The Future

Sts John and Paul, martyrs. Friday 26th June, 2020.

I received a letter from an active Jehovah Witness friend. It contained a little pamphlet as to 'How do you view the future?'. She herself wrote 'this virus has really been making people think..'. She believes, although she used the word 'knows' that we are living 'in the last days'. Two other phrases she wrote I share with you: 'they don't want to hear' and 'I don't want you to miss out on all the blessings'.

I mention her because I am of the opinion that if one holds a belief which would effect the lives of others it is important to state it. It is for the others to accept or reject but if they do not hear how will they know? I do not believe in forcing upon a person particular dogma thus I reject dictatorship and the laws which demand people go against their conscience. It is a fine and difficult line to draw for Society has the right to protect itself but not the right to enforce what demeans a person or reduces freedoms. Democracy suggests the majority have the power and legality to enforce standards and laws; dictatorship states that the view of an individual or cabal has the right to enforce its creed on all.

To me the individual must act according to his/her conscience and beliefs. I admired the pacificists yet do not believe them utterly. I do not admire a State that shoots deserters.

I agree with the loosening of the lockdown yet am horrified by the thousands who flouted the rules and swarmed on to the beaches. How do they justify their actions...under the banner of freedom or conscience?

We all know the interchangeability of the words freedom fighter and terrorist. It depends on one's point of view. Would I fight to preserve freedom, to free my Country from a tyranny or a foreign yoke?

I do not admire blasphemy even if the blasphemer is not of the faith. I consider it disrespectful and arrogant. Yet I do not believe blasphemers  should be executed.

My friend stated that she knows we are in the last days. I do not agree with her but I admire her desire to persuade others for she fears they are missing out on blessings. She is a gentle good person who lives by her rules of faith. She does not force herself on anyone. She does not preach for her own sake but for the sake of others.

She fears that people do not want to hear the truth. Certainly I fear that people, including myself, have become lazy and have lost the art of listening. Are we too busy? Are we simply intolerant of all except our own survival, our own standard of living, our own lives and those of our friends and family? Are we just too lazy and leave everything to others, to 'them', those who are paid to think, run the country. Also the questions seem too big...how do we know if something is true or false in the spiritual, ideological and philosophical world? Why does it matter?

Is this pandemic making us really think? Or are we just battening down the hatches, blocking our ears, getting on with our lives and wanting it to be as it was before? Do we feel impotent and want to be left alone?

Her letter was disturbing in that it has made me ponder and that is at times discomforting yet an inner voice tells me to listen, to pursue the truth. At present I do not view the future but I try to live the moment, the present fully.