Traveler

The company that I do almost all of my consulting with just announced today that they are being acquired – some call it a merger.  Since I have been consulting for the same foundries (silicon fabs) this will be the 4th “company” change I have gone through.  The people I use to advice have all moved on and I am already working with a whole new set.  In addition I have dealt with increasingly more international entities.  I was so happy to converse with my new bosses in German but now it looks like I will need to learn Chinese.  The new company is a major global leader in artificial intelligence.
In the past I have criticized Trump for his “bring back jobs to America” rhetoric.  I am very certain that the jobs we have lost that, at this point of globalization of automation, robotics and artificial intelligence – we do not want those old jobs back.  We need to step up as a nation and at least catch up with jobs in new technologies.   Our current education model is way behind and continuing to fall behind – even and especially excluding the disaster of intercity schools.
It is my opinion that the latest generation to enter the job market is unprepared for globalization in the job market – especially with team skills to accomplish complex solution.  As a nation we seem to be hung up on individualism and individual achievement - almost anti-conformity.   As per the gay and other “I want for me and to H-ll with collectivity” individually movements.
Bottom line – I believe Trump to be a piece of work – the typical, I am rich so I am right attitude.  And Hillary??? Are you kidding me – we are looking at fewer morals than a range bull and the business mentality of a drug cartel hit man.
So is it good or bad that the corporate world is moving toward a global mentality while governments are trying to be nationalistic???  Maybe we, as a country (USA) should think more like a corporation.  Instead of strengthening our borders – maybe we ought to think about expanding them.  Maybe we ought to start by acquiring Mexico?
 
The Traveler

Sometimes I wonder how well we understand evil in mortality.  There seems to be to be a paradox and so far @Edspringer seems to have similar thought to mine.  I do not believe that evil is a substance that can be created.  Rather evil is the possibility that must exist in order that there be a choice of good.  The attempt to bring about a choice of good without evil – is itself evil and the very essence of Lucifer becoming Satan.
Evil has to be as eternal as G-d and his goodness.  The reason that G-d exist and is good is because he chooses good over evil.  But he could not choose good unless evil was possible.  But there is more to good and evil.
Because there must be evil to choose good and because evil cannot endure the presents of G-d it is impossible to come to a knowledge of good or evil in the presents of G-d.  And this is the reason that we had to fall to gain the knowledge of good and evil.  Death and Hell are synonymous – two terms trying to describe the same thing.  Likewise – eternal life and exaltation are synonymous.   Thus the choice of eternal life (exaltation) can only be a choice when Death (Hell) is possible.  Symbolically the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is the gateway to the choice between good and evil.  Without knowledge of possibilities one cannot act to make a choice but rather would be acted upon by some outside force that may or may not be acting out of knowledge.
The knowledge of evil comes about by death and by the experience of death we gain knowledge of evil.  The knowledge of good come about through the atonement of Christ – Thus it is necessary to experience both death and the atonement to have knowledge of good and evil – the choice is made complete at what the scriptures call the final judgment of G-d.  This final judgment, I have concluded, is when we will stand before G-d having experienced death (evil) and the atonement by being raised to life or what is called the resurrection (good) – thus we have knowledge.  And at the final judgment we make an account of our choice of life (good) or death (evil – Hell). 
 
The Traveler

Hi, my friend @askandanswer

I like discussions like that. It is always good to share our thoughts and learn from others. I myself have learned a lot in this forum.

Through what I have studied, pondered and learned from scriptures and with friends, God Himself deals with opposition.  He is a perfect being, having all knowledge and all wisdom, all power.  It doesn’t mean He doesn’t have problems to solve. He said to Abraham:

“I (God) dwell in the midst of them all; I now, therefore, have come down unto thee to declare unto thee the works which my hands have made, wherein my wisdom excelleth them all, for I rule in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath, in all wisdom and prudence, over all the intelligences thine eyes have seen from the beginning; I came down in the beginning in the midst of all the intelligences thou hast seen” (PGP, Abraham 3:21)

Our Father in Heaven rules with all wisdom and prudence over all the intelligences, which means (in my view) that He deals with opposition among all the intelligences, because through the laws He instituted, they are allowed to act for themselves and not by compulsion. Otherwise there wouldn’t be any progress.

