Obey

Question authority … be skeptical, but open.

It occurs to me that I may be offensive to those with rigid beliefs who have a hard time being open for fear of them losing their footing. Figuratively, “losing your religion” is a very difficult place to be and I was there in my early 20s specifically with my literal religion. There were more questions than answers as I accepted what I was told. I really tried and gave organized religion a chance.

I came from punk rock roots where we questioned authority. It was wonderful to think beyond what we were told. We called everything into question. It just made sense. I love the intention of not being a sheep. The intentions I had then were not rooted in Love though. That is the measuring stick. Be skeptical and brave and question everything, but use Love to gauge how you will adopt or reject it. ‘Is that rooted in Love or Fear’ is a formative question.

As I got into my place that prepared me for my awakening, I was listening to the Four Agreements. This is an amazing book with precepts that can work in the workplace or your life. l love those ideas. There is a book called the Fifth Agreement. I don’t know if Don Miguel Ruiz wasn’t given or discovered the Fifth Agreement yet when writing the Four Agreements or what, but that book came afterward. It is just as good as the previous book the Four Agreements. The premise is “Be Skeptical, but Open”.

I am constantly reminded how so many humans are sheep. Even the oldest of souls seem to be stuck sometimes on what they are told. We all do it. Some are just controlled and never know anything different. It is scary to question. Probably 80% of all people just accept what they are told and never question it. Using our brains is done by us all and that in and of itself is a source of conflict. Some cannot sit with the discrepancies. It is ground shaking and rubs them the wrong way.
We are told is what we are to know. We think one political party is right and the other is wrong. We think one religion has it right and the others should or maybe will be destroyed or punished. Most everything has been tainted by human control and a need for power. Our media is bought. Our leaders are bought or have a self-serving angle for control and power and willing to dupe all of the World. Our religions are bought. Religion is the opiate of the masses right Karl Marx? It is used for control.

The Bible is contaminated with human control. It is not the inerrant word of God. Yes, there are nuggets of Wisdom that no man can remove. There is a preservation of salvation in some of the words. Most of it is has been written for personal gain. PLEASE do not tune out right now … hear me out. The Bible is written in Greek and Hebrew and a dash of Aramaic. It had to be translated and canonized since there are many more books of the Bible found that are not included in our Protestant, Catholic and Jewish canons. My God, there is a King James Version. Doesn’t that say enough? It was his version that he created in 7 years by not the greatest interpreters… only the ones that would say what he wanted to create more power for his government. There was a major conflict between the Protestant pests and the Catholic powers at be. Their versions of the Bibles differed and was being used to tear down the government. There were issues with the overseeing Pope and government and so the Church of England was created so a choice of divorce could be had.
Does anyone question the most powerful authorities?

We should question rules whether they are made by the government or the church or the teachers or parents or peers or the books we are told are true or the culture we are raised in? We are duped by information. We are in belief that we have all the facts when we only have what we are given or what we are told. The media used to be a source of independent thought and questioning, however now they are bought by whatever information system and power that pays the most and gives them more power. It puts us in a groundless place where we do not know where to stand. Being unstable is so unsettling. Its nice to follow everyone else and con ourselves.
We must take action and create a world that doesn’t allow for the mass population to be manipulated by a few. We can do that by questioning and being open to the answers. They may blow our minds and we may grow.

Frequently, other perspectives can show a different angle that can change your mind or teach the possibilities that are beyond your current knowledge. It is like a football play. The defender sees the play one way. The person running or passing the ball sees it from where they are. The referee sees in from a different angle. Each player has a unique perspective. Put all of these together and you get the aerial view. Each part of that play was exciting for your unique position holding drama and excitement that was unique to another viewpoint. Listen to all the perspectives and decide for yourself how that play unfolded.
Be open to what you find once you call something out.

I love what Shepard Fairey does with his Obey art. It is the simple premise of don’t just obey what you are told… question it. Be brave and find the Truth, but be open to the perspectives and formulate your own viewpoint. After all, my definition of creativity is not something new under the sun but combining all perspectives and views and playing on what resonates to you and the culmination of that will be your “style” and belief system and message. Have your own one and only fingerprint of a viewpoint and stand strong in what you have ruminated on and cooked up as your belief system and Path.