Counterculture part 1

“In my youth I wanted freedom. In my mature years I want order.” --Will Durrant

     The motif of defying authority figure is an age-old concept, universal in its application.  From the hill-billy rednecks to the thugs of the inner cities, the lack of understanding of the law which governs us is more and more evident in the people.

     The rebellious nature of man is everywhere-- more rampant than ever.  Abuse of privilege tied sprinkled in with a lack of maturity, a lack of responsibility, and a lack of knowledge makes for an interestingly scary society.

     Legalize drugs!

     Ban theology!

     Power to the people!

     Get that tyrant out of office!

     Away with all the <insert minority non-Protestant religion here>!

     Down with the establishment!

     We see these phrases shouted by all sorts of people, educated or otherwise.  What service do they serve besides to advance their own ideology?  Do they benefit the population at large or is it self-serving?

     "It's the spirit of the law that really matters!"

     I have heard this for the first time, not too long ago.  It puzzles me, quite frankly.  Many a people* hawk for such things in the positions they're in regardless of political party-- much of the world* is becoming more and more polarized.

     If people don't like what they see, they choose to either ignore it or openly rebel against it.  Feelings are hurt and contention is rife.  The world* seems so filled with hateful words said to each other without regard to human frailty rather than the spirit of cooperation and understanding.  It seems as if self-service and copious amounts of criticism reigns supreme in the minds of all those view figures, governments, and other institutions.

     Honestly, I'm an idealist-- the world would be just right if everyone would just get along and pick pansies and frolick on the open meadow.  A society filled with love and understanding-- wouldn't that be nice?  Wouldn't it be just dandy if everyone could say to another, "you are my brother" or "you are my sister" and be done with it?

     Unfortunately, the situation doesn't seem like that and the majority of the world are left in the dust about how others genuinely feel and act, causing a lot of disconnects and problems.  I will explain why I say the things that I do in a later post why I bring up these issues.

     I address this to those who are disillusioned (Ernest Hemingway-style) and those who want to seek something greater in life.

     So the way I see it, laws that govern us (as human beings and not mathematically/scholastically) exist in three different dichotomies:

• Governmental - the set-in-stone laws written by a body of legislators in a government assembly or decreed by some sort of leader/dictator figure.
• Socio-ethical - the tentative, "unspoken" laws set in place by man to dictate what is culturally acceptable or not (e.g. cultural etiquette, common courtesy, manners, faux pas, taboos, &c.)
• Theological - a set of rules found primarily through books of holy writ (e.g. Ten Commandments, Five Pillars); this is where much of today's socio-ethical laws come from.

     Starting off, there are a LOT of rules to follow in today's society.  The world put up standards in which to abide by-- through these three types of laws.  If you put them all together, it's mind-boggling how many rules that we're supposed to follow compared to how many we actually do follow.

     It's definitely overwhelming and many don't succeed in following all of the dictations that have been put into place.  Sometimes, the regulations aren't something we might look favorably upon-- it may go against our intuition, or culture, or our beliefs.  These laws don't quite seem to be as universal as people make them out to be.

     Each person has the ability to choose between what is right and what is wrong.  This is called agency.  When people representing others come together in an assembly to decide what is right or wrong, this is called democracy. When people don't agree with certain facets of law, this is called one of two things: counterculture or apostasy.  When either of these things happen, society changes-- usually for the worst-- now there have been cases where disagreements of certain portions of law turned out to be for the best, but usually, it has let to a lot of material loss and a loosening of a standard set in place before the protest.  Disarray prevails and decorum is almost unobtainable without some kind of compromise.


 *: "the world" and the general term for "people" refers to an assumption to mean citizens of the United States of America.  Much other parts of the world is unknown in the perspective of this peculiar person due to a lack of information, therefore not much argument or support can be backed up for them and their situation.

I may not be as informed as the majority of the American population about current events, but this opinion has arose from what I have seen over the days.

The World Needs More Listeners part 2

     In my experience as a human being, I have come across something that seems to have made my life a tad more miserable than it ought to have be:

     Other people.

     As much as I avoid talking to people and associating myself with life, it seems like people have the most potential to do harm to another human being than anything else in the world.  How is it done, you ask?

    Surprisingly, the most common of hurts doesn't come from: sticks, stones, mallets, swords, knives, drugs, poison, fists, bombs, and guns.

     It comes from another person's lips.

     Those lips can utter a strange world of insult, madness, frustration, and slander.

