Hitting Rock Bottom

You usually have to hit rock bottom and come to the end of your rope, before you wake up to and get over yourself in all humility.

The parable of the prodigal son is a great example of this. If you don't know it, then let me explain it to you, in the way the one & ONLY, true & living, Great Omniscient Deity of true love explained it to me and hopefully, it will make its meaning clearer to you and bring an empathetic, understanding, relatable smile to your dial, as it did for me, and if the one, little, cuss word offends you, then you ought to know that God IS love and love (therefore God) is not religious, self-centered or self-righteous in any way and always meets you where you're at, especially when you're at your lowest and He doesn't pamper to self-centered, self-righteous egos, be they religious or otherwise, and has an ironic humor loaded with down-to-earth common sense (wisdom). I hope you recognize the wisdom in this telling.

The youngest son of a wealthy farmer wanted his inheritance early, so he could go out and make his mark on the world.

His father was a wise (common sense) man and knew his son was self-centered (egoistic) and wanted to leave home as soon as he could, to make his mark on the world. He knew, that when he gave him the inheritance he asked for, he'd take off, squander his inheritance and end up in the shit. So why then, did he give it to him and let him go?

The father was hoping, that if he did, his son would learn to be humble, to know there are always consequences for your actions and that true happiness doesn't lie in the things of the world.

The son indeed squandered his inheritance and literally ended up alone and in rags, knee deep in pig shit (deep shit). He had hit rock bottom and was at the end of his rope.

This is when he finally 'woke up to himself' and thought, "Now how can I get out of this shit?" He knew his father wouldn't give him any more money, because he knew his father was a wise (common sense), virtuous man, who having already given him everything that was due to him, wouldn't throw good money after bad, just for him to end up in the shit again.

This is when he finally let go of his arrogance and pride (got over himself), and thought, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." (Luke 15:17-19)

His father rejoiced when his son returned and said this to him. Not just because he'd returned, but because he saw the change in him he was hoping for. His son had left a defiant, irresponsible, rebellious, arrogant youth and returned humbled, having learned the hard way, through trial & tribulation (school of hard knocks), from the best and only true teacher in life, experience.

If you feel like you've hit rock bottom and are at the end of your rope and ask yourself, "why is this shit happening to me?" Then the answer is, it's because your thoughts, words and deeds are corrupted, blinded, deceived, governed & ruled (brainwashed, stained/marked & led) by the characteristic pride, vanity, envy, selfishness, ambition, lust, greed, desire for creature comfort and/or fear for survival of the carnal, instinctual, egoistic nature of your flesh, that makes YOU your own worst enemy and an enemy of God, by causing you to think, talk and walk in unvirtuousness/unrighteousness (i.e. dishonesty, disrespect, unfaithfulness, irresponsibility, immodesty, etc.).

If you truly want to be free and stay out of the shit, then wake up and get over yourself, and do the right (virtuous) thing! Don't let your thoughts, words and deeds be blinded, deceived, governed & ruled by your instincts and ego, and walk in THE WAY, the narrow path of true love's (therefore God's) characteristic virtuousness (righteousness), with true assertiveness (boldness), caring, charity, cleanliness, commitment, compassion, confidence, consideration, cooperation, courage, courtesy, creativity, detachment, determination, dignity, diligence, enthusiasm, excellence, faithfulness, flexibility, forgiveness, friendliness, generosity, gentleness, gracefulness, graciousness, helpfulness, holiness, honesty, honor, humility, idealism, integrity, joyfulness, justice, kindness, loyalty, moderation, modesty, nobility, orderliness, patience, peacefulness, perseverance, purposefulness, reliability, respect, responsibility, self-discipline, service, tact, thankfulness, tolerance, trust, trustworthiness, truthfulness, understanding, unity and wisdom (common sense). That's all God really wants us all to do, for the highest good (virtue) of us all, and remember that you're an equal part of all, and have to take yourself into consideration, as much as everyone else, no more & no less.

Grace (gracefulness and graciousness) and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God (absolute love) and of Jesus our Lord (True love's perfect gentleman and our role model), as His divine power (Holy Ghost) has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (and other characteristics of the carnal, instinctual, egoistic nature of the flesh).2 Peter 1:2-4

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the (carnal, instinctual and egoistic) things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things (virtuous characteristics/fruits) of the Spirit (divine nature). For to be carnally (instinctively and egoistically) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal (instinctual and egoistic) mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law (virtues) of God (absolute, undying, true love), nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh (corrupted, blinded, deceived, governed and ruled by their instincts and ego) cannot please God.Romans 8:5-8

Let the wicked (carnal, instinctual and egoistic) forsake his way, and the unrighteous (unvirtuous) man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your (religious, carnal, instinctual and egoistic) thoughts, nor are your (religious, carnal, instinctual and egoistic) ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your (religious, carnal, instinctual and egoistic) ways, and My thoughts than your (religious, carnal, instinctual and egoistic) thoughts.Isaiah 55:7-9

GENEROSITY

passive lamb-like characteristic of true love's divine nature

Generosity is giving and sharing. You share freely, not with the idea of receiving something in return. You find ways to lift the spirit of others, and give just for the joy of sharing. Generosity is one of the best ways to show love and kindness.

But a generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand.Isaiah 32:8

Challenge yourself to be aware of any and all opportunities to practice and apply generosity in your life this week, and the times you should have, but didn't because of the characteristic pride, vanity, envy, selfishness, ambition, lust, greed, desire for creature comfort and/or fear for survival of the carnal, instinctual, egoistic (self-centered) nature of your flesh.