Oppositon is an eternal principle because it seems to be a pattern among all the exalted beings in order to foster the exaltation of their children. Absolute evil (like a living entity) doesn’t seem to be the case, in my opinion. What I believe is that all intelligences are free to act and this action leads closer to God’s purposes or drives away from it.

Lucifer, on all the light he received in Heaven, made his choice, but not because some entity tempted him, but because of his own making. He didn’t exercise faith in Heavenly Father and in His Beloved Son as our Savior and Redeemer. Thus, he could not progress in glory and was cast out from Heaven.

Later I post more comments. I'm in a rush now LOL

To love one another.
 
The Traveler

My first job after college took me to Maryland where our stake center was located in Washington DC.  Our Welfare farm was on the eastern shore of Maryland and was a dairy farm.  This was back in the day when it was common for members to do much of the labor at welfare farms – especially on weekends – often for an entire Saturday.  My first assignment at the welfare farm was cleaning out the barn which was approximately 2 feet of cow manure.   The smell was horrible and the first thing I did when entering the barn was to throw up – then I was fine to start working.  There were 3 of us cleaning out the barn that day – myself, an army guy with a bright silver star on his shoulder and a US Senator. 
I tried to make some humor that if I was going to spend the day shoveling B.S. that I spend it with the “Washington Elite” that are expert at it.   The one thing we did agree on – is that none of us would do this for money or any social benefit – but we would for our G-d.  The LDS church has many ways to humble any (and all) members.
 
The Traveler

There is a gender thing when it comes to humor.  I use to commute to work down town SLC from my home in Sandy daily on my bicycle - part of keeping in shape.  One day (April 1st) while commuting home I stopped at the local super mart and purchased a small bottle of catchup which I use to decorate myself with before coming in the house.  I should have known better from similar experiences - Sisters of the Gospel just do not have a sense of humor when it comes to such things.
For the life of me I do not understand - If I walk into a pole when walking with my wife and get a bloody nose because I noticed a lady in an outfit that is like 60% off -- That is very funny to her.
 
The Traveler

Many of my lessons of life came to me under my father’s mentorship.   Often I would present problems and he would guide me.  One such lesson came from raising chickens.  One problem I had as a child was becoming emotionally involved with the chickens (capons) we were raising for our table.  Many may have heard stories about helping new chicks break out of eggs.  I went through that experience myself.  When chicks hatch it is quite a difficult physical ordeal for the fragile little chicks – most make it through the shells but they are exhausted.  There are a few that die trying.
There is a great temptation to help chicks through the process by breaking up the egg shell for them – but breaking the egg is a bad idea.  There is something about a chick breaking out of its shell that is necessary for a chick to survive and helping a chick break the shell does more harm than good. 
My father often used this example when I would complain about getting pushed around at school (bullied) or being treated unfairly – or just having bad luck.  He would explain that no matter how difficult life may seem there are always some that not only survive the difficulty but thrive and do better and become stronger because of it.  He would then also explain that no matter how easy life was that there would always be some that would fail. 
One great lesson of life, he would explain is that it is always the same ones that succeed and the same ones that fail regardless of how easy or difficult a task was.  And that the lesson was not just to get through and be one that succeeds but to learn to love the process of success.  Sometimes when we think we are helping others we prevent them from learning the process of success.  We have to be careful to make sure that when we help others that we never take over and prevent others from solving their own problems.  I do not want to create a big argument about this over some individuals that are incapable of success – I know there are always exceptions – but for the most part – people can learn and need to learn to succeed.
 
