WHO ARE WE, – AND WHAT COULD WE STILL BECOME??
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Is it worth raising this question?..
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The question who we really are is not confined to anyone in one culture, – but includes human beings in all cultures.
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With differences in background , culture and or genetic structure, we are all part of the same species.
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By chance we were either born in South Africa or Russia, – either born in Syria or the US… Or any other place….
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By chance our parents created a conception at a particular time, – otherwise we (as we are now) would not have existed. And people with a different awareness would have walked around. Coincidence, fate or predetermined, – we don’t know.
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If e.g. my granddad would not have returned from Canada to the Netherlands – because my grandma was that badly homesick – my dad would have been born in Canada. The last if the timing of his conception would have been exactly the same…
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If not, the genetic DNA structure and the awareness unique of this particular human structure, would have been totally different in its progression to the next generation . And for sure, “he” would not have met my later mum during the resistance movement in the Netherlands in 1942. And neither would he have been my dad.
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History for me would have been different, so for my wife and children. My wife would have met a different partner and perhaps I would not have been around at all.
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Is everything a matter of chance?
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Who are we, and where are we going?
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It is interesting you know!
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By chance we are living in the place where we are placed, as if the timing of our conception would have been different, many of us would not have existed in the way we are manifesting ourselves at present.
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And when either our dad or mum would have lived in a different country, circumstances would have been hugely different for likely all of us.
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It is mind-boggling when you start to think about this as you realise that lots of things are created as a matter of chance. Which does not take away our responsibilities because they are provided within our current appearance and circumstances. But the awareness of this reality by chance (I guess), helps to receive everything with a certain appreciation, though circumstances can be quite awkward for some.
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Hope this makes sense.
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I need to give an additional perspective.
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People from most Christian denominations may disagree with me on this one.
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However, – its matter of chance where we are born, the genetic structure we have and the circumstances in which are placed at the start of our lifespan on this planet. Unless everything is predetermined. How can we know or not know. The secrets of life are still a mystery but people make at some extent free choices, including partner, career, holidays and name it.
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Not that we always have the best of each situation, for sure not, – just look around!
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It does not take much imagination what this says, both in our lives and that of others, whether it is nearby or far away. We can’t always escape the situation in which we are placed, because at times we have an obligation to meet or keep a promise, or not at all.
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The last thing we have is the gift of in those our final response to any specific situation.
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By chance the start of our first circumstances in life can be great, by chance the start of those initial circumstances can be terrible as well.We are not always sure what lies ahead, we are not always sure what the best possible decision is. We grow through it, at times this is very helpful but unquestionably this is not always the case for anybody. The assumption that we grow through circumstances is not always correct. People succeed or fail or fall and suffering is part of our existence. At times the design of the existing conditions may take someone’s life. Just look at those countries where this is happening day by night…
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Just a different perspective again:
If we have learnt to fear, we will express this in our circumstances, by choice. We will avoid certain circumstances or contacts. If we have learnt to love we are able to express this as well, we will embrace certain circumstances and contacts.
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Often, we are thrown in the deep end and have to swim across rough waters. We are relying on our inner strength to sustain, on our physical ability to keep up to speed, and on our moral affinity to keep our sense of duty balanced. In all this, – we may hope we belong to the God of our understanding, and that we may sense His grace out of the many options we have to choose in one particular situation. Options we have, day in and day out, – wherever we are, – wherever we may be. And for sure those who are willing to pray genuinely, they better do this honestly and fully. We are just “pop up’s” by chance or choice in creation and may only hope that we are part of a larger plan we can’t see as yet, if we ever do by the way.
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Mind you, it is not God or Christ who wanted children to be born in unsustainable circumstances. It is not “the will of God” that you are choking tomorrow on a potato or that a drunken truck driver hits your daughter’s car on the wrong end of the road and that she gets killed. Lots of things simply happen by chance, and the fact that nature was “created” is true, – but lots of the multiplication of nature happens by chance, and in the design itself, – we are manifesting ourselves. And in this manifestation, there is a beginning and an end, – by far not always as a matter of choice, – though choice we have.
