There was this US Military Captain named John Miller who had a Sergeant, Corporal, and 3 other Privates assigned to him for a rescue mission. They braved rain, snipers, Germans, machine guns, more Germans, and Vin Diesel to reach a certain Private James Francis Ryan and to get him home.
Eventually, in a valiant but seemingly hopeless bridge defense, Miller's men were wiped out, and some ungrateful Kraut shot the Captain in the back. All hope seemed to be lost as Miller's minutes were numbered... Until suddenly bombers swooped down and dropped the hammer on the German forces, ensuring Private Ryan's survival.
"Okay Brent, you just spoiled Saving Private Ryan for me. What are you driving at?"
Well, first of all, I'm real sorry you didn't watch that flick 5 years ago. But it's just Captain Miller's last words to Private Ryan that I'm interested in:
"Earn this"
I guess it'll really pierce your heart through to have somebody who sacrificed his life and the lives of his friends for you to live. I know some guy who literally went through hell on earth and ended up nailed to the cross just for me to live.
The Purpose Driven Life states that every day, every event develops everyone who believes to be like that Man. Hence the scripture "To live is Christ, and to die is gain." Unfortunately the decision to believe initiates an extremely difficult but hopeful transition which leads man to understand and execute a unique, exclusive, and divine purpose.
This general philosophy of enduring and evolving in faith has affected my perception of things, specifically my perception of bad experiences. Now it seems like that which can be described as a bad experience is a developmental one, with an equivalent yet sometimes unapparent reward in favor of the greater good. This feeling generates a more optimistic view on life. It does not necessarily entail that doing good gets you a reward; rather, you are doing good for the sake of good because you believe it is good - or, you feel good for doing good. Redundancy noted, and implied.
However in my current stage of personal spiritual evolution it seems like this can be realized both ways. That which is human still recognizes more realistic and not necessarily good rewards that have yet to happen. Regardless of the risky chances of these rewards coming, they are the ones that are hoped for.
Also, it must be noted that, in my honest opinion, the effects of this 'evolution' I write of do not pose a great (albeit significant) effect on me for now. There are those scars and habits of the past that still exist. And every time they take over I find feeling farther (if not cut off) from my progress and hope for the reward because I choose to expect a bad experience to happen to maintain universal balance.
So it seems I have a philosophy that seems to be a good one to follow for my benefit, but somehow, instead of going against it, that which remains human within me twists it to my downfall.
"Brent... this is going way way past just Saving Private Ryan."
I know. Originally this was just supposed to be a piece expressing relief and triumph. As some of you know, I'm going to the States in less than 24 hours from now. For the past 4 months or more my confidence level for this actual event spiked from excruciatingly desperate to happily relieved due to circumstance and recovery thereof. But they passed by, and here I am, elated in anticipation; exhausted, and proud of it.
I imagined the actual scene wherein Tom Hanks told Matt Damon to "Earn this", referring to his second chance in life. I admired the raw emotion and reacted to its impact. Then another scene came up in my mind. I imagined the company I worked for personified into, generally, a smug, well-rested man with no eyebags. He dangled the golden possibility of a leave to me, and said (in a sour tone) what Tom Hanks told Matt Damon: "Earn this". Exhausted, I grabbed it.
After contemplating on the latter scene I started to think differently about the entity dangling the vacation which, i might add, I thought was good in either point of view (that of good or evil).
Was it the evil walking call center... or was it God telling me to "Earn this"?
I did not expect to type an article leading to this, but the conundrum stated above is a small example of the greater scale of things presenting us with a singular problem, which I believe defines man's perception and reaction to a seemingly unfortunate event.
First and foremost I cannot believe that man has the wisdom to correctly interpret an event to his ultimate benefit every time without the belief in the involvement of that which science cannot accurately explain: the supernatural. You can say I join the fraction of the world that believes in ghosts, and you can laugh accordingly.
Anyone who believes in this extremely variable aspect of reality is presented with an alternative choice to an event. In other words, a man who believes in the supernatural is presented with a choice in every event that happens in his life.
This fork has two paths:
1. To depend on human reasoning to analyze, interpret, and construct a reaction to the event.
2. To have faith in the precepts and commandments of an omnipotent entity and to react to this event according to such principles.
You may simplify the paths presented by reading the bold text.
An atheist obviously will not have choice #2. With the seemingly apparent signs of man's fallibility I believe "optimistic atheist" would be an oxymoron. On the other hand, a fervent believer under a religion can jump into choice #2 right away, not heeding what reason would usually warn against. "Believer with common sense" could also be an oxymoron.
It seems like each path taken individually eventually leads to ruin. What is a man to do?
This trip to the States will be, if not a component, a supplement to my answer.
(To be continued)