     More than any weapon on Earth, words are the most used instruments of destruction.  Like many objects such as knives and hammers, they can be used for good purposes, but at the desperation and frustration of the individual, they convert these relatively pacified instruments into potentially harmful objects.

     Words.  Especially specific ones-- when used, can turn us into monsters.

    Much of the world are weary of so much slander-- ubiquitous in the mouths of many-- the television, the internet, the radio, and every instrument of media known to man.  A day doesn't pass where such acerbic words aren't conveyed to another person or party.

     These words build up-- they weather us.  They change us.  They change our nature.

     One has to know that people are like a block of clay; the potter being that of the world.  So are the words of the world like that of the potter's hands.  They can be rough, but they can be skilled.  In that sense, we are part of the world, too.

     Do we want to be the hands that turn the block of clay into mush, or a beautiful vase?

     As the individual is the block of clay, it is our duty to shape that person to be a beautiful instrument that can serve its purpose, whatever it may be.  A nice, accented, piece of glory that can be proudly displayed in any home.

     To do that, do we really need to hear and say such hateful words and convey such hateful action toward another human being?

     Over the days here, there are a TON of real-life examples I have seen where words just turned people into people who aren't really themselves.  I want to avoid that.  I want to see the world as a place where people aren't afraid to be themselves-- a place where all can cooperate and do what God has in store for them-- a place where one can unlock his or her fullest potential.  Beginning with you (me, also), here's some things that should be avoided as soon as possible.

Please don't avoid:

• Misunderstand another-- The key to many of today's problems could have been resolved if only people asked good questions.  Misunderstanding-- disconnects-- come from a lack of communication.  It comes from us not analyzing a situation before making a judgment.  To avoid such a tragedy, one must be able to humble themselves to seek understanding from the other party through looking through the lens of the that party.  So before calling someone out, ask what the person is doing and why he or she is doing it.  It'll help get a perspective on what really needs to be done rather than submit to name-calling or extreme frustration.
• Ignore a request - Neglect is one of the reasons why people have issues with abandonment, acceptance, and self-esteem.  Worse than giving someone a yes or no answer, this is not replying or acknowledging at all.  There's a great reason why jails and militaries use solitary confinement as punishment: the lack of human contact is unbearable to the most of us.  So it is with neglect.  The purposeful ignorance of a request-- of an idea of another human being-- may make another feel useless, angry, and depressed.  Believe me, people already have too much on their plates and the people with these ideas have gone through some effort so that you can hear the information they have collected-- just for you.  Don't ignore people.  Rather, acknowledge them.  Saying yes or no is all up to you, but just listen.  You may never know if that person whom you accept may be the next genius who benefits humankind!
• DENY a request - Saying "no" really hurts.  There is a time and a place for such, but personally, I try my best never to say "no."  There are a ton of alternatives to saying no such as "what about," "I'm afraid that [idea] will end up like," "here's what I think," and a plethora of other phrases.  No-- the word itself can boil the blood of a lot of people, giving them unnecessary stress and pain.
• Shoo off someone - This goes along with neglect.  Don't do this.  The person whom you've shooed off may have faced such rejection and unacceptance numerous times.  It may be his or her breaking point.  The shoo-er gives no clear explanation on why he wants this person out of his or her group, but there should be an explanation given!  That is the key to communication!  The one thing people in this life need more than anything is closure.  That is why religion exists.  That is why CSI people work so hard to find who killed who.  Remember always that before something like this happens, talk to the person you want to reject on why that is the case before actually doing the action.
• Discourage someone - Honestly, I think of this incredibly cruel.  Unless by some instance where the person may be doing something universally unacceptable, never EVER tell someone to quit what they're doing so hard with.  It kills morale, makes the other party really sad, and halts progression.  You may have potentially stopped the discouraged person from reaching his full potential as a musician, a teacher, a bus driver, a lawyer, a doctor, etc.  Patience.  This is incredibly important when dealing with others.
• Use any sort of violence to justify an action (or vice versa) - This is another incredibly cruel (and senseless) act that could be avoided altogether through effective communication.  Any sort of violence is unacceptable, because you're physically hurting another person because they had the audacity to call you out on something.  Swallow your pride.  Do whatever it takes to stop the rage from clenching your hands into fists and flying them to the other party's face.  Many laws protect the other person from such things and put you in a position where you may be facing a hefty fine and even jail time.  This may seriously damage another person both by bruises/broken/swollen body parts and even through psychological trauma.  We really don't want to go into any more of the repercussions that this has on a human being.  It's bad.  Try to reason.  Try to humble yourself.  Try to laugh.  Try to shout off a mountain.  Try to be the better man.  It'll alleviate any tense situation-- maybe not in a heartbeat, but eventually.