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Some Church leaders may wonder where I put God in this picture…. On an aside note on this, – I can only say that I feel that God, at His choice, interacts with his creation, with foresight. However, the biblical David for instance, was anointed as Israel’s next King after it proved that Soul was a failure. His actions were not aligned with the original intent. Soul made himself a failure in the purpose of his creation and Gog has at times a plan with some of his people by choice, but may change his plan by coincidence when the “human pop up” fails his destiny.
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But anyhow, – lets carry on with the domain of human connections, the last which is important of what we are or may become.
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Friendships we need in life. Connections we need to sustain in life and broaden our own horizons by sharing thoughts we otherwise would not express, perhaps. Good connections in life are the most important gift, apart from having the gift of choice. One should entertain and commit to this “free gift” with full faith and trust, and include the people who are really dear to us, but also reach out where justice gets compromised, where people get abused, where poverty is reaching that stage it’s simply not acceptable anymore. Not that much we can do on our own, but in the connections we have we can do more then on our own, in the choices for our leaders we can do more than on our own. Because it is all about connecting energies working for the better. Is this part of a larger plan? Not sure about this.
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Being taken up by the stream of meaningful contacts may enlarge what we are and can be, for others as well.
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If we are able to cherish the mix of colours and the mix of race which is there as a manifestation of creation, we are able to inhale the oxygen of this planet, figuratively spoken.
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If life has thrown stuff on your plate which was not of your making, and even when there have been times that you wish you could escape from it, the memory of people whom you love dearly and with whom you feel loved as well, – may keep you balanced the pathway you have to follow, as then there will be always some “oxygen” in the air.
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The last question on earth is not what we are but what we became in both love and compassion to those who surround us. And in this it does not make any difference whether we are a Muslim Christian or Jew. The last question is whether we really did share in sorrow and cheer of those around. Then we can go in peace back to the God of our understanding, when our transition takes place. The last one which is not terminal, as nothing is terminal,- everything is transitional.
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On what appeared on this planet by chance in the form of human beings as part of the wider concept of creation, – has been given “the gift of choice” in its manifestation. Again, that is the point, or one of the main points.
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For a better humanity, this is when we have contributed to a better state of human race, – including contributing towards more tolerance among our fellow human beings.
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This is what counts, the so long forgotten crux in any religion that it is about helping each other and not killing each other. I say this in the most simple way, but often it is the forgotten way in the sum of human history.
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That’s not by chance you know, that’s by choice!
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The God of our understanding has given all the “pop ups” in human creation the gift of choice to make things either better or bitter. And we are not free from the battle of the mind, not free from the battle in our existence.
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If we stand for those in the shadow at the good end of the moral spectrum, we may perceive our last moment on earth as a new beginning. The last because the question of our belonging extends far more further than what we can see and hear, – in our short lifespan on this planet. That’s part of a never-ending creation.
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Again, that’s the chance given to us, – brought on in our perception perhaps by chance, – as there is really little purpose to see children being born in war stricken areas with a special intent for their suffering. With a special intent that they are born in that particular place with a purpose to die days later, – or being taken into a terror cult, or being taken into other slavery. Much happens by chance through the purpose of others and sadly for many it seems survival of the strongest, by chance, and only in part by choice. Babies who are killed or malnourished have no choice. It happens to them through others.
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The “who am I” question is not only a question to be raised by a person at any stage in his or her life.
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This question applies to countries as well in the form of: “Who are WE as a people?”
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It is a question with political implications, – whether you accept it or not. It’s a question not raised by chance, but by choice. In choices which affects others for the better off the bitter.
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“Experience” kept us suspicious of others preventing us from being open and truthful in our appreciation of others, or countries, – and at times for a very good reason. Mind you! There are countries or other entities where the sum of all the parts is a terrible frightening one. When we are born there we will be always on our guard and in order to survive a lot of people have to adapt, conform, in ways hard to understand for people who are brought up differently. Is there something like a collective responsibility or is a “let go and let live” approach better? I suspect that there are no “rules” for this.
History evolves anyway through trillions of choices including the choice of strategic patience.
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For sure, this is not a matter of chance but it’s all a matter of choice!
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Looking back, – (not that we can doing anything about it), – the parents of Adolf Hitler did chose the timing on conception of this person at the wrong time of the scale, whilst the timing of Mother Theresa was spot on. If this would have happened one day later or one day earlier the DNA structure and the power of this particular manifestation (or “pop up”)would have been completely different. But the phenomenon of “Hitler” was supported by collective German choice, so to say.
