Copper Chronicles

In my post about southern masculinity, I mentioned a young man toting what seemed like hundreds of pounds of gear including two children while holding a door for an old woman and entertaining his wife all in one graceful motion. So, like a handsome, holy pack mule. And, a happy one!

The reason I bring up the happy young man again is to offer proof for my claim that happiness and purpose seem powerfully related. And, to clearly state my concern that the world makes us carry burdens that are not necessarily ours to bear. We become pack mules, too. But, unhappy ones.

So, what am I carrying? Anger at drug companies, environmental abuses during the last few decades; never-ending wars, poor quality food supply, Hollywood, and insurance commercials on TV. The whole world system essentially. Yes, I got a little bit of anger.

I remember observing that our biological response to harm triggers flight or fight mechanism. This works for our safety. So, I believe anger serves in a instant of immediate danger to protect us. But, Jesus warns not to carry anger continually; as it will ultimately harm me (Matthew 18:23-35).

I am not a priest; but, this story seems obvious enough for a child to understand. I have been forgiven a great debt. So, in order to continue walking in my Father’s love, I must also forgive.

That doesn’t mean ignore my physiological alarm or anger that serves to protect me. But, it does mean when I am upset or angry, I act consistently with love. And, justice is part of love.

Love doesn’t ignore that an injustice occurred. Or, minimize the suffering of the oppressed. In fact, the love Jesus demonstrated by coming to earth and suffering on our behalf, proved He both loves us and desires to free us from oppression. Ultimately that is His goal, let say.

Justice has been satisfied on the grand scale. So, it’s just a matter of time before it emerges in the material realm on my behalf. Like Plato says, a material thing represents a thing’s ‘essence’ or its eternal purpose. So, justice is eternal. So then, why bother getting angry or continuing to be angry since Justice is?

But, that is not quite complete explanation of what my role is here. It sounds a bit truth-y. Like an -ism that becomes powerless and meaningless by constant repetition.

There is the saying: We reap what we sow, or Karma, or what comes around goes around, we’d say as teenagers. There is that eternal righting of wrongs built into the universe many cultures and religions recognize as a ‘cosmic’ or divine order.

But, I believe I found what is lacking. A human needs to feel useful I mentioned in an earlier post. And valued.

Understanding we are valued and have a purpose equals happiness. But, more importantly- as we are connected to our divine purpose- we are powerful.

We are not then, powerless pack mules to be burden downed with whatever weights the world heaps on us. The difference between being a powerless pack mule and a happy productive one expecting justice is speaking it.

Speak justice! Announce that the corrupt of this world will reap what they sow. The would-be gods, the war mongers, the profiteers of plastic.

Jesus says words have the power to bring life or death. Speaking a thing is like giving life to a thing. We can agree with Him and the coming cosmic justice by declaring it!

Whether good or bad, the Master says, we will have what we say. It’s like what Dr. Caroline Leaf, a neuroscientist, says: whatever we focus our minds on becomes our reality. Similar concept. ‘Whatever they imagined they can achieve,’ the Almighty observes in the story of Babel.

So, power is in the speaking what the Master says. That is how we activate our eternal selves and become avenues through which justice emerges!

That’s what Jesus says. Agree with Him, say what He says, and His Kingdom and Justice comes.