The Traveler

In the 80’s I was working as an engineer for Boeing in the Seattle area – not long after the LDS church allowed Blacks (African Americans) to hold the priesthood.  I met a remarkable guy by the name of Paul Smith that was a black African American and one of the first to receive the priesthood in the LDS church.   He taught me more about prejudice than any other single person I have ever known – before or since.
What he taught me is that there is in essence two very different kinds of “racial” prejudice and both have their very dark side of separating (isolating) individuals in cultures.  The first kind of prejudice is a bitter or even hateful prejudice – we are all aware of this prejudice.  It is the hateful prejudice that all good people try to avoid.  It is also what most think is the engine of all prejudice – or at least that is what we are told and made to believe.
There is another kind of racial prejudice.  Sometimes this other kind of prejudice raises its ugly head in a strange makeover manner in people trying to be kind, compassionate and loving; that are being deceived that this very ugly prejudice has a beauty of its own about it.  It is a much more subtle kind of prejudice but the result of any prejudice is always the same – it causes people to pigeon hole others and give excuse for thinking that they are or ought to be thought of as different.   
Paul Smith worked with me and convinced me of my other kind of racial prejudice.  As we talked about problems I would make a statement like, “What Blacks need is a great leader.”  He would respond and say, “No! that is not what Blacks need – what people need is a great leader.”  Then he would remind me that as soon as I see a different need for Blacks – I was exercising a prejudice – and I needed to get over that prejudice.   As Paul said – we need to be truly color blind.   We are all children of the same G-d – with the same needs and Celestial destiny.
I could give many examples of how well-meaning people exercise a very dark prejudice thinking that somehow it is good and kind because they think hate does not have any part in motivating it.   But the truth is – it does not matter all that much if we enter into temptation thinking that we are justified in doing so because we are motivated by love rather than hate.  Like the adulterer that thinks their disloyalty in marriage is justified; not by hate of their spouse (that they do not hate but do love somewhat) but rather their deep (thinking somehow deeper) love of someone else – and that love is a good thing. 
As soon as we see through colored goggles and think someone or some group is different for whatever excuse we can think up – we are engaging in prejudice – a prejudice that if allowed to continue will do more harm than whatever good we may think we are dreaming up about it in seeing a difference and making an excuse for it.
If police are treating anyone improperly we should be concerned – not because they are black but because they are humans.  As soon as we allow race to be an element – we create more to the problem and take away from or perhaps even prevent the legitimate solution.
 
The Traveler

I have found that if I begin my day with a prayer highlighting my plans for the day and a petition to G-d that he approve and assist (support) me in my efforts and then at night report to G-d what I did and was able to accomplish – that my prayers are less of a struggle.  Often I discover that things I think are so very important, when presented to G-d, seem quite trivial in the more important grand scheme of things and then when I report my day – that I did not put forth the effort I should have.
The effect of my prayers become more of an engine for my need to change and view things than to change anything else in the world.  Often I pray for other and then realize that they have their agency and need to make their own decisions.
 
The Traveler

In the 80’s I was working as an engineer for Boeing in the Seattle area – not long after the LDS church allowed Blacks (African Americans) to hold the priesthood.  I met a remarkable guy by the name of Paul Smith that was a black African American and one of the first to receive the priesthood in the LDS church.   He taught me more about prejudice than any other single person I have ever known – before or since.
What he taught me is that there is in essence two very different kinds of “racial” prejudice and both have their very dark side of separating (isolating) individuals in cultures.  The first kind of prejudice is a bitter or even hateful prejudice – we are all aware of this prejudice.  It is the hateful prejudice that all good people try to avoid.  It is also what most think is the engine of all prejudice – or at least that is what we are told and made to believe.
There is another kind of racial prejudice.  Sometimes this other kind of prejudice raises its ugly head in a strange makeover manner in people trying to be kind, compassionate and loving; that are being deceived that this very ugly prejudice has a beauty of its own about it.  It is a much more subtle kind of prejudice but the result of any prejudice is always the same – it causes people to pigeon hole others and give excuse for thinking that they are or ought to be thought of as different.   
Paul Smith worked with me and convinced me of my other kind of racial prejudice.  As we talked about problems I would make a statement like, “What Blacks need is a great leader.”  He would respond and say, “No! that is not what Blacks need – what people need is a great leader.”  Then he would remind me that as soon as I see a different need for Blacks – I was exercising a prejudice – and I needed to get over that prejudice.   As Paul said – we need to be truly color blind.   We are all children of the same G-d – with the same needs and Celestial destiny.
I could give many examples of how well-meaning people exercise a very dark prejudice thinking that somehow it is good and kind because they think hate does not have any part in motivating it.   But the truth is – it does not matter all that much if we enter into temptation thinking that we are justified in doing so because we are motivated by love rather than hate.  Like the adulterer that thinks their disloyalty in marriage is justified; not by hate of their spouse (that they do not hate but do love somewhat) but rather their deep (thinking somehow deeper) love of someone else – and that love is a good thing. 
As soon as we see through colored goggles and think someone or some group is different for whatever excuse we can think up – we are engaging in prejudice – a prejudice that if allowed to continue will do more harm than whatever good we may think we are dreaming up about it in seeing a difference and making an excuse for it.
If police are treating anyone improperly we should be concerned – not because they are black but because they are humans.  As soon as we allow race to be an element – we create more to the problem and take away from or perhaps even prevent the legitimate solution.
 
