Something positive posted amongst all the doom and gloom." Are we appreciative enough?"

[**bustysinclaire**]

Many a doom and gloom post being posted so I would like to share with anyone who may be interested a positive topic.

I had the privilege to read and study this article today and if me sharing with the RT helps just one person take notice and benefit by it then how wonderful that will be.

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/402014686

A thread I read today, "Are we adult enough?"

Well I would like to ask "are we appreciative enough?" with the topic in the link in mind

[evoman3957]

By William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
   Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
   For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
   I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
   My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
   Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
   Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
   How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
   I am the captain of my soul.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate life in all its diversity and death doesn't hold any fear for me.

I think that is as positive as it gets for me.

[electric*mayhem*band]

Here's another uplifting and pragmatic link, if you've got two hours to spare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j93z765KJ1Q

[astrologica]

Evening Busty! I just read part of your link.......and I have to say that the thought of everlasting life scares me! It is my belief that everything living is meant to have a limited life span and then to die...to make room for the next generation. Nature gives us clues all around us to show us this. The Seasons are a continual cycle of birth , maturity and death. In the autumn, when the leaves fall off the trees and die, if you look closely, the minute little buds of next years leaves are already there on some trees.
Years ago I helped my Mother to look after my Grandmother in her final years. More recently I cared for my own Mother at home, right up until her death. Both my Mother and Grandmother lived to be in their nineties, and both expressed the view that they had lived long enough and were ready to accept the end of their lives..indeed, to embrace death.
Neither of them wanted to live any longer. So...how would they fare in your world...where no-one dies? Would they be compelled, along with all other old and tired human beings, to endure an everlasting living hell? There is no sense or Joy in that concept. Isn't it better to find Joy in the changing of the Seasons, the continual cycle of death and rebirth? Just my view...for what it's worth!

[bankhaunter]

As soon as any thought is given to the subject, it is soon realised that in order to have life, you must also have death.

The only other option would be some sort of stationary, monotonously stagnant world where nothing changed for millennia after millennia.

A man turns to his grandson and tells him of how a million years previously, the grassland around the house had fifty deer living on it.

The grandson looks puzzled and replies but there are fifty deer living there now.

The man sighs remarking that indeed there is and they are the same (expletive deleted) fifty deer, while probably thinking up a new word, 'venison' but realising that Big Brother was always watching and even checking his thoughts.

[fallen-archie]

The only other option would be some sort of stationary, monotonously stagnant world where nothing changed for millennia after millennia.

That place sounds familiar 🙂

[merehazle]

Well... Hello Busty. Yes again, I think this is appropriate:

  Do not stand at my grave and weep;

  I am not there. I do not sleep.

  I am a thousand winds that blow.

  I am the diamond glints on the snow.

  I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

  I am the autumn rain.

  When you awaken in the morning's hush,

  I am the swift uplifting rush

  Of quite birds in circled flight.

  I am the soft stars that shine at night.

  Do not stand at my grave and cry;

  I am not there, I did not die.

   An American poet . Sorry, I forget her name.  

[Anonymous]

http://youtu.be/vBecM3CQVD8

[evoman3957]

I KEEP six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
I give them all a rest.

I let them rest from nine till five,
For I am busy then,
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,
For they are hungry men.
But different folk have different views;
I know a person small—
She keeps ten million serving-men,
Who get no rest at all!

She sends'em abroad on her own affairs,
From the second she opens her eyes—
One million Hows, two million Wheres,
And seven million Whys!

[**bustysinclaire**]

Thanks everyone for your posts. xxx

astrologica wrote:
Evening Busty! I just read part of your link.......and I have to say that the thought of everlasting life scares me! It is my belief that everything living is meant to have a limited life span and then to die...to make room for the next generation. Nature gives us clues all around us to show us this. The Seasons are a continual cycle of birth , maturity and death. In the autumn, when the leaves fall off the trees and die, if you look closely, the minute little buds of next years leaves are already there on some trees.
Years ago I helped my Mother to look after my Grandmother in her final years. More recently I cared for my own Mother at home, right up until her death. Both my Mother and Grandmother lived to be in their nineties, and both expressed the view that they had lived long enough and were ready to accept the end of their lives..indeed, to embrace death.
Neither of them wanted to live any longer. So...how would they fare in your world...where no-one dies? Would they be compelled, along with all other old and tired human beings, to endure an everlasting living hell? There is no sense or Joy in that concept. Isn't it better to find Joy in the changing of the Seasons, the continual cycle of death and rebirth? Just my view...for what it's worth!