     Jesus had always told us to love and not to hate (John 13:34).  If hate abound even in a justifiable way, we have to forgive and love at least 490 times more (Matthew 18:21-22).  It's the Christian thing to do-- it's the right thing to do.  As we do it, we'll get closer to what agape truly means.  This is my wish to the world.  Don't be so hard on other people, because they're going through the same struggles as we all are.  We shouldn't make the world any cynical than it already is.

The World Needs More Listeners part 1

     Lately, the days have gone by a bit shaky-- a ton of things to complain about and a lot of neglect from leadership figures.  For the longest time, I was whining and getting absolutely flabbergasted because these people would procrastinate, slack off, and just evade doing work altogether.  Disillusionment set in fairly rapidly over these last couple of months.  I thought I was going to explode in frustration.  In a nutshell, I was (and still am, in my honest opinion), going through "missionary puberty."

     Now why do I bring that up?  Well, the fact of the matter is is that much of the pent-up anxiety, wrath, resentment, disconnect, and sadness comes not from purposeful hatred, but from a lack of communication-- a lack of love, better put.

SUICIDE NOTE 2: There is too much stress in my life from school and the environment it creates, expectation s for sports, expectations from friends, and expectations from my family (SOURCE).

     This was written, really, not too long ago.  A disconnect between child and society resulted in tragedy.  It's really unfortunate hearing about such news.  I would like to share one more thing with y'all:

SUICIDE NOTE 1: I have no hope, only dreams that have died.  I was never able to obtain satisfactory interpersonal relationships.  I feared the future and a lot of other things.  I felt inferior.  I have almost no will to achieve, perseverance, or sense of worth, so goodbye.  I should have listened to you but I didn't.  I started using acid last summer.  It's purgatory (SOURCE).

     Neglect-- failure to understand-- leads to abandonment-- forlornness of the soul.  The brightest of souls are destroyed because of the lack of care.

     The pinnacle of human yearning comes from wanting to be heard-- to be listened to.  More and more, I'm seeing that many people are all either sad or angry if they're not recognized (myself included:P).  I don't know if this is just a part of human nature, but if someone knows that they have been heard, they are happy, content, and confident.  I suppose Mavlov was right-- we strive to be self-confirmative in most all of our actions.

     If we reach out to those who need us-- the quiet ones especially--- imagine their gratitude!  They may not voice it immediately, but down the road, they'll be grateful that you didn't give up on them.  I want to share one more thing-- it's a sermon given in the 1970's.  It's been adapted to help you reach out.

"First, [these struggling people] need faith.  They need to believe.  They read to know the doctrines, the commandments, the principles of the gospel.  They need to grow in understanding and conviction.  They need to worship and to pray, but they live in a time when all of this is so seriously questioned, when doubt is encouraged.
 
Two, they need to be accepted as they are, and to be included.  They need a family, the most important social unity in the world; and even if they have a good family, they need the supportive influence outside their home-- of others, of neighbors, of friends... of brothers, of human beings.

Three, they need to be actively involved, to participate, to give service to give of themselves.

Four, they have to learn somehow that they are more important than their mistakes, that they are worthwhile, valuable, useful; that they are loved unconditionally" (Marion D. Hanks, October, 1971).

     The world needs more listeners.  How much better would it be if we all understood each other?  To the all of us, the world can be a vile place, but we don't have to be.  Help that one person who needs your hand.  We're here to serve others, says the teacher of teachers (Matthew 20:27).

Talented part 2

     A flurry of illnesses seemed to hit me all at once over the last couple of weeks.

     My mind seemed like it was on the brink of snapping into two.  Missionary stress is a normal thing, but pile it with recent tragedies, a lack of faith, bottles and bottles of medicine, and an inability to socialize with other missionaries and members and you have yourself... me!

     Life was hard.  Life is still hard.  Over these last couple of days, I have been trying to find myself.  It isn't easy.  No one said it'd be.  These two years that the Church has given me has been a time of the deepest reflection in both spirit and in self.

     Who am I?  What am I doing here?  Where am I going after I'm done here?