The Traveler

Some “things”.
For the record – I am dyslexic.  I had difficulty with some educational disciplines as a child such as reading out loud and spelling.  My teachers did not understand why I had outstanding comprehension and did well on tests but could not read out loud or pass oral exams but if it was written.  However, I did not think I had a problem – I thought something was wrong with everybody else and as a result I became very attached to logic.
I apologize to anyone that thinks I judge all with mental disorders the same.  I believe everybody has different abilities and we need to address each person according to their abilities.  
 
BUT
I am going to go out on a limb and make a prediction – not so different from what we all can read in the “WE WARN” paragraph of the - Proclamation to the World.  Because many are in denial about the effects of drugs on individuals, families, neighborhood, cities and even nations – including marijuana and alcohol.  I predict that this country will see an increase in violence – Just as China did before and during the opiate wars.  That we will see – as we have been warned – history repeating and the violence extending beyond isolated and contained neighborhoods to places we currently think are exempt and safe.  And then it will be too late because the influence of drugs and the corruption of money will have such a tight grip on government and courts – that as the Book of Mormon has warned – much blood shed will be necessary to remove the corruption and preserve liberty. 
 
The Traveler

I will have missed things people have said.  This thread was too long to read everything.
 
A variety of thoughts on things others have said.
 
 
We do not do that.  We fill our jails with criminals who often plea to lesser charges and appear to be “simple marijuana users.”  This mentality also fails to factor in the high volume of other crimes that druggies commit as they engage their addictions.  Most of these crimes they are never caught and prosecuted for, you have to catch them doing the forgery/burglary/robbery to prosecute them.  Drug use is not the victimless crime some falsely advocate.
 
 
Again, not a victimless crime.  19 years on the street has proven this to me.  I do think felonies should be classified as violent or non violent and should be viewed in those lights.
 
Insert anectdotal “I told you so” here.
 
 
Yep.
 
Asset forfeiture takes more than "a small amount of marijuana."
 
I am unaware of any asset forfeiture and sale of the property occurring PRIOR to convictions of an offense.  Is this anectdotal or can a reference to this incident be provided?
 
 
Revenue enhancement.  Always an amusing buzz word to rile people up.  Asset forfeiture funds may be used to further narcotics investigations. Not a pay raise.   If there is planted evidence it is rare and when we catch our own doing it we hate them more than anyone else.  We hate dirty cops more than anyone else.
 
I have, but I get your point.
 
 
Nor can I ignore this issue.
 
The Truth Behind the Black Lives Matter Movement and the War on Police can be purchased at this link:  https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Behind-Matter-Movement-Police/dp/1944783520/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476841045&sr=1-1&keywords=black+lives+matter+and+the+war+on+police
 
 
That is an uninformed opinion.
 
