One Minute Moment: Lenses

We all see the world through a certain lens. This lens focuses our gaze to see certain things and miss others. A faithful person sees someone healed as a miracle, an atheist sees it as something we haven't yet been able to explain, or as random chance. People from this generation hear a story of their grandfather taking their old dogs for a "ride" with the dog never returning and see heartlessness, when they probably saw it the same way we see taking our broken computers to be recycled. Our lens colors everything, from what we see as right and wrong, to what brands we use. From the way we view history to who we turn to for advice. No matter what we do, everything we take in is colored by the perspective we have. So how do we see what really was there? We have two options: we can try to remove any effects of our lens, or we can try to use a different perspective and compare what we see. I see both as useful and we should try both when attempting to understand any tough issue. If we do, our vision will clear and we will be far closer to the real truth.

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One Minute Moment: Dizzy

The worlds spins
It always wins
The place I'm dying to see
Is never far
What you are
Is helping me to be
The better man
Yes I can
Feel what I need to feel
Here I am
Like a lamb
Whose feet are beginning to reel
Where to start
Inside my heart
I never knew what was there
Eyes wander
Thoughts ponder
I wonder if I could care
Staying awake
Flaying a steak
My mind cannot know the pain
There I go
Now I know
What it's like to walk in the rain

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One Minute Moment: Organization

Take a little thought experiment with me. What is the world made of? Molecules, atoms and mostly empty space. What are molecules and atoms made of? Protons, nuetrons, electrons and mostly empty space. (There are a few other particles as well, I just picked the main ones) Now, what are protons nuetrons and electrons made of? Current theory is quarks and...mostly empty space. Now, most quantum theorists suggest that at some point, there has to be a fundemental particle. Perhaps a string, ether, or some other theory. But so far, each time we've thought we found the unbreakable particle, we've found that wasn't the case. What if there is no fundamental particle and the trend mentioned above continues, ad infinitum. What are we then? We are simply this: organization. Nothing else. Matter would be an organizing force, but that's it. The rest is mostly empty space. To some this may seem scary, but to me it brings peace that I was organized, not created ex nihilo.

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One Minute Moment: Spring

Spring is here. Spring brings with it a renewing of life after the cold, dark winter. Blossoms and leaves spring from a world that almost appeared dead. Every year living things perform this great cycle. Let us remember how we as people go through similar cycles in life. We have periods of growth and loss, hard times that befall us all. When we have those hard times, let it not be to our despair, but remember that we can come back. The earth does it every year. The examples of many of the children on the earth in times past have done so as well. Let us never lose hope, but stand courageous in the face of adversity, taking our problems head on. You will be blessed with a firmer mind, a better disposition and a tear of joy when you endure well and faithfully the trials of your life.

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One Minute Moment: Falling

Falling was one of the most exciting times in my life. I spent most of my time running the rat race, trying to find that one comfortable place to stop and rest for a while. But occasionally I get to fly in the air, up to join my group until jump time. Then the thrill comes, reaching terminal velocity quickly, the air rushing past in a gale force. This beats the drudgery of sitting in heavy traffic along with a multitude of others, all going who knows where. It never stops, that procession. But when I get to come up for air, with the sun shining down, I could never ask for more. I love the trees too and other plants, don't get me wrong, they are a lot of fun. Animals are too, but I'm never truly free until I get in the air. I always dread touchdown though. It means I'll be on the ground for a long time. Or at the bottom of a lake or worse the ocean. But that's life as a water drop.

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One Minute Moment: Penny

Penny was a quiet girl. She never pushed or yelled or screamed for attention. When she was given a job to do, she did it, even if no one cared about her at the end. What gave Penny hope was that someday someone would see her for what she was and appreciate her. As it stands she never gets much by way of the things of the world. Maybe a few beans or some oatmeal. She used to be able to get much more. A piece of candy at the corner store. A ride to where one needed to go. People used to be happy to see her on the street. But now she's just one among millions. No one cares about a penny anymore.

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One Minute Moment: Waiting

I stood on the parapet, awaiting my trial. Where had time gone? It seemed like yesterday I was an innocent child, playing by the brook near our little home. When did things change? I think it happened slowly, over many years. My brothers and I used to laugh, but I don't think I've laughed in years. At least not in that carefree way I did as a child. Now I wait, hoping I can stand and defend myself. This old rock still stands after centuries. Perhaps I can take my strength from them. They persist just as I must. Did the one who built it believe it would stand as long as it has? What am I saying, one could never build this. It would take many. Hundreds and thousands perhaps. Oh well, he would never believe what was happening now. What was my crime? I wrote a word. It may seem strange to someone outside these walls, but yes, that is my crime. Who knows if I will live to see another dawn as the crime is punishable by death. Oh how far down the road we've come. But alas it is too late for us. We gave our freedoms for what we thought would make us happy. Instead we gain misery, and thoughtless living. I hope we may break free, but our passion is neutered. What was the word I wrote you may ask? "God"

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One Minute Moment: Sin vs Temptation

If a person breaks the law, standard practice is a punishment affixed to that law. This law breaking is sin. Temptation is the open opportunity to sin. Sin is an undesireable action in society and for the individual. Though some may be pushed to say the same for temptation, look at what happens when someone never has the opportunity for choice. When you cannot make decisions for yourself, you develop an Ophelia Complex. Your choices become dependent on the assertions of others and you are not your own. You become something to be acted upon instead of something to act. So while sin is undesirable, temptation is necesary to produce viable men and women in society. Strength comes in overcoming.