     It seems like I need to be teaching myself what the Church is teaching...
    
     Anywho, for the LONGEST time, I saw myself as someone sad-- someone unwilling to change and to conform with society-- in a nutshell, a teenager... except, I'm nineteen years old.  Not only that, I'm a comparer.  More about that will be explained.

     The way a majority of us think is that there are a ton of people who have life handed to them-- you cannot perceive a single enemy that they might have, they're loved by their still-together parents, they have many a friend to rely on, they're fit, they're liked by all the grown-ups, and they're sitting comfortably in their two-story home with a white picket fence and a beagle always liking him or her hello.  It can seem a little hard comparing oneself to someone like that.

     Happy people are fine with everything-- faith comes easy for them due to the minimal effort they have to exert.  They grew up well and were associated with good people all their lives.  As for the downtrodden and morose, everything seems irrationally difficult-- every little task seems impossible.

     Now, happy people struggle too, but they can contain their frustrations and exhibit a face conveying quite a scare of a change-- a face that really isn't theirs, but of a happy person.  Us, people who keep to themselves, cannot but to exhibit how we genuinely feel-- honest souls.  Those acting sad probably have inside them an even greater sadness they wouldn't share with people they don't trust-- that's not very many people in these people's eyes.

     These quiet ones have minds filled with so much resentment, lack of self-esteem, and disillusion that they cannot function properly without outside help.  There'll be denial-- unwillingness for treatment.  Normal is boring.  Normal is mundane.  Normal-- is too normal.

     Sounds familiar?  You or someone you know?  The thing is, we who struggle with life daily-- are meant for greater growth.  It's just that there are a bunch of obstacles in our way that impedes our progress.  A ton of people were like this-- Emma Smith, for one.  Then, there were the transcendentalists and also the "lost generation."  We're in good company.

     The struggle in finding ourselves and for spiritual folks, finding a testimony of what seems to be the truth, is an ongoing battle.  I can recount when my faith has shaken quite a bit-- yet, there was something that sustained me from then till now.

     Couple of pointers I would like to give to those struggling with such is this:

• Remember why you're doing what you're doing-- is it for a worthy cause?  Will it aim to help both yourself and your peers?
• Motivation-- think about what drives you to do what you're doing.  Make sure it's firm.
• Patience-- it's always mentioned, but it's very much needed to progress in the field that you're working in.
• Know who you are.  You have infinite potential and you can do whatever you set your mind to do... just don't procrastinate for too long.
• Goals!  Set goals and make plans.  That way, your future can be within your grasp.

     As a missionary, it's definitely helped me do all these things, even if it was the harder route.  It's extremely gratifying, most of all, to know that whatever I'm doing, I do have the support of so many people.  Remember who you are.  Remember who you are.  Remember who you are.

Echoing Joyeous Strains

     With every Christmastime comes a special spirit that can soften even the stiffest of hearts.

     It was a rough mission for me, dealing with a lot of disillusionment, pain, and instability-- a hot potato without a hand to clasp it.  Nobody wanted me; not a soul wanted to hear what he had to say.  Abandoned and ready to head back to a world unforgiving of surrender, he contemplated, all the months long-- to paraphrase a somewhat obscure song: it was time for him to enter the porridge-- nothing but him and his secrets he was keeping.  It wasn't a pretty time-- negativity had swarmed my mind, taking over my soul.

     A frigid mid-December evening fast approached the church building.  With it were the people entering in droves.  The congregation in the chapel was filled to capacity-- the audience, ready; the singers, just about.

     The first of the choirs come out onto the pulpit and display their marvelous renditions of Christmas carols and hymns.  Natalie Sleeth.  Linda Spevacek.  John Rutter.  Each composer's vocal praises-- the singers' renditions-- were heard by all in the audience. 

     And then, we come up.  The joint-choir of both our congregation and another's take the chairs in front.  The conductor taps her middle finger and her thumb three times, raises her hands high into the heavens, and brings them down with a like force.  Our mouths open and the "good news" starts pouring out of the auditorium.  The baptist choir-esque groove had snuck in a smile among both singers and listeners alike.  Then came Will Todd's "My Lord Has Come."  The atmosphere suddenly dropped-- it turned into a silent reverence.  The song started out in a quiet, elongated ooo-ing by the men and then the melody by the women.

     "His love will cradle me.  His love will cherish me."

