Life Angles: LIFE Acronym #8 - Let's Increasingly Follow Examples

LIFE Acronym #8:
"Let's Increasingly Follow Examples"

I wrote this post on August 1st, but had internet problems when trying to post it, so that is why it is showing up on August 2nd rather than August 1st. On with the post...

In this life, for the most part we are all just doing our best to try to "figure things out". It's all about making the right decisions as much as possible, and learning from the wrong decisions that we make.

When we make decisions for ourselves, we typically draw on our own CURRENT reservoir of knowledge and experience in order to direct our actions, and ascertain what we feel is the best decision in a given circumstance.

But, we are not alone in our quest to "figure things out", and we would do well to remind ourselves of that. If our decisions were based solely upon our own experiences, it would be nothing but trial and error, the school of hard knocks, and learning from our own examples. But, luckily we do have another source of information to draw upon.

Look at the many people who have come before us and written about their experiences. Look at all of the books, articles, seminars and classes that have been written and prepared so that WE could benefit from the experience of others.

What is it about the obstinate nature of the mind that makes so many of us (and ESPECIALLY the young) want to just jump into things and learn for ourselves?

Is it our strong desire to do the thing even though something inside of us says that it's probably not the best idea? Is it our blind assumption that we are right, and that the voice of warning that we keep hearing from others is wrong?

Do we think that those people are just misled, and that their ideas don't apply to "our specific situation"? There is indeed a possibility that our own ideas of a situation are the more accurate of the two. But what if that is not the case?

If we will look at the situation objectively and with a researcher's eye, we will see more clearly through the dust of our own minds and to the truth that lies hidden at the core of the situation. Another way to do this is through the help of divine guidance. But that is a subject that demands an entire post of its own.

Right now we are talking about following the lessons learned by others, in order to help us make better and more informed decisions for ourselves.

In order to decide between our own ideas and the ideas of others, we have to BE AWARE of what others' ideas are. How can we expect to be guided by the wisdom of those who have gone before, if we are not even respectful enough to take the time to hear what they have to say?!

Imagine that you decided to go on an exploratory expedition to the heart of a dangerous, faraway jungle. This jungle would be full of bugs, plants, creatures, beasts, and other dangers that you are NOT familiar with. Would you just charge in headlong and determine to "figure it out for yourself"? Or would you feel that it would be a better idea to hire a native guide who grew up there?

A guide would be familiar with how to navigate the vast, treacherous expanses of unpredictable wilderness, how to find food and potable water, how to find places to safely sleep, how to avoid poisonous plants, bugs, reptiles and other creatures, and how to steer clear of the powerful beasts that would lay waste to the structure of your bones and pierce the skin that holds your life-giving blood in.

Life can sometimes be similar to that perilous jungle. But there are guides available for hire, if we seek them. We can find divine prophetic admonitions in God's word that will help to steer us right and protect us, if we will heed their wisdom.

We can also supplement God's word with the many books that can be found at our local bookstores, and online. I'm not only talking about religious books here, although in my opionion the hierarchy of importance goes thus:

First scriptures, then religious books, then personal development/self-help books, then classic literature, then entertainment books.

There is so much to be learned in the many books that are available for us to read. The experts who have braved the paths before us are ready and eager to be our teachers, and to accept us as their newest pupils. And the way to enroll in their metaphorical classes is to READ THEIR BOOKS!

The more truth that we know, the better will be the decisions that we make. So please, take a guide into that jungle with you. Do not assume that you "have it all figured out".

Now I want to talk briefly about another angle on the word "example"; perhaps the more obvious one. What does the term "good example" mean to you? Here's what it means to me:

Good Example: A good example is what we should strive to be, and what we should have the strength to follow.

We should strive to be the best examples that we can for others, and we should be strong and mature enough to follow the good examples that other people set.

When we set a good example, we start a chain that may never end. One person may see our example and be inspired to follow it. That person then becomes another good example, and someone else may see their good example and decide to follow it as well. This chain of good examples can continue on to affect countless lives. And it was all because we had the foresight to realize that what we do matters!

What others see us do REALLY DOES MATTER. Please do not think that you are the only person who is affected by your decisions.

Your decisions echo on into eternity, to be recorded in the eternal book. Your decisions ripple through the world to touch the lives of others. And your decisions may even one day powerfully reverberate through the annals of history, to be seen by countless souls to come.