Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z. Generation it's all about me. I talk about myself more than Mike Jones and Slim Shady combined. It's all very Ayn Randian. I'm wonderful and amazing and they're all jealous and petty and don't understand (my brilliance). Self obsession is a disease that I've willingly contracted. I think it's time to set a goal that doesn't involve my self-aggrandizement, before it's too late and my ego explodes like a supernova and all that's left is a black hole where my soul used to be. Since I'm making it public my motives automatically come into question, either way I shall have my reward as the good book says...
Once upon a time I was a Mormon, a devout one anyway, now I'm just a Mormon who makes up his own rules. That said I still have a tender spot for some of my former beliefs, more the morals than the metaphysics and then only some of them. Sitting atop the pile is the golden rule, hardly an exclusive Mormon teaching, but that's where I first experienced it so I'll give them some credit. What if I were to take this most beloved precept and combine it with one of my most loathed (and have it be good)? Defying the old saying 'can anything good come from tithing' , that's right tithing I'm calling you out. Giving What We Can presents an effective way of doing just that, consequently I'm preparing to sign up. This organization sorts out which charities work most effectively, gives you an idea of how many lives will be affected through your donations and the rest is up to you (there's a lot more info on the site too, check it out). It'll be nice to see 10% of my earnings going toward something that I know will be making a difference.This is a good start, but I'd still feel detached from my attempts at altruism, I've got to find a soup kitchen or something.
If there's one thing I like doing here it's recycling old journal entries...
I woke up one day this week and decided I wanted to be a man. This was surprising news to everyone. Vince Lombardi (of the green bay packers) said: " winning isn't a sometime thing, it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit, unfortunately so is losing." Substitute winning for man or manhood and you'll get some idea of how I felt. Do I wake up some days and think, you know what I don't feel like being a man today? Sure, happens all the time. I don't exactly say those words but my actions reflect that thought process: I don't feel like waking up early or doing the dishes or being nice to people or whatever. Lehi reminded his wayward sons " arise from the dust my sons and be men and be determined in one mind and one heart united in all things, that you may not come down into captivity." The saviour gives us an understanding of what true manhood is... asked:" what manner of men ought ye to be?" & answered: "Even as I am." Remember manhood isn't a some time thing it's an all the time thing. So what are you waiting for? Be a man.
An addendum, the attributes of manhood:
1 THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (New Testament 1 Corinthians 13:)