Name the drug I have probably fought someone on it.  Including pot heads.  Meth users are typically the worst, but I have had some good knockdowns with potheads over the years.  Heroin is supposed to make you mellow too.  I've had a couple of really ugly fights with heroin users.  But we are talking about marijuana....so yeah, I've had quite a few fights with potheads.
 
Anyone who thinks the cartels will not continue to use violence in their business, whether it has been legalized or not, has not spent much time actually involved in some way with the drug trade world.  Legalization will never stop the violence.  Ever.
 
 
You are correct sir.
 
You are correct sir.  Anyone want a quick look at this?  Google the number of shootings in Chicago last weekend.
 
 
But what would I know about it...

Okay, Traveler is using terminology that can get confusing.  He uses god with the lower case g which is different to God with the capital G.
Basically, what he is trying to say is that a cherub is the same material that our spirits are.  In the vast majority of Christianity, it is believed that Cherubs/Angels are also different material than Man is and is a different material than God.  In LDS belief, Cherubs, Angels, Persons, God are all the same material.  Traveler calls all of us gods (small g) until we unite in perfect unity with God and become God ourselves (capital G) or we reject God and join Satan in Outer Darkness (complete separation from God).  So, Satan was a god (potential for Godhood) until he rejected God and has, therefore, no potential to be God anymore.

I would suggest you become more informed about the opiate wars and the “100 years of shame” suffered in China and the collapse of Chinese society that followed and has not even yet recovered.
 
The Traveler

I believe we often ask ourselves the wrong question.  Many times (almost always) a wrong question to self is – “What is wrong with _______?”  And you can fill in the blank.  Many years ago – in my youth I competed in a couple of sports – in particular I competed in skiing (giant solemn) and cycling.  Don’t get excited – I was never very good.  But from time to time I would seek out the advice of a coach.  Let’s use the example of skiing.  Coming into a turn my coach would tell me that I am leaning too far back on my skis for the turn.  It is not that leaning back is bad.  In fact leaning back gives one more speed and that is what we are trying to accomplish competing in the giant solemn.   But leaning forward gives more control and at the particular point of the turn I needed more control and that by maintaining control in the turn it would increase my time.  The idea is that by some few small corrections I could increase my time and compete better – by avoiding the hazard of losing control and having to set my edges harder in the next turn and falling behind.
Some may say the advice of my coach was flawed – I might look better doing something else or I might ever be faster at that particular point of the course.  But my coach saw a much bigger picture and realized that it was the whole race and not a particular turn that I was skiing to win.  In some races we can and should lean more towards the back in order to win.  The advice of our coach is that to be our best and to come out a head – we should be clean shaven.  We may not see any correlation because many saints were not clean shaven.  But our coach and given the advice that we should.  I realize that his is a general statement to priesthood brethren and that there can be some minority odd exceptions.  But for me – I have found that it is silly to seek out a coach and then to not try his advice.  And my experience was that I never have had an exception where I did as my coach advised and things turned out the worse for it.
 
The Traveler

I do not believe we understand how close we are to losing everything concerning our freedoms and liberties.  Sometime ago – under President Clinton – a unique and special National Guard military unit was set up and organized.  This unit was intended to give the president unique and special power to counteract terrorism within the borders of the USA.  Unlike other National Guard units this military unit could not, ever, be under state or any state governor control – only the president oversees this military unit that can be given secret orders for any declared national crisis and without oversight from any other branch of the Federal Government.  At the time it looked a lot like the Nazi SS to me.
Since its inception – I have not been able to gather any information concerning this military unit – not even through the Freedom of Information Act.  Nor have I encountered anyone else (news network or otherwise) that has given out any information.  It would seem that the entire organization (including its name) and operation has become classified.  The military unit, when it was initially organized, had specialists in communications (including IT technologies), specialists in intelligence gathering and specialists in high level strategic military operations that include specialized military weaponry not available to other military units.
With the politicizing of the IRS, the Attorney General, the Federal Judges and Supreme Court and other Federal Government agencies (including Health Care) that we have seen under the current Administration – I think this next election will end all conservative influences.  I am thinking the next target in the loss of our freedoms will be the overturning (or over ruling) of State control of local laws, law enforcement and courts.  I suspect this will happen (and has started to happen) under the excuse of racial inequality.  I believe that only by direct divine intervention can the forces currently in power be prevented from doing what-ever they will within our Federal Government.  I do not believe the upcoming election will change anything and that the next president has already been determined and that the will of the people will not matter.
 
