Not Buying Into It

THERE’S no shortage of opinion within this cosmos we call humanity, is there? And before we know it we’re roped into delivering our “opinion,” hatched in a split-second, pitted for or against some poor innocent often-times. Funny, do we care? It’s assumed we do. No one asks half the time.

In an often disparate and postmodern world we can, however, be oh so easily trapped in proffering our opinion. For the many who think it’s their God-given right, we really do have cause to think again.

We know it backfires, so why do we do it?

Instead...

Beckon a little common sense and season it with a spiritual calm. Whack it in the oven to cure and out comes a baked sense of fundamental peace ready to go the journey—at least until we’re out of that situation.

It’s a treasure to see the uncommitted look and language of the body, as issues bound our way are deflected back upon their perpetrator.

Gossip is never becoming. Staying square in the middle—not taking a side—that’s our best position. As neither part of the problem or solution we sidestep that curve ball, the hospital handpass. Even within the “safe” confines of our homes it’s not safe to gossip; not that the walls have ears or anything, it’s the habit that most concerns us.

And it’s only when we’ve let those words escape that we often realise (a micro-second too late) we’ve transgressed the absent—if we’re even aware.

Not buying into things that are really no concern of us is a wisdom activity based in the truth that what goes around comes right back around at us, eventually. Of course, we can’t see this at the time, but our instincts and conscience know. This law of truth will be the death of us (relationally) if we push it too far.

The principle of reversal says to us that what we sow we shall reap; it’s seriously funny how consistently this works. Whether we’re genuinely interested in other people and what they think of us or not, there’s very little more to be compelled by than saving our own hide. That’s the most basic of motives, surely.

As with all our activities of building and exercising virtue, we must apply the two golden strategies:

It’s about 1) awareness and 2) courageous, morally-responsible action. Become aware of the trickery of buying into fallacy and then we have the opportunity to vest courage in acting by not taking part.

Buyer beware. Don’t buy in the first place. It’s a rip-off.

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.