These types give of themselves more then they have and many times all of what they have in time, talent and treasure. They do not have to belong to a religion or a church they just have to be human beings who have a love of neighbor.
Perhaps we all the rich, the average and the poor can get along if we understand this is our planet. That we all should desire to better ourselves but not at the expense of others nor their exploitation or abuse. When we all reach that point just perhaps we will end the illusion we all are living under?
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2007, ©,Copyright ©2007 Robert Melaccio
This Article has been viewed 973 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)It was interesting at first, but then became boring, because, it kept making the same point and asking the same question, over & over & over. Needs to be compacted. It has a good point, but just drags on too long making it almost unbearable to continue reading, because it repeats itself too much. So I ask you this, does it reallly need to keep asking the same questions over & over? Did anyone notice I am doing the same thing? Are you getting the point yet? Are you starting to yawn? So tell me this, if you are yawning, is it because I am repeating myself? Or is it because I keep sayin the same thing over and over. When you yawn, is it because you are tired, or because you just need air? Perhaps the real reason, is because you are bored. We all know that being bored is essentially what puts you to sleep. Or, it is, what makes you commit a crime, or cheat on your spouse. God would not want us to do that, because it is against the ten commandments. (not getting bored, but cheating on your spouse) Just like the last democratic president, who cheated with Monica Lewinski. Was it because he was bored? Or because he was reading your article? At the risk of repeating myself...Do you get the point?Please log in to respond to this comment.Well Catherine, I sincerly appreciate your comments and honesty. I really do. Thanks for the time to read it all and reply. I can tell by the tone you were effected negatively. For that I apologize. So I sincerely appreciate your comments and feedback, I know you were bothered by the content. So thanks for the comments. So yes Catherine I got the point. Thanks for the comments. I think I got it, I hope. That said really, thanks! Respectfully,Please log in to respond to this comment.
Robert, well perhaps Catherine got up, or fell asleep, on the wrong side of the bed, eh? I completely disagree with her and think your article is strong and makes a great deal of good points. You say: "...Certainly for believers in God wealth or being rich is not a negative. It is how you achieved it and what you do with it, or how you use it that can make it right or wrong. I think if you gain your wealth not at the expense of others, their exploitation or abuse that is certainly a good thing...." Well, that has been an argument I've had for years. Many Christians have misunderstood the term "poverty" and believe in order to feel worthy of Christ, we must live in poverty -- You, Mr. Melaccio, stated my thoughts much more eloquently than I ever could. Good job!Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks Judi for your kind support. I always have to remind myself that if make a choice to enter the arena we leave ourselves vulnerable. Others can sit in the background and do their thing. What one likes another doesn't. However, even if the message is presented poorly it does not detract from the truth of the message. I have learned to presnet the message in varied approaches and words because what one gets another doesn't. It does leave the reader with if you get the message you don't have to read any further. All the very, very best, as always. Mr. MelaccioPlease log in to respond to this comment.
Mr. Melaccio, This is a very thoughtful and well written article. I am sorry that you were visited by an insulting viewer but perhaps it is she who is bored with being bored. Pay no attention and be proud of your contributions that we all need to hear.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thank you Doris for reading my work. I know this sounds corny to some but we all need to have a wakeup as to what is important in life. We all have our own situations to deal with but and this is a big but, when we can focus on what is important and really important those things of this world somehow become easier to walk with and carry. Thank you so much for your encouragement! Best wishes.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Great article Robert. It tended toward universality of our common experiences rather than dogma. Thank you. Best............ePlease log in to respond to this comment.E- I have considered much of what you have written to and I sincerely respect and appreciate your comments and feedback. Thank you.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Oh, I forgot, I was looking back at my articles and noticed a comment that you had made about my "Red Lights and Shoplifters" I don't always receive a notification from Searchwarp when I have a comment, or perhaps I just miss them? At any rate, I have now replied to your comment. Sorry it was so late! Best .........ePlease log in to respond to this comment.Yes. they don't always notify us ???? I try to review all of mine so that I don't miss any but it gets to be pretty hard.Please log in to respond to this comment.
hi robert, my eye opener has been this past year, when i experienced what it means to have absolutely no money other than to pay the bills, and buy food. i never had to live like that before, and it was hard at first, but i have actually saved hundreds of dollars by being satisfied with where i am at the time. i know i'll never be wasteful again, and i will appreciate gas for my car, money to buy a soda if i'm out, and the fact that God got me through just fine. thanks for a good, thought provoking article, best regards, suePlease log in to respond to this comment.Thanks Susan, i do hope things are looking up. We have to take one day at a time. Frankly with the way my days are I'm have to section it into quarters. I really can't say I have had an easy path for quite sometime. In fact since moving to this state I call the darkness State, Florida. Everyone seems to long for it but believe me it is not a state for the poor or average American of for families. I miss NJ. Paradise isn't all its cracked out to be when man is the one creating it. Have a great day, best wishes Robert.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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