The Traveler

This was actually on my mind today, as I sat through a temple dedication.
God has all power and all things are at His command.  He does not need of a fancy house any more than He need the finest animals for sacrifice in the OT.   The purpose of us giving Him our finest things is not because He needs them, but because we greedy small minded people need to give them- to remind us to put Him first and not idolize the things of this world.  A temple stands as a monument to all that people gave to the Lord, the sacrifices that went into it, and that He comes first.  It also serves the purpose of... to be frank, we are small minded creatures and seeing physical beauty does help remind us of Heavenly beauty.  

That's your perspective.
This is the Trumper perspective:
The Bush Presidency and Congress gave us record debt and an economic crisis to add to the pro-longed war engagement.  It didn't matter that both the Presidency and Congress were ruled by Republicans.  The flavor of Congress was stonewall.  Democrats and Republicans don't debate issues, rather they stonewall and use party allegiances and re-election campaign funding to threaten their side of Congress into compliance.  There is no debate.  They stand on their side of the fence and instead of debating the merits or demerits of bills they strong-arm votes or filibuster.  Nothing gets through... they can't agree on much of anything.  Bush got his objectives through executive orders.
This just got worse in the 8 years of Obama.  The TEA Party came out in full force The conservatives seeded Congress with highly trustworthy, upright, moral conservative torch-bearers.  The GOP has silenced all of them as it didn't align with their party objectives (note, that these party objectives have no bearing on people's objectives).  Congress became a sham of a legislative body and Obama, as a result, ruled with executive orders.
THIS IS A BROKEN GOVERNMENT.
Think of any of the 16 people that was running for the Republican Primaries and imagine a single one of them 1.) Beating the Democrats - remember, Romney lost, 2.) Beating entrenched establishment in Congress.
Ted Cruz, a staunch conservative, would have been another partyline stonewall on steroids.  Strict ideology would have continued to cause Congress to be do-nothing... continue almost 16 years of no debates.
John Kasich... a laugh.  He is too weak.
Chris Christie - do you really believe he can win against Clinton?
Ben Carson - Romney can't even win, how much more for Carson.  Nice guys are easy fodder for Democrat negative attacks.
Rubio - donor class puppet.  He can't even stand up to his bipartisan immigration bill.  He crafted something in a gang of 8 and threw out his voters.
You can go on down the line.
Trump's appeal IS he does not think by ideologies.  He thinks by execution.  Therefore, he has the unique ability to ram right through the Congressional blockade and break this party-line stagnation.  He correctly identifies the donor class and put them on notice.  He is impervious to negative campaigns - from both sides - and he is impervious to ideology smears.  Because what really does it matter what he thinks about which bathroom we're supposed to use?  How does that solve our $19T national debt and the ravages of ISIS?  So, he can say - sure, Kaitlyn Jenner can use whatever bathroom he wants - without having to pay an electorate price and get that issue out of the table for other people to worry about.  Meanwhile, he does WHAT A PRESIDENT CAN DO to get "other people that has to worry about it" on the side of Constitutionalist Americans by promising a Scalia-like SCOTUS.  This kind of thing is instinctive to Trump.  He may not be able to explain to you what conservatism means but his actions side with true conservatism - not this buzz-word conservatism - Free Trade... yeah, when you're running major trade deficits, free trade is just a buzz word.  So conservatives like Sessions can get their voices heard.
Conservatism is practical.  Liberalism is emotional.  Trump understands practical very well.  Conservatism is also effective and has a track record of success.  So, in the arena of ideas, Trump will instinctively agree with Sessions on things that are actionable.  BUT - Trump is a celebrity - he knows instinctively how to reach people emotionally.  So, you got a bonus of a guy that is easily persuaded into conservative governance, you got the guy who can lead people to it.
So that's why conservative powerhouses like the TEA Party darling Jeff Sessions - who has experienced not getting his voice heard in a majority Republican House - went out for Trump very early in the campaign.  People like Newt Gingrich - the guy who ran a successful conservative Congress under a Bill Clinton Presidency - saw the opportunity of breaking this stupid Congressional blockade with Trump.
Now, you can say the Trumpers have absolutely destroyed the party.  GOOD.  THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
 
