Being Versus Considering Being

"Aw c'mon Dr"D" your playin word games with us again."
No- no I'm not, this isn't semantics, there is a definite difference
between being, and, considering, or thinking about, being.  In
one sense, there you are, reading this, in the other, you are
mentally and therefore, spiritually (see how those two are
connected? Meaning, can you be spiritual without a mind?)
concerned about and wondering about somewhere else.



Edmund Burke "The people are Protestants... a persuasion not only 
favourable to liberty, but built upon it...."  imagine the enormous impact
that a person can have when they take their vows seriously?  Imagine if we
actually taught our children to plan ahead, see their future as being real and
attainable, and; to plan for it accordingly.  "OK great Dr."D" are you saying
that we don't?"  In fact what I am saying is that we not only don't plan, but
we don't consider the future of what we commit too in it's importance. We
have been trained to believe that if we are like a famous sports figure, who
admitted to cheating on his wife, and we apologize, then it will be O.K.-
and that so long as we are willing to admit that we made a mistake; then
the consequence of that which we realize is a mistake, will just, "happen."

This is called situational ethics and it is hellish lack of foresight at it's best,
it is, practical nihilism at it's worst; and no matter where you fall in the
linear diagnosis of it, what happens is when an entire culture buys into
it, matters of future concern take a back seat to the expedient.  It is
why vows have become less than half meaningful in marriages?  It
is why doctors trained to "first do no harm," would consider that
it is not harmful to end life?  It is why people seek an easy and a
happy feeling; rather than a difficult and challenging result!  It is
why politicians have learned to appeal to fear, because once a
person does not see the need to plan a future, becuase what happens
just "happens," you know, you "can't control it," as in, "I didn't
ask to get cancer- lots of people smoke ciggarettes and never
get cancer."  That situationist ethic brings a person some relief
from the tension of fear, but it also makes them susceptible to the
lack of discipline which can bring about meaningful personal
change, and ultimately, it makes them prey for the leaders who
are willing to say "we're sorry we didn't protect you better."

Proverbs 20:25 should become a national slogan perhaps, where
people could earnestly again, turn to the concept of being wise,
not wisdom based only on the accords of humanity - but also
wisdom with a historically sound basis, a derived and successful
heritage, a free and growing individualized sense of being ones
own best guide under God, but ones own best guide never the
less.  What about you, where do you stand on such an issue?