Faith and Action

There are lots of things to have faith in aren't there?

There is spirituality and religion of course. Even science has shown that having faith in a supernatural power is beneficial. For most people, believing that some part of the self is immortal eases their fears. People want to create meaning, and permanent death makes that more difficult -- what would it mean if everything we accomplished in our own minds, our personal growth, our feelings, our loves and hates, just ended? It is not a comfortable thought.

To some degree we put our faith in politicians, or in a system of government, though sometimes we withhold reverence. We assume that things will work out because the system is well designed, or because the people have a conscience, or because some combination of factors resolves to give us a measure of security. That feeling of security is the genesis of faith.

If you think about it, you have probably observed two types of faith. There is the faith that supports action, and the faith of helplessness.

It is interesting that one word can be turned this way. It really means two different things.

If you have heard someone say, "we just have to have faith," meaning, "there is nothing to be done," that is the faith of helplessness. This type of faith makes people less dangerous, less effective, and allows others to prey on them.

Then there is the faith that "moves mountains." I'll call it "true faith."

True faith requires more from us. First, it requires faith in ourselves equal in power to the desired outcome. As an equation, that's:

Power of faith in self = Power of desired outcome

So what about faith in God, I hear someone say. It is one thing to believe in a higher power, another thing to be its hands. Merely believing is a mental exercise, but acting on our convictions is faith.

Now I hear that little voice that says, that's nice, but how does that work for me? I'll tell you.

If you believe that the world is meant to be good, make it good. If you believe that children should have shelter, find a family with no shelter and help them build it. If you don't know how to build, find someone who does and bring them with you. Allow your own convictions to lead others. When you discover you are wrong about something, or you make a mistake, use that to learn, to strengthen your convictions.

That's asking a lot isn't it? After all, we can't always neglect ourselves and our families to go looking for homeless children.

No, but you can work for the things you believe in while working for yourself at the same time. Providing for yourself and your family is your first responsibility, always. If not, others would have to provide for you.

Cultivating the faith of action is powerful. It places the scepter in your hands, so to speak. You feel secure in the world around you because you are changing it - doesn't that prove that you have some measure of control over your world? When you act on your true convictions, you engage a different, more powerful part of yourself. Use that semi-conscious self to build your own life, to energize the things you believe in, and to add your own lasting, meaningful contributions to the world.

And when you do, I hope you'll take a moment to tell me about it. I will be here, offering what I can as always.

Your friend,

The Seeker in Dreams

The week

Alas, I will be unable to post much until after Wednesday. That is the deadline I set for one of my current projects, and I never miss my own deadlines. But I will tell you about an interesting little thing.

Last week my father brushed against a spider that was sitting on the edge of his chair. I happened to be sitting with him in his outdoor workshop. Inspecting the little lady, I saw that she was a Southern Black Widow, Latrodectus mactans. Oh ye little black haunters of privies and sheds, will you leave a few areas safe for old men and their visiting sons? Well I am glad she didn't bite anyone.

So I put this little lady in a jar thinking I would take a photo, but forgot about her, and now she is all shriveled. I can still make out (barely) the signature "hourglass" on her abdomen. But otherwise she is turning to ick. Goo ejected from her head as she dessicated, and that has her glued to the bottom of the jar.

I'm afraid if I take a picture now, it will be too unsightly. What do you think? Gooey raisiny spider pictures?

I am thinking there are better things I could post pictures of.

Blueberry Imbibements Really Can Be Manly; or, Anything is Possible

Possibility, reality... they are defined by each other, it seems. And yet, both are ever expanding. Are they not?

Now I ask you: is a drink really manly when it claims to be a martini, yet it is diluted with soft drinks and fizz? I say not. Even in this modern age, not. I am still wrestling with the concept of a vodka martini - what ever happened to just Dutch courage and dry vermouth?

But I must keep up with the times, and so I have decided to expand reality, if only slightly.

Oh by the way, please typo any pardons, I am testing several dangerous imbibements here. Maybe a half dozen more than several.

But this is important so pay attention.

Here are two manly variations on the martini. These are manly because I say so, and woe to any who argues the point. Remember my friends, it is not the drink that makes the man; it is the man who makes the drink. (Here I would insert a rugged wink if I had the technological finesse to do such a thing).

This making of drinks is a metaphysical endeavor, truly. Let us proceed.

The first! A Bluberry Simple:

You will feel like a simpleton if you drink too many of these. I think the blueberries make the vodka go to the brain. But I can not be sure in my current state.

It contains Vodka...













And note that the vodka can be any brand. Pour the vodka over ice in a man-sized whiskey tumbler...










This one was given to me as a gift of appreciation for buying much Scotch whisky. NOTE! There is no "e" in the word whisky; the "e" was added to distinguish new-age American whiskies. Ignore your spell-checker! Just as adding corn-syrupy beverages to fine whisky would be a mistake, so was adding an "e" to the word "whisky".

OH hell, I was supposed to be talking about vodka, wasn't I. Alright. I recommend pouring 3/4's of a glass, or maybe 4/5's, depending on the liver of the imbiber. Using my glass, pour 4 jiggers over ice.

Now you need blueberry juice. Note that "juice" and "cocktail" are not synonymous in grocery store lingo. The word "cocktail" is a synonym for "corn syrup" in the US, and should be avoided when making quality beverages. I do not know why we call it "cocktail" instead of "corn syrup;" I have been asking for years. True blueberry juice is a bit sour, truly. Mine looks like this:













Pour over the vodka, but leave just a little room.

Now, you could stop here, but that would be tragic in a way. You see, a manly drink should be shared with a beautiful lady. And that beautiful lady might or might not like dryish, sour drinks. For that matter, you might want to smooth the drink up a bit. You can admit that, can't you?

THAT is why you need raw, unrefined (need I say rugged?) cane sugar, just a tablespoon:













AND you should dissolve this cane sugar in about 4 tablespoons of hot water to make a simple syrup. Add this to your beverage.

Now you have a Blueberry Simple.

Using same proportions, you may make these in a shaker (I license them to you, reader, for eternal and free personal or commercial use, so long as you think of your friend Rab whilst enjoying one sip) to share with that beautiful someone.

Ah but we're not done. I must prove once and for all just how malleable a thing reality is. Easy enough in my state! And that brings us to...

The Blueberry Metro:

Oh yes I know, it is cliche to use the word "metro" to connote sophistication. In truth, I have leanings toward the simple things myself. But I cannot ignore this drink's lust for life. There are two variations:

The sweet:

Use the same proportions as the Blueberry Simple, and add a splash of Rosso. Yes, the Italian red vermouth. This will make a delightful and refreshing difference. And then there is...

The dry:

Wherein, the splash of Rosso replaces your simple syrup.

And there it is... two beverages, one with two variations, all manly because you say so, and yet they can be shared with anyone. Look at the beautiful difference we can make!

Never doubt that reality is bent to our will, friends; it is every day bent to the will of those around us, if not ourselves. Have a drink, dear friends. And some time between that first drink and the regaining of consciousness, toast with me on the malleable nature of reality.

Thought of the day

Sometimes it is better to ignore what is possible, and just do something else.