Now to change gears and apply this to a troubling modern day issue: people being punished for saying things. Now sometimes the sin is actually the words we say, such as in verbal abuse and bullying. But when our words are instead the temptation, then we must allow those words to be said, for they are a necesary part of a functioning society. When someone acts on their words is when it crosses the line from sin to temptation. So please stop trying to punish people for words. Punish them for their deeds.

One side note: To those who do not believe in sin or God's laws, you do have a set of laws in place whether you like it or not. Measure yourself by that law.

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One Minute Moment: Living for Liberty

How does a man become a bastion of truth
Is it when he's old? Does it come in his youth?
Does it come from within? Does it come from without?
From whom does he get the strength to be stout?
Some say it's a lie, no one really stands firm
When push comes to shove he'll back down like a worm
But I know of strength, born in a man
And backed by his God, he is willing to stand
They go hand in hand, Truth and Liberty
For as you may know, the truth makes you free
To stand as a rock of freedom for all
One must stand for truth, or he's liable to fall
Have we lost that desire? To truly be free?
I don't care if it's true we say in agony
I just want to be loved, forget all the past
But lest we forget, that really can't last
Not when good men don't stand, to take our beating
If we don't fight for peace, it truly is fleeting
We must stand selfless, forgetting our needs
Or we will be vanquished, brought down to our knees
To beg for deliverence, whatever the cost
By then it's too late, our freedom is lost.
So stand with me now, for you are my brother
Though we may be strange to each other
So come and be one, won't you now join with me
Stand shoulder to shoulder and Live for Liberty

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One Minute Moment: Choices and Consequences

Choices & Consequences

We all make choices. To every choice there is a consequence. I am trying to teach this to my daughter. If you lean too far in the chair it falls over. If you wipe your jam hands on your shirt it gets dirty. If you don't eat dinner you'll be hungry later. She has a hard time understanding this concept and fights against it often.
Now on to us as adults: much of modern life is taken up with breaking that link and allowing you to choose something without that natural consequence. If you eat too much with no exercise, the natural consequence is you gain weight. The modern day solution is to find ways to take away a natural consequence through no calorie sweeteners, diet pills, low/no fat foods etc. The natural consequences of wanton sex are babies and STDs. Birth control and condoms are working on unhinging those consequences. Cheating at school and in financial matters is another area in which this occurs. The goal of cheating in school is to take away the bad grades which are a natural consequence of not learning the material. Cheating in financial matters allows people to unhinge the consequences of bankruptcy and loss from fiscal irresponsibility.
So next time you're making a decision, please remember what the natural consequences are and be sure you're not just trying to cheat the system.

(Writer's note: I'm not against birth control, but I am for its wise use.)

One Minute Moment: Surveillance

So many people have no problem with surveillance. It helps us see what's going on, catch criminals in the act and ensure peace. After all, I'm not doing anything wrong, so why should I worry? The reason you should be concerned is this: surveillance and remote identification violates the principle of innocent until proven guilty. It takes the burden of proof off the accuser and onto the one accused. Red light cameras are a good example. No matter what, the owner of the car gets a ticket, even if they were not driving it at the time. It could have been a friend. It could have been stolen. They could have been having a baby. But you still get the ticket unless you can prove any of those things. It makes you guilty until proven innocent. So be careful what you wish for.

One Minute Moment: Forgun Decision

Forgun sat thinking, waiting on that log. What do I choose? My friend is taken. I'd have to fight against overwhelming odds, or sneak into the center of all those who despise me. Surely someone would notice. I'd be taken too. We both would be lost. But could I ever forgive myself if I give in now? Could I look at my face and not be ashamed? Who will save her if I do not? No one else knows she's gone. Would anyone else miss her? Is it worth the risk? Could I stand alone against thousands of my enemies and not quail? Fear drives me back, faith and hope drive me forward. Which would I rather let rule me? I will go and face what I can for my friend. Would I not hope for the same?
Forgun stood and left his fears behind.

Intro

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One Minute Moments:Introduction

Welcome to the Jade Shepherd's One Minute Moments. Each will be a short story or insight to get teach you something. The main point of these is to get you to get a new perspective, or help you interpret the world around you. So please, with each post you read, think about it and see if it helps you understand something a little bit better.

Each One Minute Moment will take less than a minute to read, giving you a quick gem for your day.

A quick caveat- these will mostly be written while I'm on the bus, often without even know how they will finish, so there may be unverified facts or observations, so if you see something you disagree with or think may be false, please comment below. If you like something, or were able to use a One Minute Moment during your day, please comment below.

I will try to write daily. On Sunday's you may notice a spiritual theme. Thanks for listening.