     The burst of emphasis had given light to the song's zenith.  The silent search of the baby Jesus culminated with the assurance that the searchers have indeed come for what they were looking for-- a transcending love giving strength and joy among all who have received this glad tiding.

     The mmm's cradle the song slowly into its conclusion.  A brief silence had come over the people.  That familiar presence-- how splendid it was!  The program finished with a combined vocal symphony of "He Is Born."  It was a moment where there was raw joy emanating in the air-- the audience and singer alike, both lifted ten feet off the ground.

     It saved my life.

     The power of music is real.  It has a way of filling in the minute cracks in the heart that break us down-- filling it so that we can be full again; in spirit and in body.  It can soften even the stiffest of hearts.  The singing and praising of the denizens of a small, imaginary town inflated the heart of the greenest, most notorious Christmas curmudgeon to a size even he couldn't handle!  Music is powerful.  It influences.  It evokes in the mind, vivid pictures of love, beauty, and hope toward all within earshot of the angelic voices.  There's something about it that brings comfort and hope-- knowledge from on high that everything's going to be okay.

     This Christmas, take the time out to organize a small (motley) choir group and go out caroling!   The power of the spoken word can do wonders on the human soul.  Lift someone in need.  Seriously.

Ten Things I'm Grateful For

"Live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which God doth bestow upon you" (Alma 34:38).

     As a Native American prophet Amulek (am-you-lick) put it, we should do exactly that.  It not only brings satisfaction to one's life, but it also brings optimism, happiness, better relationships, better mood, better relationships with others, and a feeling of worth.

     The exclusively American rendition of the Autumn Thanksgiving holiday is just right around the corner!  There are a few things I want to put down that I know I'm blessed to have!  I'm pretty sure, though, most people have many, MANY things that they're thankful for too-- feel free to contribute!  Of course, I won't be writing down everything I'm grateful for here, but I'll put down ten of the most important things of which I am thankful for.

1) Family - When all may abandon me, when all may betray me, and when all may simply vanish from my hands that has molded such bonds, there will stand my mother and father-- supporting me in whatever course of action I take.  They are my parents-- they have an unconditional love for me no matter how hard I may think that they plot my misery.  This fact wasn't quite acknowledged until I started my mission.  My parents have sacrificed a great deal to raise me to where I am now.  Remember that you can go to your own parents with any problem you have and they will, in all their power and wisdom, help you out.  You are their biggest priority.

2) Friends - The people whom I have developed such fond memories with are perhaps one of the biggest blessings God has bestowed unto me.  These people have molded me to be the person I am today and without their influence, I don't know what I would have become.  They promoted love and charity.  They taught me more about the world than any institution of learning would by itself.

You have the whole world on your shoulders

3) Trials - This isn't the most obvious thing to be grateful for, but it certainly has been for me.  Although challenges and adversity aren't the funnest things to experience, one thing I've learned on my mission is that looking back on it, I was able to learn so much out of it.  Life challenges and struggles have definitely made me look at how good it can be with it; it puts a completely new pair of glasses to view life in.  Arguments with parents, fights with miss
ionary companions, deaths of loved ones, regret, remorse, sorrow, sin, pains, pressures, and more, they've all shaped me to be who I am and will be.  "All these things will give thee experience" (D&C 122:7).

4) Haters - Seriously, without them, we wouldn't be as good as we are now.  They made us.  They shaped us.  Their acerbic tongues and their agonizing attitudes have given us a better way to cope and overcome such people. 

We aren't!

5) Identity - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that we were all spirit children of God and that we were sent here to grow and develop in maturity and wisdom so that we may be better prepared to meet our Father in Heaven.  In doing so, we are all different, woven from different threads and experiences.  I believe in that.  I am thankful for being different from the person next to me.  The fact that I am who I make myself to be is probably the best thing that God has given me.  I can exercise my life and put it to use here on this Earth at this time.  The introverted, crazy kid that I am could never have been without the hand of God, giving it to me.

Seasonal

6) Literature - Without books, culture would have been disseminated rather slowly.  Through these media, we are able to look into what people thought about back in the day and what people did back in the day.  Without literature, we would never have understood the depth of religion.  Church doctrine would have been more ambiguous than ever.  We wouldn't even have known the nature of God!  Without the Bible and the Book of Mormon, I don't even believe that Christianity would stand as it does today.  Hindus wouldn't have been without the Bhagavad Gita; Moslems would still be descendants of Quraysh without the Qu'ran; and the Jews would not have had the law to govern themselves without the Torah.  Thank you Oscar Wilde, Francois Arouet, Roald Dahl, and countless others, too, for enlightening our minds to the wonders of a differing perception of the world.

