An issue I have spoken with my friends about recently concerns free will and “God’s” blessings. The post Manic Screaming touched on the issue. I believed for many years that if a person or event showed up in my life, I had a spiritual responsibility to accept it and look for the teaching or blessing connected with the new happening. I did think sometimes that God had too much of a sense of humour. A number of events have happened in the lives of my friends and frequent discussions have been about options and choices. Did I have a moral responsibility to practice non-attachment to what I (old ego me) wanted to be or happen.
The picture is of one of God’s blessings to which I say NO THANK YOU. My huge oak trees have many acorns and the squirrels rejoice. My flowers beds are littered with tiny oak trees that I weed out every spring.
The following is a comment I left on a blog this morning and realized it was in the same theme.
Issues with food and what is acceptable is learned behavior but at some point you say why. The day I refused to eat a chicken leg with a knife and fork was liberating. I was a teen living in my folks house so picking up food with your fingers would never be acceptable. The downside is when we had chicken, I would just say no thank you. 15 years later my parents had mellowed, I came for a visit, Mom had made fried chicken. She informed me that Emily Post had OKed picking up a chicken leg to eat it. Eating with my fingers at my parents table seemed like running naked in public.
I am literally laughing out loud at your closing statement–I, too, grew up in a household where fingers-at-the-table were taboo, so I completely relate! Also relate about God’s sense of humor (that’s why it’s one of my topic-tags!) and looking for the teachings and blessings… (And sometimes saying “no thank you”…) Love this post!
I am so glad to know that it was not just my family with these rules. We also were to wear proper attire at the table (any meal) which means no PJs, no underwear, no curlers in my hair etc.Thanks for writing back.
I confess to being confused by this post. Perhaps it’s because it’s the middle of the night. I will comment on what I understand, or think I understand.
I agree, munch away at chicken legs with your fingers! I also look at the blessings or teachings in each new thing I encounter. I feel this is a blessing in and of itself.
The more we know about each other, the more open we can be to loving them. It took me most of my life to understand my Mom and her rules. Thanks for writing to me. I do wonder what confused you?
Rules. A problem for most. I believe we need to follow our inner voice and honor the ones we feel we should and not the others. I do not mean legal laws…except maybe walking on the grass. That was from a very long time ago.
Would it not be fun if this worked.
Oh it doesn’t?
I am tired of Rules! Rules! Rules! The thing is…. most of them seem mighty stupid to me!
I have often wondered about the pros and cons of rules. I try to do what I beleive is right and fair and just chuckle at the rest.
I love oak trees. Thanks for the comment.
*hugs*
Lovely to have oak trees. We have sycamore among other things… so I have sycamore seedlings all over my garden!
I also have Sourwood trees that keep sprouting and are much harder to remove. All blessings I suppose.