SOPHIA'S BOX:
More Trinkets of Wisdom
by
Valerie Lynn Stephens
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means (including electronic, photocopying, mechanical, manual or otherwise) without the prior express & written consent of the owner of the copyright of this book.
©2023 Valerie Lynn Stephens
ISBN: 978-1-312-30510-6
I used to think that all of the traumas that we have endured, against which we have in some cases managed to hone into higher aptitudes & virtues of character, were a necessary part of that equation. But maybe they are not. It begs the question as to whether or not those who did not experience the horrors & the inflictions that survivors of all types of abuse have endured, could develop those things to the same degree.
Perhaps those who received the proper nurturance of their developing personalities & gifts in much more consistent & healthier ways, rather than deliberate interference at every impasse like survivors of emotional abuse, also demonstrate brilliance in each their own ways.
I suppose that survivors do have the benefit of that deeper sentience & awareness which aids in more transcendental artistic modes which non-survivors may not have access to. A lot depends upon the individual choice to take up one's own cross of self-examination & actualization in more productive ways, whether a survivor of systematic abuse or not.
All in all, I think that our trauma can, if we apply it in this direction, sublimate some of the more deleterious & destructive tendencies which survivors of all types of abuse are left to battle day in & day out. But I also believe that even those who have not experienced some of the more serious forms of abuse nevertheless carry trauma of some variation or another within their psyche just by virtue of being human in an evil & persistently injurious world.
In the end, it is pertinent that we just remain focused upon each our own given lot & self-actualization so that we can, no matter what we have or have not endured, become the most well-rounded version of ourselves that we can be in order to contribute best to the collective. This, is our highest honour & deepest calling.
If only we could stop recreating each our own living Hell in order to feel some semblance of illusory control over that of our own fates, could we see that Heaven is already & always, therefor the taking, here on earth, in each & every precious moment.
Whether we are living to die, dying to live, or just trying to make the most if it all, Life is a precious darn gift for which I am immensely grateful. Period.
Some of us revel not in the sweet-throated harmonies of the nightingale, yet wait with eager ebon ears for the dissonant cry of the crow's undaunted projections.
Get rid of excess stress.
Take off some weight; don't procrastinate!
We would do well to let our hearts be our mind and reserve for that reasoning organ, the Intellect, the task of minding the heart only when it has forgotten its true purpose, only when it has forgotten the logistics of its own inherent existential geography.
For the answers are always there within us.
God created it all and saw that it was good. He still thinks so, and that includes both YOU, Me & Everyone else. As within, so without.
Shall Eternity be thicker than Time-why must we feel so betrayed?
We humans need actual and regular physical contact in order to bond with people and to meet our deepest social needs. That explains a lot of the dissatisfaction and psychosocial frustration that we experience in relation to online social media forums. After all, we can't really fault ourselves for not feeling an adequate upsurge in oxytocin and vasopressin when fondling a keyboard and gazing longingly into the dim glow of a computer monitor!
Sometimes we feel the joy well up from deep within us, only to quickly beat it down with the highly flammable fabric of Suppression, or, worse yet, Repression, of course only seeking to craft a kindling device with even more incendiary reserves.
And the uncertainty which holds us to it is a matter which may consume us if we heed it not. For that fire stoked by the friction of resistance to Life's rite of initiation into the membership of Faith & Obeisance, is one so fierce that it burns either way.
But what is it that incites the anguish of Man? Perhaps it is not the ominous presence of some demonic-force, but perhaps it is undeniable propinquity of the Seraphic. For only the beaming face of the love & hope of those things transcendent, divine and yet wholly elusive can so rile one human entity to such Madness & profligacy.
But before all this? Before all of what we now experience & can know, had we the foreknowledge of Heaven & Hell?
Is the mortal's longing for Heaven & yet irresistible pull towards a Hell of his own creation the trailing afterbirth of worlds pre-existently intuited & perhaps even lived?
Temporary self-restraint begets less permanent self-reproach.
And so the human organism will undergo gradualism, as old traits no longer self-preservatory are phased out day by day by the absolute laws of Spiritual Evolution-that which will defy all Logic as it proves one day that what goes up cannot come down.
I am always grateful for any persecution or trial that is brought my way, because it not only grounds me in myself & in the truth, but it reminds me of who I really am & of why I do what it is that I do. False projections onto us by others merely sharpen the Truth by contrast. This is why it is wise to get to know oneself inside & out, but especially inside. This is also why it is important to be consistent with oneself & to live with integrity inasmuch as is humanly possible. The word "Satan" in Hebrew translates as "adversary" or "enemy". The word "Ha-Satan” also translated to "the accuser" in Hebrew. Therefore, we can take comfort in the Scripture & allow it to guide us towards these goals of personal integrity & self-respect in that we may be strengthened by adversity & persecution rather than defeated by it. Ephesians 6:11-20 is a great reference point for this.
No more of this: Head over Heart! No! No! Heart over Head! Nonsense. We have both & we should strive to develop both to the best of our intentions & abilities.