Hi astro, thank you for your views too.

I do understand where you're coming from regarding the seasons and cycles etc, and if I hadn't got the belief that everlasting life was on offer then I think your way of looking at it would be how I would reason on things too.

I can certainly understand what you are saying as regards to living for ever when old and tired.

Because I believe in the Bible I can be reassured that when everlasting life does become a reality that ageing and being tired will be a thing of the past too.

We weren't meant to grow old and die, we were made in such a way that eating and drinking was life sustaining and our bodies had the capability to regenerate and stay healthy and at a peak of physical and mental fitness so life would never be harsh and boring, if you look into the bible it explains the cycles are the way in which the planet will go on, forever rejuvenating. This was a provision from God to sustain us humans forever.

Death was a consequence of the first couple sinning which God promised to reverse, why would he create mankind and give him life only to cruelly take it away again?

I look forward to everlasting life because I truly believe it will be a wonderful experience, never boring and always having new things to learn and accomplish.

Jehovah God, gave the first couple a commission to fill the earth and become many, he did not say fill it to overflowing. The earth will not become over populated.

I am so glad you and others are happy and death itself hold no fear for you, it does though for many others and there is a hope and future for the ones who crave it.

[bankhaunter]

We weren't meant to grow old and die,

We weren't meant to do anything, we are not here for any reason, there is no inherent meaning in life each individual makes of it what they will, we are just a product of evolution.

An afterlife is simply an invention, by some out of fear of death and by religious leaders as a promise of reward for obedience, bow down to my god and you will live forever, don't and you wont, plus for the Christian religion it will be even worse, you will be tortured for all eternity if you are not willing to be enslaved.

The Christian religion is a strange beast, it talks of the love of God and yet longs for the day when all unbelievers will be destroyed no matter how much good they may have done in their life

"I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born and did not suffer the slightest inconvenience from it"

Mark Twain

[merehazle]

---

---

Bankhaunter wrote:

We weren't meant to grow old and die,

We weren't meant to do anything, we are not here for any reason, there is no inherent meaning in life each individual makes of it what they will, we are just a product of evolution.

An afterlife is simply an invention, by some out of fear of death and by religious leaders as a promise of reward for obedience, bow down to my god and you will live forever, don't and you wont, plus for the Christian religion it will be even worse, you will be tortured for all eternity if you are not willing to be enslaved.

The Christian religion is a strange beast, it talks of the love of God and yet longs for the day when all unbelievers will be destroyed no matter how much good they may have done in their life

"I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born and did not suffer the slightest inconvenience from it"

Mark Twain

---

I missed this.

Yes...interesting opinion.    But of course not necessarily so?

'The Christian religion is a strange beast,  it talks of the love of God and yet longs for the day unbelivers will be destroyed no matter how much good they may have done in their life.' 

Are you sure?     

Well...I the thought that radicalised Muslims want unbelievers destroyed.  Isis I thought certainly do.

After the Peshawar school attack where 132 children were killed I wont believe there is a God. 

Interesting what Mark Twain said.  Though perhaps that is all to simple?  Interested to see what Busty (or anyone) might think on that?

[tommy.irene]

'The Christian religion is a strange beast, it talks of the love of God and yet longs for the day unbelivers will be destroyed no matter how much good they may have done in their life.'

[tommy.irene]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/parents-fury-after-vicar-tells-4835335?ICID=FB_mirror_main

[bankhaunter]

“...rather his utter disbelief when he asked me ‘Mum why did Reverend Margaret lie to us?’”

More than a touch of irony there methinks, given that there is about the same amount of evidence for either God or Santa Claus.