Do you Know What Your Life Will Be Tomorrow

[Elderman]

Over the years, I have learned to be open and honest
This can be the hardest part, even if you truly feel for the person talking to you. When someone distressed comes to you, do you jump in with optimistic suggestions and solutions? Do you quickly point out that the situation is not so bad when compared with the suffering of someone else? This might seem helpful, but it can have a negative effect.

[wolf63]

I don't think that there is any purpose to us being here. We are a type of growth (like bacteria) that populates (and pollutes) this planet - as do all other life forms. There are few people who will ever succeed in doing anything of any historic merit with their life.

All we can do is take one day at a time, try not to hurt others (help them if we can) and try not too think too much about the stuff that we will never have any answers to - religion, politics and why you only get Crazy Cat Ladies and not Crazy Cat Men.

;-)

[Elderman]

Well for some yes, which poet’s words do you want applied to you?
This one:
“Time goes, you say? Ah no!
Alas, Time stays, we go.”
Or this one:
“All day long I will bless you,
And I will praise your name to time indefinite, even forever.

[RATTER15]

Why do I think this is all about to religious? :)

[DTCwordfan]

On the day the world ends
A bee circles a clover,
A Fisherman mends a glimmering net.
Happy porpoises jump in the sea,
By the rainspout young sparrows are playing
And the snake is gold-skinned as it it should always be.

On the day the world ends
Women walk through fields under their umbrellas
A drunkard grows sleepy at the edge of a lawn,
Vegetable peddlers shout in the street
And a yellow-sailed boat comes nearer the island,
The voice of a violin lasts in the air
And leads into a starry night.

And those who expected lightning and thunder
Are disappointed.
And those who expected signs and archangels' trumps
Do not believe it is happening now.
As long as the sun and the moon are above,
As long as the bumblebee visits a rose
As long as rosy infants are born
No one believes it is happening now.

Only a white-haired old man, who would be a prophet,
Yet is not a prophet, for he's much too busy,
Repeats while he binds his tomatoes:
No other end of the world there will be,
No other end of the world there will be.

[sandyRoe]

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper

[naomi24]

Elderman, //Over the years, I have learned to be open and honest //

Yes, of course you have. That's why you post under other names and refuse to say which organisation you represent. Twaddle!

[Andyvon]

Hi Elderman,

If someone distressed came to me (and I spent two years as a patient representative so there were many) they are generally hoping for help, solace and support. Not only did I do my best to listen to them and offer that support, but I was alwasy conscious of the fact they trusted me enough to feel they could approach me like that. I certainly didn't try to tell them other people have it worse or that things aren't as bad as they appear. For that individual at that moment in time - things usually ARE as bad as they appear! I found that offering empathy, support and solace was helpful and usually had a positive affect, not a negative one you suggest in your thread.

Secondly, the issues you mention hacve characterised Mankind since at least the start of the Agricultural Revolution some 12,000 years ago when groups of former hunter-gatherers settled down permanently to farm. Competition for land, resources, food and water was the start of the human conflict which continues to this day.

The happiest and most peaceful time in Britain was the Bronze Age when archaeology and the study of skeletons shows that all communities lived happily and peacefully together. There were no military defences and no battle injuries on skeletons, most people lived well into adulthood and almost all adults were well-fed and healthy. In British Bronze Age society the national and international economy was based on copper. There was little personal wealth and all property and land was owned by each community. Everyone had their place in society and everyone worked together for the community (a model of modern Communism?!).

When iron was introduced in about 800BC the new Iron Age created a society characterised by the acquisition of personal wealth, war, famine, hate of neighbours, poor health etc. That's the society and mindset that we still live in today. Society still considers the acquisition of personal wealth and property as being all-importan and that's why we have the social issues you mention that started in the Iron Age.

Those issues have now spread around the world to almost all societies. They won't be solved until societies stop coveting their neighbours' lands and wealth. That's very improbable!

[ludwig]

// Over the years, I have learned to be open and honest //

That's nice. When are you going to start?

[Elderman]

Sectarian religionists in the past persuaded themselves that the destruction of the sun, moon, stars and earth was at hand, and did many foolish things that brought ridicule upon them and made the subject of the end of the world one that provoked a smile of incredulity or that was carefully avoided. The things done were foolish because they were not the things which God’s Word tells Christians who are facing the real end to do. The subject of the end of the world is not a crazy, crackbrained idea meant for only religious fanatics to snap up, resulting in silly conduct that brings the jeers of the world. The end of the world is scientific. It does not spell the destruction of God’s material universe which he spent measureless time to bring to glorious existence. Since “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork”, why should he destroy these scientific marvels? He will not do so. Let us rid the doctrine of the end of the world from the silly, unscriptural interpretations.

Listen now to what the apostle Peter says of one making for God’s new Earth “Live the remainder of his time in the flesh, no more for the desires of men, but for God’s will.” There is no question as to what he means by these words. It is a very positive command, but how many are carrying it out? would you wonder if you knew that Christmas is not Christian; that in spite of its name it not only is non-Christian but is unChristian; that it is based on pagan customs and superstitions and medieval traditions; that it is in fact the very antithesis of everything that is truly Christian?

Ask yourself, Am I? It means that we may not use the years we have left to live according to men’s desires. No, that must end, for from henceforth we must live according to the will of God. The apostle further drives home his instruction by saying to those who want to live for the new earth “For the time that has passed by is sufficient for you to have worked out the will of the nations.” What “will of the nations” is he speaking about? Whatever it is, he is certainly convinced that the time spent has been by far enough, too much in fact. (1 Pet. 4:2, 3)

[naomi24]

Elderman, like all of us, one of these days you're going to die. Get used to it.

[RATTER15]

lol Elderman, you cannot discuss anything without bringing religion into it, have you any idea how boring that makes you?

I suppose you have been brainwashed to the extent that you don't actually think of anything else, your religion has really messed up your life mate, unfortunately you will never believe or accept that!!!

[Elderman]

No it my life, more than I can say for you lot.

[RATTER15]

:))

[Ann]

I agree with Anne - have a cuppa and give a listening ear ......it doesn't cost much!

[David H]

The response with personal anecdotes is the first thing counsellors are told not to do. Besides that then people either respond more to sympathy or practical solutions (based on what they should do, not you), and won't be long before you find which they'd prefer to have. Anyone with the patience and inclination can be helpful to someone in trouble, and better with practice and a bit of training as counselling skills are useful for everyone.