Progress

• Am I on the right path?

  How can I be sure that I am taking the right path?

  Often I hear of an adult still hearing the voice of a parent, or some other significant figure constantly invading his mental household. Although I cannot say I have "that problem," I have no doubt the voices are there at some level.

• Am I willing to change?

  I want a better life; I want to be well; I am tired of being depressed...  But am I willing to change?

  It seems that too often folks pray for things to get better because they do not want to change! The penchant for staying the same is one of the deadliest forms of self-imposed enslavement.

• Are robots driving us to Spirit?

  It is said that robots will be replacing humans in a large portion of jobs in the next few decades years, everything from bank tellers, to anesthesiologist and other physicians. What's with these robots anyway? Will I soon be superfluous?

• Effortless progress?

  Inspired by last nights lively discussion on yesterday's posting:

  Is it possible to make progress effortlessly? Who says we have to progress anyway? Is it just cultural conditioning?

• How can thought drop?

  You're feeling really good about things, and then someone comes along and says something that really hurts. All of a sudden thought drops and everything loses its lustre, and now you are feeling bad about things.

  What happened? Is there some kind of mental gravity at work here - as long as you are flapping your wings or pedalling or rowing or... expressing joy - you are fine. But something comes along to take away that joy, stops the activity, and down, down you go. Seems like it.

• Smooth sailing is anathema to progress

  Many hold smooth sailing, or easy progress, as the goal in life. The Socialist ideal is caring for people from the cradle to the grave, minimizing the bumps along the way.

  In business, in sports, in the arts, in research, in education, etc. smooth sailing is a recipe for failure - and it is an anathema to spiritual growth, to true Christian living. Why is this?

• What's my purpose?

  How often do we hear something like: I just want to know my purpose. What am I here for? 

  This morning I opened to this in Isaiah: "The Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it?"