There is always something going on in society causing tension. We know there will be changes, large and small, explainable and unexplainable, affirmative and negative, but changes inevitably. Some will serve well and others hinder in the making of good lives. The matter becomes especially complicated when the changes are evaluated differently within the separate cultures. Many factors I knew as a young person and interpret as good for society then and now, are gone, some interpreted not only as unneeded or even wrong so to be displaced perhaps treated roughly for any vestigial remnant of them. Perhaps death is the only way out for some persons conditioned to live in one generation only to find themselves during the passing years to be in a different generation – personal/social. Change is more than some persons can manage in discovery of a comfortable life. Marriages are often affected negatively by the unresolved conflict.
Some changes go forward with understanding from that preceding them – with what is commonly called grandfather programming (usually excellent identity for elders). This will be the law for the future. Those wishing to remain under the former programming may do so, but no new members may be admitted to the old. General society is not so gracious and may heap abuse on that which has gone before, and on those who benefit from the former system. There will always be something that must be removed from what has gone before, but it may need more nursing than given so to maintain a health and solidarity in the society. As changes will appear, perhaps even speeded up in the modern technology and with tools for action, attitudes will also change, attitudes that divide persons so to create competition and ill will. An excellent team of athletes may offer mediocre performance if there is breakdown between the members of the team. Managers are always watching to see if the relationships in the locker room are good. If the rapport is poor they know that the team will not do as well as they are capable of doing on the field. The principles are seen on huge stages. Without adequate consideration imposed changes created two nations in various contexts: North and South Korea, China and Taiwan, Russia with neighboring smaller spin-offs. Issues include Israel in Palestine with neighboring nations, and so the stories may be told, even to cities that have a dominant culture on one side of the tracks and another on the other side. The competition is even greater within families when acceptance of persons becomes the weaker consideration rather than the management of differences. When we are well educated about acceptance principles so to find the affirmatives of life, especially in that which draws us together as people of the earth, we will reduce some of the agonies of our lives from international warfare to broken families. As repeated several times in these Pages, acceptance does not mean approval. Acceptance is a mature attitude that works with what is available. Much of our lives is dedicated to gaining that which both we and God can approve. God accepts his children working toward the objectives of righteousness and justifies them the rest of the way to the destination. We ought to work with others (and within ourselves) in the same pattern This is who I am in the contexts visited upon me, and I mean to act in integrity of who I am, to gain what I see is right in both physical and spiritual contexts. We want freedom, respecting all human beings so to commit to personal rights (encased in righteousness), and service to God through service to mankind, his creation. In this is the good life. That good life must have considerable acceptance in it so to permit persons to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. . . . Do all things without murmurings and disputings.
Out of the orientation of acceptance a person gains maturity, which is high achievement in the physical context and the spiritual. The highest compliment offered would be that: He/She is a mature Christian. The Epistle to the Philippians provides the description of a mature Christian. I yearn to live in the context presented there. In the attitude of acceptance of self and others I can discover a fullness of undiluted love, of understanding, of duty to self, mankind and God. In this is true devotion, learning for improvement, wisdom for action, and awareness that to be all things (good) to all persons is a venture to be sought not for casualness, permissiveness, and carnality, but for influence in the Christian ideal and life agents of courage *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020