Keeping a disciplined & vigilant mind's eye on Eternity, as we wrestle with Temporality, is perhaps the noblest & most sweepingly epic quest of humankind.
Malfeasance includes all forms of violence: social, physical & psychological.
Sensations of pain seize more than those of pleasure,
For the mortal human mind,
Rarely ceases to find,
The seaweed before the treasure.
For all of us who have survived abusive & neglectful homes, this Scripture can be of tremendous comfort & strength whenever we need it: "Though my mother & father forsake me, the Lord will receive me. " (Psalm 27:10) This reminds us that our earthly parents may have the power to uplift or to wound us, but also that our Heavenly Father can heal & redeem us. It is in Him alone, that we have everlasting Peace, Joy & Wholeness.
Jesus' name be praised! Amen!
There is no "me" that you can ever pin down.
I variate fluctuate with the tides of each precious moment, each breath, each & every heartbeat.
And it is only in these moments, in transition, that I am at my most true, my most exultant.
Force a rigid mask onto me you may never see me again.
To not let a self be is an unregistered, bonafide crime of which we are all guilty.
Yet this is why striving to be one's truest & highest self be is an unmerited act of exceptional Courage & Nobility.
Strive for truth, always & Heaven on earth will be yours.
"Easy" builds not a stairway to Heaven, but an escalator to Hell.
Let the masks you must wear still represent a part of you.
Satan seeks to focus people's attention on the here & now rather than on Eternity.
That is why John 2:17 reminds us that this world shall pass away forever someday, yet those who do the will of the Lord in Heaven shall abide in His Kingdom forever.
Thus Satan seeks to achieve his purpose by changing our priorities (self first), & our perspective (here & now more important), when God should always come first, & the hereafter, remain our main focus & guide during our worldly wanderings.
Transcendence is a slow taming of Inertia by an inside force.
Within the East Indian school of thought called 'Jainism', there is a theory called the 'Jainist Theory of Manifoldness ' which I have always held dear. This philosophy follows what in Sanskrit is called 'anekantavada', or the 'not-one-sided-doctrine'.
Furthermore, this theory is predicated upon a principle of mental non-violence towards objects & subjects) in contemplation. To clarify, it recognizes the manifoldness or complexity of every existing entity, & believes that such entities are violated through the reductionistic approach often taken towards them in order to understand & classify them.
The term 'ekanta' describes these singular, absolutist predications. This theory was based on Mahavira 's teachings, & also extended to a respect for the manifoldness not merely of 'objects and subjects', but of variant ideologies & thought-systems themselves.
To everything there is an irrational explanation.
Leave room in your life for some mystery!
Beyond Chronos lies Aioniótita.
Plan for both.
Live for both.
A recovering Soul's awakening must be well-paced,
'Tho no measure of convalescence, its full burden, can erase.
Isn't it endlessly exasperating how those who least deserve it or have earned it, steal the spotlight from those who truly do & have?
But some fine day, we, too shall have our glory.
Hang tough, ye heroes unsung.
There will never be a time when our motives towards another person who has wronged us will be untainted by a need for "putting them in their place", etc. It is an intractable part of our human nature to begin from a place, when we have been wronged, of retribution, whether of the aggressive or of the passive-aggressive variety.
But thankfully, the Lord our God is not limited by our human failings! As long as we defend ourselves in the face of some kind of persecution & then leave the rest to God, we are pardoned for our human weaknesses & limitations.
But, if we don 't defend ourselves (if we feel it necessary) & then 'get out of the way' we run the risk of further perverting the course which God has plotted for both ourselves & the other person.
We are often a stranger to others.
Be not, therefore, a stranger to yourself.
In our world today, idolatry has assumed many more forms. We are guilty of idolatry whenever we place other things before God. God tells us in 1 John 5:21: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. " Indeed, we are the precious offspring of our righteous Heavenly Father, who wants the best for us. His intentions are always right and always honorable. Praise God for His protection and benedictions over His people!
The standard definition of "Existentialism" is the study of being, or as it's called in academic parlance, "ontology. " It is theorized that the possession of freedom of will creates a state of anxiety in man. Yet for me, 1 think that it runs much deeper than this. Existential angst, & dread are caused not so much by the awareness of freedom of will itself, but rather, by a keen sense of the fact that we must make our way in a world that we know will merely seek to thwart the proper & full actualization of each our own moralistic & ontological responsibilities at every impasse. Our utmost terror is thus, not in the possessing of freedom of choice, but in the higher knowledge that we are made exposed & are, for the most part, abandoned by this world in which we must both survive & thrive, no matter what choices we ultimately make.
I think that we are afraid to soften because we might break.
But it is the hardened vessels that are the most fragile.
The way of the serpent is not clearly understood by those who evade the jungle.
Release the vipers upon the trembling tendons of thine enemies, they will strike at the hand with the surest inclination.
