Our Biggest Delusion

There is a world of difference between a man who is aware of himself, sitting on a hill and looking at a beautiful sunrise and a man so absorbed in that very same sunrise that he forgets himself and becomes absorbed in the scene.I am living in a fantasy world when I see myself as the center of the universe, viewing everything as it circles around me

When I see beauty everywhere, I experience joy and a sense of connection because my eyes are not on myself. The truth is that I am simply part of the whole. Everything does not depend on me. I am free to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature and the Spirit of God which permeates all when I am in the right place in the scheme of things.

I am living in a fantasy when I see myself as the center of the universe, viewing everything as it circles around me. As believers we sing and recite prayers that proclaim that God is the centre of all but our psychological make-up screams the exact opposite. I view people, events, history and yes even God through my eyes, judging what is right, trusting my thoughts and my feelings as the final judge of what is real. When Jesus says that we must die to ourselves, He is not speaking about some pious self-sacrifice that makes us look holy, no He has something much more radical in mind. The kind of inner transformation Jesus desires literally rips the rug up from under our feet and shatters our world view.

Why is modern man so anxious, nervous, out of sorts? Part of the reason is probably many people barely see a blade of grass during their normal work day. Surrounded by concrete and glass, our innate self craves connection with the rest of the natural world, other people , the communion of saints, (both living and dead) and at an even deeper level, God Himself. Instead we live in isolated, man-made prisons which shut out other humans never mind other living creatures and God. Each person is at the centre of their little artificial universe. That means that each of us has assumed the role of king or queen of our tiny kingdoms with everything depending on us.

I was never designed to live alone like an island unto myself. Yet, in my pride, I cling tenaciously to my throne and crown. Only when I was completely depleted and shattered, only then did I resign and give God back His job.

Silly?

Definitely absurd but I only saw this fact after I surrendered and let go of control. What is really important in life is not found in self-created delusion but discovered as I learn to live in harmony with a bigger universe than the one I created.

In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, 'That is mine!' Abraham Kuyper

St. John of the Cross (San Juan de la Crux), who lived in the 16th century explains the inner process of becoming one with Christ, allowing our egos to die,

I lose myself and remain,

With my face on the Beloved inclined;

All has come to rest,

I abandon all my cares

There, among the lilies, to die.

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“You're Never Too Old, Too Wacky, Too Wild, To Pick Up A Book And Read To A Child.”

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”

Seuss embraced the life of the imagination and detested staid adults who dismissed the whimsical,

“Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.” ― Dr. Seuss

     

These quotations From Dr. Seuss hardly need an introduction. Any one who is or has been a parent will reconize most of them.This selection focuses on phrases that urge people to look at life with joyful expectation. I won't even bother expounding  on these quotes because Dr. Seuss says everything much better than I can. Anyway, Seuss hated wordy writing,
"So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.” ― Dr. Seuss

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” 

     

Born: March 2, 1904, Springfield Died: September 24, 1991, La Jolla Full name: Theodor Seuss Geisel Spouse: Helen Palmer Geisel (m. 1927–1967) Movies and TV shows: The Lorax, The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who!, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T, In Search of Dr. Seuss, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, Halloween Is Grinch Night, Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?, Gerald McBoing-Boing, The Hoober- Bloob Highway, The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss on the Loose, Your Job In Germany, Spies, A Lecture on Camouflage, Going Home, Welcome, The Butter Battle Book, Rumors, The Big Fun Carnival, Dr. Seuss: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, PBS Kids Goes On Vacation, The Gerald McBoing-Boing ShowMore

                                                                                                                                             

 “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

“A person's a person, no matter how small.”

"If things start happening, don't worry, don't stew, just go right along and you'll start happening too.”

“You're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting,

So... get on your way!”

 “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act.

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains.”

“If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.”

“You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.”

 

“Think and wonder, wonder and think.”

“Be who you are and say what you feel,

because those who mind don't matter,

and those who matter don't mind.”