"The instrument of our damnation became our salvation." ~ General Zod
It's been a while since I've posted here on the Ol' blog. In my absence... I've been working on a many things. Mainly getting clear on the next chapter of life I feel God is calling me to.
Something deeper than I could have ever imagined... and, if I'm being transparent, I have no clue where it's gonna take me.
But as the prophet Isaias exclaimed in his 6th chapter, "Here I am Lord, send me" has been my response.
In this journey and daily examination of conscience... I have uncovered a series of "paradoxes" along the way and would like to share them with you, if that's cool?
Paradoxes which have helped me become a better man, husband, and father.
(A perpetual project in the works.)
And battle my addictions to: fear, anger, rage, and anxiety.
Which are all forms of effeminacy.
"Effeminacy": As defined by St. Thomas of Aquinas is, an inordinate ATTACHMENT to pleasure. The aversion to that which is hard, to seek pleasure.
Men use fear, anger, etc as sedation mechanisms so they may continue to follow the path of passivity.
Even the "hardest" of men take this path in one way or another. No one is immune.
If you want to be more consistent with your strength training.
Are tired of never finishing what you've started.
And want to take your personal and spiritual development up a notch?
Then this series will be very valuable for you.
Let's dive in...
"I'm 'FREE' to do whatever I want."
Is the cry of our modern time.
And where has it gotten us?
Just take a look around for the answer.
The world (particularly here in the U.S.) is in the state it's in because we've ABUSED our freedom.
Just like our first parents––in the garden.
They wanted to be like God, but without God.
In short, they wanted to be their own God.
So what does it mean to be "free?"
I love Fulton Sheen's definition.
"Freedom": True love wants to be free FROM something FOR something. Love demands freedom from one thing in order to place it freely at the service of another. ~ Fulton Sheen, The World‘s First Love, page 26.
3 definitions of freedom
(Two of them are false, and one is true.)
- "The right to do whatever I please": This reduces freedom to a physical, rather than to a moral power. This is the freedom that everyone pursues for his own benefit.
- The second false definition of freedom: "freedom is the right to do whatever you must."
This is a totalitarian freedom, which was developed in order to destroy individual freedom for the sake of society.
Essentially removing personhood. Look no further than the scam of 2023 (you know which one I'm talking about). - The true concept of freedom: "freedom is the right to do whatever we ought."
OUGHT implies goal, purpose, morality, and the law of God. True freedom is within the moral law, not outside of it.
The Abuse of Freedom
"The choice to disobey, and do evil is an abuse of freedom." ~ CCC 1733
Why did God command Adam to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
Because He is a tyrannical patriarch?
No.
It's because He's a good Father.
... and was trying to save is children FROM our own subjective understanding of what is objectively good and evil FOR our own sake.
... and for the sake of the greater good.
Because what happens now is... WE become the arbiters of truth.
We decide what is "good" and what is "evil."
We see this over and over in the book of Judges.
The sons of Israel abuse their freedom to "do what is right in their eyes."
The result?
We become our own god trapped in a perpetual cycle of sin.
We become slaves.
Why am I telling you this?
This is...
The Paradox of Freedom
The very thing we think gives us freedom.
Is the very thing which enslaves us to what we call in the Better Man Blueprint, the "Toxic Cycle."
The suffering/discipline(s) we're avoiding because we think it enslaves us, and removes our freedom, is what brings us true freedom.
Remember.
"The instrument of your damnation becomes your salvation."
Sin creates a wound––a parasite eating away at your mind, your conscience.
(Which clouds your intellect and ability to think rationally. Because your perception of what is real is based on your passions and emotions. Which in and of themselves are changing by the moment.)
This wound… IS YOUR GIFT.
... and so is your Toxic Cycle which brings awareness to your conscience that something needs to change.
It's the gift which frees you FROM the slavery of your own mind. FOR a better life.
It frees you FROM sin... FOR God.
What suffering/discipline(s) are you avoiding today which would actually bring you freedom?
Let me know in the comments below.
You brother in strength,
hec g.
P.S. Did you know you have two identities?
One brings slavery and the other freedom.
The world today talks about, "discovering who you are", "living your highest self", and "speaking your truth."
What does this even mean?
Why is identity important?
And why the distinction between the two?
What is truth?
The first identity: is made of straw.
It creates your circumstances and problems. Not only does it create the problem. It also...
... keeps you from solving the problem.
The end result?
SEDATION to escape the pain of said problem. SLAVERY.
The second identity: is made of gold.
This is where you leverage the "RESPONSE PROCLAMATION."
So you can take aligned-action.
The end result?
You discover your purpose in life. You gifts. And the courage to bring them to your family, community, and the world at large. FREEDOM.
To reveal these identities so we can overcome our vices and addictions.
Requires a system of thought I've been working on called, "Bucketing."
Bucketing reveals your Toxic Cycle. Wherein lies, identity #1.
I'll be unpacking this over the next few emails.
[To be continued...]