Reply #15: My Gawd. Is there no end

[TWiley]

This is so funny, and yet so true.

The Cement heads view all growth as though it was like a ladder, or like the tip of a blade of grass. If you slip, then there is a big climb ahead of you.

Under this vision, there is a singular view of the one above you. Gazing upward, I see an A**hole.

Growth is more like wandering around in a forest. Each tree represents a particular type of experience in life. Eventually, we revisit the same tree more than once. When we find ourselves in front of the "rejection tree" again, how we behave this time in contrast with how we behaved the last time reveals a rate of change, or growth.

Under this vision, there is no hierarchy; there is only stagnation or change as measured by each experience on a day to day basis.

Looking back at the Christians in my life,I see the steady decay of virtue as genuine spiritual insight is replaced with a vulgar brand of national patriotism that boils down to nothing more than "greed with a halo" when fully reduced.

Sorry for the rant, and thanks for the reply, it made my day.