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Isn’t this a weird thought?
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For sure, let’s take this however with a sense of humour, as definitely there is more to it..
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The difference between Hitler and Mother Theresa though, was the spectrum of conscious, which did “exclude” in one case the Jews and many others, – and in the other case it did “embrace” everybody! It was the difference between evil in progress and love in motion. And with this history is in an ongoing balancing act.
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That people are born by chance we accept, or perhaps not.
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But what they do by choice, is the crux.
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There was no purpose in the existence of Hitler, neither is there purpose in many of the dictators on this planet. They are just bad “pop ups” from the universal manifestation on earth, and the sooner they go the better I this is. Obviously we need to stop them, if possible, but timing and strategic patience are factors to be considered rather than acting hastily with the risk ” the danger of dangers” breaks free. This with a reference to North Korea.
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Sadly any assassination attempt on Hitler and his crew proved to be unsuccessful.
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Who are we, – or, what could we still become?
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When we were a child we spoke like a children, but when we became an adult – we should act like adults, with the future of our children at heart.
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What sort of a future?
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When challenge strikes us at the wrong moment, we may be weakness in progress, – but when challenge strikes whilst we are balanced amidst the positive and influential encounters we have, – we may act stronger perhaps than ever expected. We all may act the wrong way when we are touched the wrong way, no matter how good we are or may be… But if our children get harmed or killed, – we may strike out in anger and become evil. It is not always possible to resist this temptation if we deal with evil, but it is better being evil than doing evil. Being evil in our anger is better than doing evil in our outrage. This applies e.g. to Islāmic fractions who stand up against each others throat, – when sentiments are hurt.
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Mind you, by the way, no way that I say that the reigns in Saudi Arabia are good, – disturbing as they are at times………You know what happened, I guess, a short time ago. Saudi Arabia executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, – including a prominent Shiite cleric, who rallied protests against the government.
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This happened by choice, not by chance!
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The people who were killed recently were neither really killers or terrorists, but Iran did kill people as well, who were neither assassins nor bombers in the past. It shows how often people are at the mercy of unpredictable and intolerant regimes, not allowing any opposition. The last applies to people in North Korea as well.
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What applies to people when you hope and expect them to become real adults, applies to counties as well. But how often does it really happen? How often regulate countries themselves to economic conditions, – that will take the essentials from the many, to give the comforts to the few? And then as such in an excess at times astonishing. Definitely most countries are not matured the way they could be.
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Worse even, they kill to keep the status quo, and screw their justice systems to keep it that way, – not rarely with barbaric murder and mutilation being wiped under the carpet, if possible. They protect their secrecies
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One can’t judge a country on the contents of its leadership, however sometimes the contents of the leadership resonates willingly or unwillingly with the people of such a country.
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Lets take pride in Nawal al-Hawsawi an outspoken, black, and qualified pilot who married to a white man. The ‘Rosa Parks’ of Saudi Arabia who showed in non-violent action she does not agree what is common law on marriage.
She asked herself as well: ” Who am I”. I am living will with a right to love, who can be against me if I do no harm?
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She did this by choice, not by chance!
Many of us are restless and longing for the oxygen in life, even in the slightest moment of an encounter, far away or distant nearby.
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Hungry for the human connection, most of us.
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But “the free floating oxygen” as part of revitalizing human connections can be diminished if the social context gets on the spectrum of being a human threat, as the level of trust might be reduced in such a case.
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Mind you…and listen carefully….. I give an example, an important one at this stage, – as it is not by chance but by choice! It’s a political one which play’s out at the moment, and sorry for this little distraction from the theme.
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I am quite candid in saying this:
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The poison and intolerance of one person may destroy relations in and outside the US if Donald Trump would be elected US President in 2016!
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The faint shimmer of a new humanity would be more down the drain than ever before in the US, – in such case.
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It is more than surprising that US Churches don’t take a united stance in matters, to avoid this happening. It would seem true religion and politics do not match very well, and far to often churches have been silent bystanders. Like the Roman Catholic Church at the times of Hitler, during the second world war, – they even made a deal.
