Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Short pamphlet I wrote for my Patients


Why You Matter
Dustin Vick MS

Do I really have a soul?
     Do I have a soul? That seems like a reasonable question to ask, but how can you prove it. Understand that if you can prove you have a soul, then it disproves that you are simply some evolutionary accident and that in fact there is much more to you than simple physiology. In an exercise that takes two people I will prove to you that you indeed have a soul.  Have someone stand in front of you facing you. Close your eyes and concentrate, focusing on where you are internally and quietly. Have the person touch you on your stomach. Answer this question: is that below you, above you, beside you or centered on you? Repeat the same questions touching your shoulders, chest, and top of your head. Then have them touch you right between your eyes. The same questions will be asked, and the correct conclusion will be that yes, touching between your eyes is where you are centered. There you will find your “I am” or to be blunt, the residence of your soul. It does not live in your chest, or your heart, but is centered in the cortex of your mind controlling the designed machine that is your body, and it is very busy most of the time, even as you sleep it regulates every function. Why is it significant to know that without any reservations we have a soul? The answer is because it opens so many doors of greater and deeper understanding into why we matter, and to whom.
Why am I Here?
     So, after establishing that there is a soul, which suggests that there is something special about your creation, then why are you here? Or in everyday terms, what is the meaning of life? Establishing a fundamental belief in a greater power than yourself, it leads you to wonder what they are up too. Well, it is a little more complex than a science experiment, but it is also easy to explain and understand if you let that very soul you have discovered listen for the answers. Putting all the mumbo jumbo garbage you hear from Hollywood and so called “learned men” lets establish a base to build on.
     Say that your father created a company. He built a strong foundation and a perfect business model that depended on a balance of justice and mercy to run smoothly.  He wants nothing more than to hand over the business to you when you are ready, but first you must be educated and trained. You must understand how it feels to work at every level of the company and how to handle every single trial that may come your way at those positions. In the end, if you follow his plan for you, and work really hard doing your best, even if you fall short, he has a safety net in place that will allow the most diligent efforts to branch out his business. Just remember the words of the savior when he was asked why he had stayed behind as a boy at the temple “I am about my fathers business”, think about it. He is even so loving and merciful that any effort at all gets some reward within the company. So, why are you here? To learn how to run the company. The company is creation, the owner is your father in heaven, and because he has worked so hard to put you here and give you this opportunity, obviously you matter, a lot.