 

This thread is not about who in the USA ought to be president but what politics has become -- a campaign of who should not be president and not how to make this country better.  I believe this is because secret combinations are so entrenched and desiring to make sure they are not discovered but that those that oppose them be denied liberties.
 
The Traveler

There is a gender thing when it comes to humor.  I use to commute to work down town SLC from my home in Sandy daily on my bicycle - part of keeping in shape.  One day (April 1st) while commuting home I stopped at the local super mart and purchased a small bottle of catchup which I use to decorate myself with before coming in the house.  I should have known better from similar experiences - Sisters of the Gospel just do not have a sense of humor when it comes to such things.
For the life of me I do not understand - If I walk into a pole when walking with my wife and get a bloody nose because I noticed a lady in an outfit that is like 60% off -- That is very funny to her.
 
The Traveler

There is a gender thing when it comes to humor.  I use to commute to work down town SLC from my home in Sandy daily on my bicycle - part of keeping in shape.  One day (April 1st) while commuting home I stopped at the local super mart and purchased a small bottle of catchup which I use to decorate myself with before coming in the house.  I should have known better from similar experiences - Sisters of the Gospel just do not have a sense of humor when it comes to such things.
For the life of me I do not understand - If I walk into a pole when walking with my wife and get a bloody nose because I noticed a lady in an outfit that is like 60% off -- That is very funny to her.
 
The Traveler

I hesitate voicing my concerns because of the importance and critical nature of our time and place - but here it is anyway – what is the benefit of being warned about being run over by a truck if you cannot prevent it or avoid it?  Or if the warning is ambiguous and unclear - if it will occur tomorrow, next week, in 5 years or 500 years?  How can we prepare for things that we cannot avoid or prevent?  How do we prepare if we do not know the specifics? Preparing for an earthquake is different than preparing for a civil war, an epidemic, a traffic accident or a secret society importing drugs and controlling vital elements of our government.
At this point of my life I am not concerned if I suffer some or even die.  My concerns are my children, grandchildren and your children.  I am quite certain things will eventually turn out as they should but what can any of us actually do to change anything beyond ourselves?  What can any of us do for the upcoming generation?   And who can we or who should we count on to stand with us? 
I feel like the rich young man that asked Jesus what he should do?  And I wonder what we may be holding on to that needs to be given up?  I recall, as a young man serving in the military; boarding a train to take me and others to combat.  I recall wondering if I would ever see my family or home again in this life – then just before the train left I was order off and given new orders – some of my friends left and never returned other returned but were never the same.  I something think that it would be easier to be one that did not return. 
For me, in my quiet prayers, if there are hardships – let them fall on me.  The hardship I fear the most and am the least prepared for is watching the hardships fall on others.
 
The Traveler

I have found that if I begin my day with a prayer highlighting my plans for the day and a petition to G-d that he approve and assist (support) me in my efforts and then at night report to G-d what I did and was able to accomplish – that my prayers are less of a struggle.  Often I discover that things I think are so very important, when presented to G-d, seem quite trivial in the more important grand scheme of things and then when I report my day – that I did not put forth the effort I should have.
The effect of my prayers become more of an engine for my need to change and view things than to change anything else in the world.  Often I pray for other and then realize that they have their agency and need to make their own decisions.
 
The Traveler

In my mind it is not as much a matter of sacred or secret as it is a matter of casting pearls before swine.
 
The Traveler

In my mind it is not as much a matter of sacred or secret as it is a matter of casting pearls before swine.
 
The Traveler