We are living in a material world ...

We are living in a material world ... Well, most of us are, on multiple levels. 

"We are living in a material world?"

I have to wonder, at some point, don't you have to ask yourself:  what is the illusion and what is truly real?

Everything is Beautiful ....

Everything is Beautiful, in its own way, right?  So says the song.  I always tell my children "God doesn't make anything that is not beautiful in some way."  Maybe man does, but God doesn't.

"Light Play in the Garden"

@2013 Copyrighted Photograph, All Rights Reserved:  Isabelle Black Smith.

 

 

Mini 'State of the Union': August 9, 2013

“Dichotomy”…  Refers to diametrically opposed traits, ideas or concepts, where the objects being contrasted and compared must be mutually exclusive  (i.e., no overlap exists between the members of each given set).   Dichotomies are useful in science and mathematics (e.g., developing keys to clearly identify species in science or developing mathematical theorems).  While useful in science and mathematics, dichotomies are often incorrectly employed in politics and advertising in order to over-simplify a given idea or problem.  Learning to identify these rhetorical tricks in language communications, particularly with respect to political agendas,  can be extremely useful.  For example, a politician running for office might say “we need better roads, therefore we need to raise taxes.”  This of course leaves out the option of re-allocating existing funds, or of using funds in a more efficient way.  The gross-over simplification of the issues is a trait common to many politicians who want to encourage uninformed and easily swayed people to vote for them and/or to agree with and support their policies and political agendas.

Perhaps, given the political environment in which we find ourselves these days, the terms ‘sophistry’ and ‘hyperbole’ would be useful terms to have familiarity with, as well,when assembling your reasoning arsenal.


[ And it doesn't have to be "them vs. us" ... We can come together, work together, in a bi-partisan effort to solve the many problems which plague our nation, but first and foremost must come recognition of the glaring fact that we must put our fiscal house back in order in order to have any hope of putting America back together again, let alone striving to restore "excellence".  Denial can only carry you so far.  You can't build Utopia with a credit card, no matter how much you believe and desperately try.  When the number of people taking from the system exceeds those who are putting something into the system, the house of cards will collapse.  And somehow, I can't shake the feeling this collapse is looming in our not too distant future.  Seriously, is this --a legacy of collapse and unrecoverable economic chaos-- the legacy you want to stamp your name onto for future generations to bear witness to? ]

Without Limit ....

"In the Garden"
@2012 Copyright Photograph.  All Rights Reserved:  Isabelle Black Smith.

"The Soul has a canvas which transcends space-time."

~Isabelle Black Smith

 

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Window Into Unseen Worlds ....

  

 

"Handstand Penguin"

 

@2013 All Rights Reserved:  Isabelle Black Smith

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Truth in Relgion?

"There are many paths, but only one God."

Have been thinking a lot lately about divides, division among various religious faiths in particular.  As my thoughts unfold upon this topic I keep coming back to a quote from one of my favorite movies.  This quote comes from the movie "Kingdom of Heaven."  Balean, the blacksmith and son of the Baron of Ibelin, has this wisdom carved into the master beam which supports the roof of his workshop.  The quote reads as follows: 

"What man is a man who does not make the world around him a better place?"~"Kingdom of Heaven"
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To my way of thinking the above quote sums up rather nicely what should be the true essence of any faithful, spiritual man or woman ... regardless of the specific beliefs of the 'faith' one happens to espouse.  Would you agree?

Given what I've seen from men in the spotlight of religion these days, perhaps a fitting corollary to the above might be ... "What man is a man who must tear others and their beliefs down in order to find his peace?"~Isabelle Black Smith

Perhaps the above notions should serve as a divining rod when seeking 'truth' in religion?  Of course, I will be the first to admit that "truth is all a matter of perspective" in the end.  Maybe the good news is that by merely changing your perspective you have the ability to change your life?


8/14/2013   Saw, via Google News, that a 10-yr. old little girl was shot in the chest and killed, in Egypt, while on her way home from Bible School.  10 years old?  An innocent little girl, merely practicing her faith, the faith of her family --Coptic Christian, a minority faith in Egypt at less than 10% of population.  Since when is the taking of a LIFE, and an innocent young life at that, ever justified, under any circumstance ... let alone for a mere perceived offense of choosing to practice a different faith in worship of the same God and Creator worshiped and followed by those of the Islamic faith as well.  The wisdom of infinite Justice is not ours to dictate or administer, but it is God's and I cannot help but think that He will find a grievous offense in the actions of those who took the life of this innocent little girl ... of those who have taken and continue to take innocent lives, supposedly in the name of a God who created and loves us ALL.