Responsibility

Some of us may not realize what it means to be responsible for our own actions. We leave it up to others to be the givers and doers. We may feel like no one gave us anything to begin with or everyone is in it for themselves. Many times I have heard others and myself saying that, "self-sufficiency should be the most important priority". But is it really? Are we responsible only to ourselves?

We must realize that everything we have was given to us by God. Our minds, hearts, souls, bodies, and all the people we love and cherish. In addition, he placed in our lives all of the material things we have, and no matter how much we protect and keep them - one day they will be left behind. So what truly matters is how much importance we place on the gifts God gave us. How much emphasis or priority we give to those things or to the people we love. So let's pay it forward or give it back, whichever works best for each of us. After all, we are only here for a little while and we will not take anything with us when we leave.

There are many online charity sites and even more informational sites that provide insights into how we may give. Yet, the scholars and religious leaders tell us the most important thing we can give is our time and our love. We have been told that charity begins at home. There are those of us, including myself, who go about the day thinking we will go visit a friend, relative, a shut-in or someone in the hospital or jail - when we have time. Then the time passes, the day is gone, and we are still waiting to have time to visit. In the future, I hope to make time, instead of waiting the time.

Shakespeare’s first two lines in the poem, All the World’s a Stage, “All the world's a stage,  And all the men and women merely players”, has great meaning in that we all go through stages – inventing and reinventing ourselves during different times of our lives. However, who writes the script… is it us? Is it God? As we venture out and about each day, living our lives – how much is truly affected by our own decisions? Does that small inner voice always point us in the right direction?  Are we giving back?

We hear people say, “Let your conscience be your guide”. However, since God lives within us, isn't God our conscience? Aren't his commandments written on our hearts? As human beings, we have the choice to either listen or ignore his instructions. I believe God wants us to be giving, loving, and obedient. Although he loves us unconditionally, he gave us the option to do or not to do. Therefore, the choice is up to us and we have to take the responsibility for our actions.

The following song has a lot of meaning in reference to what we do with our lives and our time. It is an 'oldie, but goodie' entitled, The Games People play... “GAMESPEOPLE PLAY by JOE SOUTH 1969.wmv".   

The Games People Play

Oh the games people play now

Every night and every day now

Never meaning what they say now

Never saying what they mean 

And they wile away the hours

In their ivory towers

Till they're covered up with flowers

In the back of a black limousine 

[Chorus:]

La-da da da da da da da

La-da da da da da de

Talking 'bout you and me

And the games people play 

Oh we make one another cry

Break a heart then we say goodbye

Cross our hearts and we hope to die

That the other was to blame 

Neither one will give in

So we gaze at our eight by ten

Thinking 'bout the things that might have been

It's a dirty rotten shame 

[Chorus] 

People walking up to you

Singing glory hallelulia

And they're tryin to sock it to you

In the name of the Lord 

They're gonna teach you how to meditate

Read your horoscope, cheat your faith

And further more to hell with hate

Come on and get on board

[Chorus]

Look around tell me what you see

What's happening to you and me

God grant me the serenity

To remember who I am 

Cause you've given up your sanity

For your pride and your vanity

Turns you sad on humanity

And you don't give a da da da da da 

Sources

http://allpoetry.com/poem/8449743-All-The-Worlds-A-Stage-by-William-Shakespeare

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAGyENr3_44

To pick up where I left off...

So much has happened since the previous blog post back in 2008. After the class at Radford University I had several different jobs and lots of family issues that kept me very busy. It seems to be a good time, fast forward to January 2014 to pick up where I left off and begin writing again.

So with the new year, and a new start I plan to write about various issues that concern me and may be benificial to others. Writing is a hobby, and with practice, who knows it may evolve into something more professional.

Mostly I have wrote lengthy class assignments, marketing materials/advertisements for the local community college (Southwest Virginia Community College) where I teach part time, or letters to whom it may concern to get my point accross. An occasional Opinion page in the local news paper or an announcement, but nothing major. In addition, I have written short stories, and poems that never left my notebooks or computer folders.

As the new year begins, my idea is to post writings and invite others to provide feedback and comments. There are too many to come up with a specific blog name, so Let's Talk, that I launched back in 2008 for a course assignment seems to be a good Blog name for now. I have lot's to do today, so I will close and come back later to start writing about one of those near and dear to me topics I mentioned.

I hope you all have the best and most blessed 2014 ever, with lots of friends, family, work-to-do, etc. to keep you inspired and happy to be alive! Have a happy day!