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It is up to the Americans which way they want to go, either the way of increasing friction among race and religion, with a risk of more civil unrest in the US and more disruption in the world… Or, – more tolerance and understanding whilst eliminating people who can’t refrain from being evil by doing evil, – in such excess that it justifies their destruction.
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It’s a matter of a free choice in a country, tainted by history, infected by racial tension, to make the right choice in line with common courtesy and respect for other cultures, – and race alike!
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Children still kill each other on the streets in Chicago. At times they are shot as well by others..
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If the US is not going to stop this, it is only a matter of time waiting for a massacre greater than the Civil War. Self inflicted, – by inflated perceptions on what is right or wrong in gun control. The abolishment of slavery is , likewise, but different, – proper, – as the abolishment of enslavement to inflated gun laws, … and the day by day unlawful killings on the streets of almost any big city in the US, – as a result of this, by day and by night.
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By choice, not by chance!
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The US is anyway not free from the dangers of violence and further polarisation, but choosing the wrong US President is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice….. Donald Trump is simply not qualified to run a country. His only qualification is being a rich business man with neither proven manners or an acceptable standard on a real partnership with a multi-cultural society .. And I am sure, such a bad choice would affect the world.
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Definitely, US readers, – at least some, – will be greatly annoyed what I say here.
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For sure, I have nothing else to do with the US rather than my sympathy for this country to have a better future, and a better influence in the world. And I am surprised about the way people are making their choices there, not knowing what is lying ahead, – quite a few not having the faintest perceptions on the potential dangers on Trump as a phenomenon in US history.
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Therefore people and churches need to speak out in the US.
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People in the US are qualified to judge with common sense, I hope, at least if their support structures providing the support they really need. It is amazing that the right-wing sector of the Republican party, with all those so-called Christians, are prepared to support Donald Trump if he wins the Republican nomination
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Why is this important now?
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Well, it is all part of: ” Who are we or what could we still become?”
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We owe it to ourselves to believe in the future. More then enough countries are already messed up and we can’t allow the US to be messed up by Donald Trump, and with this, the rest of the world as well, – as he has no concept of real sustained diplomacy to create positive and sustainable change for the better.
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You know, the power of a country can’t be only judged on its military strengths, – but by its leverage in the world to resolve problems in cooperation with the other superpowers and others, – and to avoid conflict.
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It is all part of the question who we really are and where we want to go. A question, each time with different dimensions and opportunities. And in each of those opportunities lies perhaps the best choice which we need to search for, and this is the craving for that thing, that choice, which may slowly resolve the brokenness in ourselves and in the world.
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Where we go as a people is not by chance but by choice and only by making the best possible decisions in each new entity of life, – there is a way forward. Not only for us but also for the people who surround us, with whom we are interlinked. Not only for us as people, but for all communities and countries as well.
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Leaders today need to be qualified as the world is too complex, too perplexing, – to allow evil doing evil.
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If we have the privilege of living in a country where our ancestors by choice created a Democracy, lets stick to the responsibility of this choice, and the privilege as such, – the advantage of enhancing our freedom and justice systems by choice and as such I would say it would not be wise to take the chance with Donald Trump, – apart from all the other things I said.
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The major challenge of leadership is to restore the balance between what lies at the core of our humanity, – and the qualities which direct us in both actions of goodwill and cooperation towards the challenges we face in the future.
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Much of the misery nowadays in this world is caused by the fact that people lose their ability to connect with each other. A real mental connection is a tie to the past and a road to the future, a tie to human rights and a bridge to justice. And if we are failing to fasten the links between Nations based on the core of our humanity, as a people we will get more and more disconnected, – and as such we will be failing the children who will be the future of the next generation.
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It is as Nelson Mandela once said: “A Good Head and a Good Heart are Always a Formidable Combination”.
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And this, – he became by choice, – not by chance!
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Still we can make a difference, and say: “Why not?”
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HOW?
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Really, – by choice:
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To honour and to improve life where possible, and to make more gentle the life of this world..
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Thank you for reading this.
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Paul Alexander Wolf
Paul Alexander Wolf
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https://paulalexanderwolf.com/2013/01/06/we-dream-of-things-that-never-were-and-say-why-not/
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https://paulalexanderwolf.com/2013/01/11/peace/
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