     This life is full of opportunity to learn and experience all the things that our creator already knows. The beautiful loophole that has been put in place was contracted by our older brother and our fathers firstborn son, the only begotten, the Lord and savior of the world, Jesus Christ. He has already paid a price of learning all of the pitfalls of the business, he can step in for us at the final interview and on our behalf, state that he has already covered and endured the areas that we fell short in as long as we are willing to continue to try and learn he will supervise.
What Do the Scripture Tell Us About Where We Came From?
     In the book of Proverbs tells us that we were with our father before he created the earth, and that we communed with Jesus Christ as a family. Here are the verses found in chapter 8: 23 I was set up from aeverlasting, from the bbeginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor athe highest part of the dust of the world.27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set aacompass upon the face of the depth:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. There are many more places that confirm this, but that will be your task to find them. We have been given the instruction manual (The scriptures) but we must open them and learn.
     So it is recorded that we actually did come from somewhere. We came from a place that was before earth, and we must assume that we dwelled there without the restrictions of mortality. The frail human body is for this world. It is imperfect and flawed, but it is the perfect vehicle in which our souls to learn. Without the mortal frame how would we understand pain, or joy, or hunger, or sadness, or pride, or love. All of this, it has a purpose. That is why you matter, a lot.
The misleading media, the devils playground
     We see it every day. The ads and shows on television, the music we hear, the internet, magazines, and the list goes on and on. You must be rich to be happy. You must be skinny. You must travel. You must engage in immoral behavior. You must use substances to “enhance” life’s experiences via alcohol or drugs. Marriage is an old worn out tradition. There is nothing wrong with pornography, or violence, or infidelity. These are everyday sentiments in our world today. Those that fight against them are ridiculed, mocked, even persecuted to some degree. This can easily sway us to feel like participating to be included, because we think if we don’t matter to the majority, we don’t matter. But seriously, the question you must ask yourself is this: If you believe in God, and believe he is all knowing, then he knows everything we do, even our very thoughts. Would we do, watch, listen to, looking at all the things we do in a day if God were standing beside us? Well? I think not. But he actually is to some degree. Why do you think there is a huge push to disprove God exists? With no God, there is no devil. With no devil there is no sin. With no sin, it’s a free for all! With all of the groups that rail against Christianity and its principles, they still believe in many of its tenants such as DON’T KILL, DON’T STEAL, DON’T LIE, you get the picture. You can’t have it both ways. Unfortunately that is just how society wants it. They want the buffet life experience that they can pick and choose what to call right and wrong. They believe in some sense of moral law but will not commit on its true origin. To succeed at the task at hand, we must be vigilant to follow the plan. Don’t believe the hype. How many famous people wind up in jail? How many die because of poor choices, or take their own lives. The elitist society of always wanting to find something more to make you whole is looking in the wrong place. The answers are not at the plastic surgeon or the bottom of a bottle, they are in a book, and the understanding is inside us all, just patiently waiting to be called upon to be free.
Looking in the Mirror, Peeling Away the Layers
     When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see what you have been conditioned to see by the world around you, or is there something below the surface you have been missing? Understanding that you matter to someone of the greatest importance can help you see the true nature of your reason for being. You may be a little banged up, you may have some shoulder and back strain from carrying the burden of regret and mistakes that you as well as others still haven’t forgiven you for. You may see nothing of significance, or to be proud of, but you are wrong. When you are willing to look at yourself through the eyes of your creator the qualities he has shared with you begin to become visible. If it seems difficult, start small. What is one thing about you that you are proud of, good at, or working on? The smallest victory is still a victory. Do you like helping people? Do you enjoy any kind of hobby? There are limitless possibilities in everyone; the trouble is that we wear our flaws on the outside. It is much easier to see negative things for some reason. Once we can truly be honest with ourselves, we can tear down and rebuild to who we can be, and who we want to be. Make a list of things you would like to change. This can be small things as well as larger goals. It will soon become apparent that you can produce many significant gains in a day, a week, a month, and so on. Just always remember you will sometimes fall short and that’s ok because it is the determination to try again that builds true character.
A Light Through the Darkness: Losing Yourself in the Service of Others
     One of the best ways to find out how much we really do matter is to lose ourselves in the service of others. When we feel like we have exhauster the good we can do for ourselves at the moment, it is always a great idea to find those that are in need and donate an act of kindness to them. It doesn’t have to be monetary, or even physical. Sometimes a simple phone call, a letter, or even a smile with a “I was thinking about you today and wondered how you are” can change someone’s impression of self-worth. It is the little things that matter. As a psychologist, I have accidentally said things in passing to patients that was really nothing of significance to me, but they informed me later that it was a day changer to them. A young lady came into the office a few months back and her normally long straight hair was curled and very pretty. I walked by and commented that her hair looked very nice the way she was wearing it. She smiled and said thank you and that was the end of it. Much later she told me that my comment had made her very happy because no one had told her she looked nice in years. I was saddened by this because every human being is beautiful in their own way. She wept and said it was a day she would never forget. How sad is it that such a small thing like that can mean so much? Yet, we can make minimal efforts and move mountains. When we do something to lift others or lighten their burdens, often we feel the benefit more than they do. Charity is the pure love of Christ. Take time to try and make a difference to someone each day, and soon we will see how much we truly matter too many. I complained I had no shoes, until I saw a man with no feet; that is something to think about. Another saying I love is that we should never look down at someone unless it is while reaching to pull them up. As we lose ourselves in service, we stumble upon self-worth. You matter.

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