We all want to believe that by and large we’re a good person. Maybe; but probably not as good as we believe. It’s not that humans are bad per se, but it’s more nuanced. Humans, like all of creation, are pronounced good by God. Every person conceived in love and custom-made to love. Love that’s always good, graceful and guiding. God is love.
Love by its very nature never dictates but directs. Leading our hearts to live a love filled life. Guarding our hearts against those thoughts and feelings that have nothing to do with love because they’re exclusively about what I desire. God’s gracious grace a guarantee that all hearts are forever united with Love if we choose.
But the human heart is complicated and complex. Even when we’re confident that our choice is unselfish and only about loving our neighbor, we may be unaware of unknown intentions. Do you give of your time or money solely because you want to support others or are you also seeking status or standing? Do you act differently among some people simply because you want to be liked or loved? Do you avoid questioning your livelihood or your life specifically because you would be uncomfortable or unsettled? I did.
The human heart, mine included, runs deep with deception. This miraculous muscle which keeps us alive in this world, is duplicitous, deceitful and of course, devilish. This miraculous muscle also connects every individual to the source of all life enjoined in Love.
We don’t live in a world where the wolf dwells with the lamb; yet. We do live in a world of wolves in sheep’s clothing; attire we’ve all worn. Truth tells us to be as wise as serpents, and as harmless as doves.
Then comes the world; a collection of billions of human hearts gathered together. Every human born into a history molded by human hearts. Every human trying to define their own individual heart. Hearts capable of scaling for either sharing or stealing; love or larceny.
Our world plagued by talking heads whose hearts are less than honest. Mouths that tell us who our enemies are without disclosing that they benefit from the selfish seeds they sow. Our world polluted by experts and analysts who manage the livelihoods, lives or life savings of other people but who are conflicted. Their compensation aligned with their employer not the customer they committed to help.
Our world poisoned by politicians that, I don’t even need to finish this sentence, we all know their dance of deception. Wisdom revealed when you comprehend that deceit is never partisan. Selfishness is always about the person not the people. Greed is always about the me not the many. Egotism is always about my want, not what others may need.
Deception will always whisper to your heart; you deserve more of what you desire. You begin to consider you’ll never have enough. You start to covet other people and their possessions. You instigate multiple means to manage, manipulate or even murder other humans.
This is why it’s really important we understand who is paying for the news being conveyed. This is why it’s really imperative we understand who gains financially from every situation we’re sold. This is why it’s indicative we understand who benefits from every action or non-action by our government, businesses and all institutions. This is why asking why is the most loving question you can ask of anyone, including oneself.
Inquisitiveness, transparency, and discovery are all foundational to love. This is why conflict of interest (COI) statements, non-disclosure agreements (NDA), visible compensation, disclosure of relations, and revenue sources should always be clear and visible in every interaction with every person.
Employing spin, manipulating language, and words of omission and commission corrode the human heart and society’s soul. Never before in human history has deception been so public and prevalent. Social media, government disinformation and simply not being honest with ourselves or one another robs the world of love and replaces it with lies. Lies are the realm of the father of lies. Lies that become the doors to destruction for ourselves and all of creation.
When a society scales the human heart, virtue or vice either thrive or wither. Only truth flourishes in the light; deceit only favors darkness. We all have loved the darkness; I did. We all have been gifted the Light of the world if we chose. I finally did.
Peace. God loves you.
If you want to learn more about how my spiritual awakening came to be, you can read about it in Finding God in Vegas: A Gen X Spiritual Awakening; available on Amazon and across all platforms in print or electronic or audio.