Versions of Dorian Gray

I've been haunted all day by images of Josh Powell.

Some people, you can see it in their eyes. You can see that they are hiding deep dark secrets. You can sense rage, violence, danger. Others you can sense their pain and desperation. People eye's often deceive them, even if their demeanor and looks portray another story. When I looked at the pictures of Josh Powell, I really can not see anything abnormal. Just as Scott Peterson also and probably many more as well. Their body, their eyes, their actions simply do not give them away. Their secrets lay buried so deep, so guarded that no one seems to know their truth.

I remember recently hearing a radio D.J. say that when they polled grads from some famous university and asked them what was the most valuable skill they felt they learned, overwhelmingly, the vast majority said it was that lying pays. I was completely dumbfounded. Our future leaders of state, corporate CEO's, managers.... this is what they learned? How very sad is that? This is where we have gone?

I realize that we are all our own versions of Dorian Gray. Some of us much more so than others. Some of us are only hiding hurt caused to us. Some of us the hurt we have caused. While others of us are hiding the hurt we want to cause. The latter is, probably, the worse of them all.

I don't know how we can stem this. I don't know how we can be so advanced in so many areas: every single science, technology, medicine, etc.; yet we have not taken a single positive step in the realm of spirituality. If anything we have taken steps backs. We have lost information on that front, I can guarantee.

When we are getting better at being "Dorian Gray", when predators can hide under veils of complete normalcy, what does that say?

It saddens me profoundly.

Irreligious or Arelgious

I am deeply against religion. I find it a vehicle for many of the worlds worst evils. I find it usually masquerades as one thing and is actually something much more sinister and vial. I think it is worst than politics and politicians, war and those that command it. To take something that at heart should be a good thing and use it to wield power, to control masses, for personal profit and to commit sins and violence against humanity. Is there anything worse?

And yet.....

I consider myself a very deeply spiritual person. I talk about God and other religious figures here frequently, but in my daily life I never mention them. Probably because to me spirituality is almost too deeply personal and real. It isn't something to just give lip service to. To bring up when I need something or to gain approval from others. My relationship with God is something I hold very dear and I don't have to prove it or explain it or demonstrate it to anyone. Thankfully.

I don't have to parade it around like a badge of honor. I don't have to use God's name in every sentence I speak. I honor God more by my happy, loving silence than by shouting out 100 Our Father's by rote. This seems lost to some people. Other's even find it offensive, which makes me laugh so hard. How can one consider themselves to be "from the Kingdom of God" and be filled with rabid hate and judgment? It makes no sense to me. But I don't discount their intentions. Who am I to judge? I'm just glad not to have been given that duty.