Thursday, August 27, 2009
We Have Moved
I finally bit the bullet and got my own domain name! Come see me at www.keithohudson.com.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Love Life. Love Yourself. Be Good to Each Other.
It has been my experience over a half-decade of living, that I have basically two choices in life. I can celebrate life, my existence, and the existence of those around me, accept myself as I am, and try to make the world a little better for having been here, or I can rant against life, rue my existence, and try to wring a little selfish pleasure from my life while trying to remain oblivious to how my actions might affect those around me.
There is no other choice. Either I choose to love life, love myself, and be good to those around me, or I seek only my own selfish ends, which inevitably lead to regret and sorrow and self-loathing.
Sometimes, I oscillate between those two choices so quickly that it might appear I am standing still, not making things better in the world, but also not making them worse. However, such a state is always temporary, for there is no such equilibrium to be had.
The Old Testament put it this way: “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal [an idol worshipped in ancient times], then follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21).
Whether you believe in the Bible or not, life itself teaches us that stasis is not sustainable. Take your house and yard as an example. If you do nothing, your house grows cluttered and dirty, weeks grow in your yard, and the general appearance and state of repair of your property deteriorates. It is inevitable, only a matter of time. If you prune and rake and trim outside, and clean and tidy and make improvements, then your home and yard are inviting and pleasant, and become more so over time.
Each of us must choose in each moment of our life whether to seek to serve ourselves, or to seek to serve mankind. It is not always a cut and dried choice. Gaining an education prepares us to serve others better. It also can prepare us to acquire wealth for our own selfish gain. Someone else looking at the choices you make may not know whether you are motivated by giving or by greed, but you know. Deep inside, you always know, and in the end, it will show in your life.
My hope for me is that each day I might choose just a little more to serve mankind, to make the world a better place. I know that as I do, I find greater peace, greater contentment, and greater joy than when I make the other choice. I hope you’ll want to join me in this choice.
There is no other choice. Either I choose to love life, love myself, and be good to those around me, or I seek only my own selfish ends, which inevitably lead to regret and sorrow and self-loathing.
Sometimes, I oscillate between those two choices so quickly that it might appear I am standing still, not making things better in the world, but also not making them worse. However, such a state is always temporary, for there is no such equilibrium to be had.
The Old Testament put it this way: “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal [an idol worshipped in ancient times], then follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21).
Whether you believe in the Bible or not, life itself teaches us that stasis is not sustainable. Take your house and yard as an example. If you do nothing, your house grows cluttered and dirty, weeks grow in your yard, and the general appearance and state of repair of your property deteriorates. It is inevitable, only a matter of time. If you prune and rake and trim outside, and clean and tidy and make improvements, then your home and yard are inviting and pleasant, and become more so over time.
Each of us must choose in each moment of our life whether to seek to serve ourselves, or to seek to serve mankind. It is not always a cut and dried choice. Gaining an education prepares us to serve others better. It also can prepare us to acquire wealth for our own selfish gain. Someone else looking at the choices you make may not know whether you are motivated by giving or by greed, but you know. Deep inside, you always know, and in the end, it will show in your life.
My hope for me is that each day I might choose just a little more to serve mankind, to make the world a better place. I know that as I do, I find greater peace, greater contentment, and greater joy than when I make the other choice. I hope you’ll want to join me in this choice.
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