Lots of learning.

7) Teachers - They built the foundation of my-- and our-- intellectuality.  They shaped the unorganized mass in our heads and molded them to become the bright, shiny objects they are now.  Before parents, these are the people you see, hear, and learn from the most during your childhood years and even beyond to tertiary education. Without them, 74+26 wouldn't have an answer; a lizard wouldn't be a reptile; oxygen wouldn't be breathable; The Civil War wouldn't have existed; and "synecdoche" would have been some sort of potty language.

Dear...

8) Correspondence - Letters.  These have been my life essence as a missionary.  More than any other material thing on Earth, I have loved and appreciated these things.  They're just like words spoken by another human soul-- just written down on paper.

Bittersweet.

9) Missionaries - These people-- man, I have a lot to say about these people.  These people ages 18-twenty-something go out to preach the gospel in whatever condition they may be in, mature or otherwise.  They each have sacrificed something and have to deal with that sacrifice for a period of 18-24 months.  Sometimes, many don't take it well, especially if you have to work alongside with one.  Each one of these people make you think about your own self and your own dedication to the cause in which you're in.  Being with them emulates marriage.  Sometimes raising a child.  It's a wonderful, enriching experience where so much can be learned and applied in the real world.

Cathedral Rock

10) The Eye Can See -  There's just so much about the world around us.  Natural beauty can make the eyes a bit sore; the elegance and the exquisiteness is a bit much to behold.  To be in it is to find greater peace than anything else you can do by yourself.  Every now and then, I go to this place past the I-17 called Cococino National Park.  Wandering its Ponderosa trails, it definitely makes you realize how awesome nature is and how much you can learn and unwind from it.  There's also the Occoquan Bayside, Silverado, Zion, Shenandoah, and a ton of other places just perfect to get away from everything!

Pandemic!

     With the whole ebola spiele still going strong, many have become paranoid even at the slightest of coughs and minimal of sneezes.  As missionaries aren't supposed to keep up with "worldly media," I'm rather left in the dark about what seems to be unfolding before the world.  However, here's a test for those who talk to missionaries a lot: ask a missionary if he (or she) knows any other location other than Africa where Ebola has been documented.  Chances are, they're probably not very obedient.

Beware, beware!

     Anywho, as we talk about disease and illnesses, I wanted to bring up chicken pox.  Back in the day, a parent of a child would arrange sleepovers with that child's friends, one having had the chicken pox recently.  This was a short-sighted yet somewhat effective measure to "innoculate" chicken pox to the children so they don't run the risk of catching shingles as adults.  So as the children sleeps over at the home of the afflicted child, they are exposed to the germs (viruses) and poor sanitation of that said child.  Lo and behold, all the children now have chicken pox!


     We can see here an interesting parallel with our own spirituality, too.  No matter who you are, the world is filled with filth and infection that'll give you many a malady.  Unlike chicken pox or even ebola, spiritual diseases can afflict and maim even the most protected and sheltered one of us.  If we're exposed to too much spiritual disease, we may end up where no oatmeal baths and chicken noodle soup can cure!  We are at risk of catching this infectious thing wherever we are-- it's up to us to protect ourselves from such.

     Now you wonder, what would be a spiritual chicken pox?  Take a moment to think about that-- what is out there that can hinder our ability to find peace, impair our judgement, and otherwise backward society person by person?  Hopefully by now, your noggin is cranking a few gears.  If we're surrounded and exposed and put in to these toxic situations, objects, and what say you, how do you think we can be the good Christians/Jews/Buddhists we could possibly be?

     It ain't happening.

Better safe than sorry

     Diseased carriers are are everywhere-- they can come in the forms of pornography, narcotic substances, vicious words, peer pressure, and many, many more.  Exposure to even the slightest of these things can pose a great risk to our spiritual health, jeopardizing the health that we've been endowed with.  It's a miserable experience being ensnared in those nets and escape is no easy task.  Although we can come out of these ordeals, like many viral and bacterial diseases of now, it leaves a bit of itself that could have been avoided.  Sooooooo, get vaccinated!  Practice proper spiritual hygiene!  Do all you can to avoid such things so that you aren't left to pain and suffering!  Don't hang out with someone infected too-- you might catch it!