Progress has its limitations. We cannot escape the human predicament. In a sense, this revelation has its comforts more than its inflictions. For with this being known, we are free to follow whatever path we choose, knowing now, that it will continue to lead us to the same place, no matter which road we take. It also serves to relieve our consciences by reminding us that we are not even the problem, & thus we need not seek to 'fix' it, whatever our current sufferings might be. We must merely accept things as they are. We must merely continue to make the most out of the human condition that we find ourselves in. Now that, is in our purview.
Speak uniquely, yet clearly to all.
Savagery, in actuality, resides often within Civility, or rather, within the heart of the socially engineered Beast. It is also a force external which enters into our minds, to confound us to our truest state of inherent Grace & Wholeness when in full surrender to our Creator & Sustainer God.
At some point along the way we are forced to ask: What price, progress? Or will we just continue to digress in infinite regress? Have to continually confess in excess, for those issues we painstakingly fail to efficiently address in a dawning new age where we are more & more taught how to overdress beneath the tedium of specious politesse? How much longer will we escape the dire consequences of our sins? We must let the ailing present pass, before we are to ever become ready to be born again to renewed health & vigor. For this mortal incarnation is not a test of the Reasoning Intellect, but of the Earthbound Spirit.
The prospect of Joy's inevitable annihilation, time and again throttles the mind full-force forth unto the cold, void cosmos of pessimistic premonition & ponderance.
People can be judged pretty accurately by only two criteria:
1. How they treat their fellow human beings.
2. How they treat their fellow human beings.
In some instances, one may not use what is deemed "proper" syntax, punctuation, spelling or grammar. However, it is more important to focus upon the intention behind those words. For example, someone may write and/or say: "l will love you for ever and ever." Speaking from a strictly "technical" standpoint, the use of "for ever and ever” is a tautology. However, can see the intent to most truthfully & passionately express this feeling of devotion to the other person behind the choice to use the tautology. This is much like the grammatical & even syntactical methods used in genres of linguistic expression such as Poetry, whereby it is not merely about technique is but also about the feelings, sensations & imagery which one is attempting to sublimate from within themselves & to share with others in a genuinely prosocial way. Not to muddy the issue with "religion", but there is a biblical Scripture which even uses a tautology. "(...) be to our God for ever and ever. " (Revelation 7:12) Thus, tone & message are also keys to effective communication.
The purpose of life is quite simple.
To live. To learn. To evolve ever upward & on!
The Keys to Eudaimonia open two doors: those of Humility & Gratitude.
Sometimes in relationships, we realize that we have actually been carrying most of the load. Wholesome relationships must be rooted in a foundation of reciprocity & consistency. Otherwise, we may just be 'enabling' the other person to abuse the good faith that we have been extending to them. And this is ultimately not optimal for the health & well-being of either parties.
God isn't a tyrant; the devil is an opportunist.
Anarchists are not all villains. Some are heroes. It's all about context. If the system one rebels against errs on the side of Evil, then the "revolutionary" or deemed "anarchist" is on the side of Good-and thus, is more of an angelic figure than a demonic one.
Try to use words as a shield rather than a sword.
Transcendence is and has been, all along-
right here, right now.
Sometimes Eternity is weighed in most measurably upon the wings of a singular moment.
'Tho the outward adornments of modern man may have evolved inform, his inmost entity remains unchanged.
The Erstwhile is meticulously and faithfully crafted by the prolific potter of Antiquity, as the Forthwith revels in them both.
What people of a more "worldly" mind might perceive to be "passivity" is often, in fact, not as it appears on the surface. Those people who are more "metaphysically-minded", if you will, are very aware of just how powerful remaining resistant to acting (especially as it regards "evil impulses") is. This choice to remain what the more worldly-minded might deem "weak" is indeed accomplishing very significant things, albeit on a more metaphysical level. Like the old adage 'There is power in silence', when it comes to the urge to "wimp out" as they might see it, in the face of another person 's wrongful action(s) towards us, we actually have very sound reasons for our misperceived "timidity!" We are often remaining inactive so the higher forces of good may be fully employed & engaged without our fallible (& often deleterious) human interference. And let me tell you, resisting one's baser human impulses takes true strength & courage. There is nothing "wimpy" about it!
A light year is 5.88 trillion miles long. Some people may seem a "light year" away, but with the Lord, "a day is as a thousand years." (2 Peter 3:8) And the Lord can travel "superluminally" (faster than the speed of light). (1 Timothy 6:16) "He (Christ) alone who is immortal & lives in unapproachable light." Never give up on yourself. Our God is Great.
In the beginning of the end, the bureaucratic jungle was declared null and void, Final judgment was upon the face of the earth and man still made God. And the more we hid, the more we were revealed. Total darkness descended and we were at our most enlightened, flailing and floundering about in our own separate chaos and peace. A light switched on without warning, starkly illuminating the damp, dark, festering crevices of our duality-bound entity. Love was great for Time was short and variant wrath remained unsurpassed. And in order that we could love we had to die, and be resurrected, stillborn to life. And we finally knew who and what we were. And what we had not been was the cause for thunder.
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