Identifying the Lines
When you look at the history of man and mankind and compare it to how things are nowadays, there is only one conclusion you can come to.
How’d we go from THERE to HERE!?
The answer to that question lies within the process of taking where we are now, and backtracking year over year, until you get to the year of creation.
So let’s look at where “HERE” is in the context of “Man” and “Mankind”.
Nowadays, there seems to be a very clear script written for everyone from birth. A script more well designed than the one handed to the refs for the 2024 Superbowl. ;P
The story we are all told is, go to school and get good grades, so you can go to a good college and get good grades, so you can get a good job and get paid well. Then you get to spend your days working away at your job, giving the best of your time to someone else. After all that is is done you comehome with what little energy you have and devote it to to your family.
A little backwards if you ask me.
But it goes further.
Whether you’re Christian, Muslim, Jewish or really any other religion out there, there are certain “rules” and expectations you’re meant to follow.
Society tells us what a man should do, how he should think, act, and feel. REAL men do this. REAL men do that.
All of this so we can fit into a neat little box that has been prepared for us. That’s the HERE of our life.
Perfect little lines that we all must fit into and follow.
What’s the THERE?
Let’s take a look at Abraham for example (I am Jewish after all).
Son of Nebuchadnezzer’s top general. His father owned and ran an idol worship shop. Living in a time when common thought was that there were many G-d’s. And here he is starting to think differently. Starting to ask important questions.
The lines have been set for him but he is questioning them. Looking beyond them. All that leads him to the realization that there is only one G-d.
As his life continues he has children and grandchildren, all who are different, than the rest of the people around him.
Fast forward to more modern times, when the Jews were dispersed throughout the lands. There was no “Judaism by rote”. Each community had there own ways of practicing their religion. There were certain guidelines they stuck to, but each had it’s own tweaking.
Men had all sorts of trades. Woodchoppers, water carriers, tailors, shoe makers, warriors. Men had diverse purposes which allowed them to provide for their families and be more.
Come to america and the pioneering age. The idea was to set out on your own, discover new land, establish a homestead and provide and thrive.
Everyone had their own unique path and purpose they went on with their family. There was no script. It was all about “how am I going to create the best life for me and my family”. And then they went out and did it.
No cookie cutter boxes. No prefab houses. No predetermined paths.
That’s how life used to be. If you ask me, that sounds like a much better life.
So what happened? We were told we need to follow the lines.
I’ve got good news for you though. If you want to break free it only requires a couple of simple steps to begin. The work itself will be hard but rewarding.
How do you do it?
Identify the Lines - What are the areas of life you are doing “by rote” and “just because”?
Is that the the true way and only way - Looking at history is this the way it’s always been done. Is that the way your guiding source tells you to do.
Determine what life would look like outside those lines - How would you like to live your life? What will it take to get there?
Start by answering these questions and by doing so, you’ll begin to get a taste of what life can actually be like.
