Day: August 3, 2019

People are just people

~ osasuoviawe

People are angrier when they are called out for the things they’ve done wrong and denied, than for the things they’ve done wrong and admitted.

People will risk everything to protect a lie, even when they know the worst adversary to have is the truth.

People will ask more questions when the answers do not fit into the familiar or the expected. The questions are not so much in search for understanding but in search of inconsistencies that can make them hold on to the familiar (a bias).

People will ask for advice on decisions they are making, to check your alignment, not to enrich the decision making process.

People will compromise character to hear today, what will be common knowledge tomorrow and worthless information a day after.

People will actively seek out information that raises anxiety and unsettle present peace. Breaking news media understands this and profits from it.

People find it more difficult to leave abusive relationships than respectful relationships. They tarry hoping to change the circumstance or find meaning for the madness. The longer they stay, the tighter the noose.

People will go into a debate with the default setting that they are right, but judge the other person for coming with their own default setting of being right.

People will not take their own advice and will continually look for cheat codes to improve their odds, in spite of the fact that every day ends with an evening.

People are just people. Bear with them. They are here only for a while – passing by or passing away.

– Osasu Oviawe

Oaths

~ osasuoviawe

Matthew 14:1-12
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.”
For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Hero’di-as, his brother Philip’s wife; because John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.
But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Hero’di-as danced before the company, and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”
And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

Homily:

In all circumstances, make no oaths.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:33-37

“Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.” – James 5:12