Autonomy

Why are you using such big words? What’s it mean anyway?

Breaking the word down backwards it says, ‘my auto”, and if it’s your car you can drive it wherever you want. But the Greek meaning is self-legislation, self-governance. This means you are to be in charge of your life, your actions, your decisions. Basically, you tell yourself what to do. (You drive your life where you want it to go.) You tell yourself what is best for you and do it. You don’t need other people telling you what they think you should say, do, think, where to go to school, who to marry, what to like, dislike, who to vote for etc, etc, etc.

Autonomy is a self-regulating freedom. As with any freedom and freedom to make your own decisions, we have guidelines in communities, cities, states, countries of what is allowed or not allowed, and our freedom must abide within those guidelines. But autonomy is a wonderful thing. Many countries in the world and over the centuries had no such freedoms. They were always told what to do and when.

But we have the freedom, ability, to decide if we want a better life we can go after it. We want a better relationship with our friends and family, no one can stop us. We want to give up a bad habit or two, we are able to direct our lives that way. There is no law preventing you from doing any good thing you want to do. We don’t tell other people what to do and conversely, we don’t let others tell us what to do.

We get to decide what’s good and beneficial for us and ours and move in that direction. We do not need permission from higher anybody to do the right thing.

Now what do I really want to do – to see happen in my life for good? How could I make it happen? The reins are in my hands.

Let’s get the ball rolling!

Government

Good government begins with self-government.

If we can govern ourselves, we will be eligible to govern (steward) others – beginning with our families, in our churches and communities. People will see we are a person of integrity, with wisdom and good morals. They will come to us with questions and concerns, and we’ll be able to help them or point them to someone who can.

This is how good leaders start. This is where good government begins. From the local. From the ground up. From the family – a small governing body by itself. From the respectful and responsible father to the thoughtful and industrious mother. All the kids get involved; learning to see what can be done and help. They become independent thinkers on the lookout for a good project to begin!

Self-government is one of our highest freedoms, leading to all other freedoms we enjoy and want to have. It is the hardest, yet the most needful in a free society. Great strength under control! That’s the real meaning of meekness.

We are a strong country, a strong people. Let’s lead ourselves through our own self-control to become what we’d like to see in others – set the example for our children, families and youth. .

Don’t let others dictate to you how they think you should be. You dictate through your life, your honesty, your integrity, your faithfulness to your word, your love for family, your willingness to help keep up your part of the world and begin to see the difference.

There are many followers. They need a good leader to point them in the right direction. Point them by your life. Give them hope for a better future.

You (me) be the change  🙂

Words

Words are a platform.

A platform can be stood upon like a stage for a performance. A platform is made to hold materials and workmen while building a house. A platform can be the floor of a tent a camper or a chicken coop. A platform is what allows people to get off and on trains, busses and planes. The platform is a means of support.

It can be built quickly with not much to it or built to last a long time. It can be raised or lowered. It can be taken apart and rebuilt.

Some platforms are made of stone and last for decades.

How does this apply to my words?

Will my words, (what I say) support me and my family and friends? Will they help them stand, or will my words be weak and cause them to fall. Will my words be solid enough for them to hold onto during stormy life times? Will my words raise a platform of hope and encouragement?

We cannot see words after they’re said, however, they can still ring in people’s ears days, years, decades later. Many are still being heard centuries later – passed on by word of mouth or in writing.

Everybody is talking, saying something now-a-days. They want to be heard, noticed, listened to.

I want to examine my platform…my word platform. Do I have the right kind of materials to build it. Do I need to find some better type lumber? Will I use particle board or solid planks? Will I pick a beautiful board or will any old crooked, knotty board do? Will I use cheap nails that bend when driving them or use steel screws to hold my message together? Will I make the framework sturdy to hold the weight of truth and good, or will it be flimsy and anyone can rip it to shreds.

Will my words bring clarity, stability, comfort, and hope for another person?

We can do this folks. Yes, it will take some effort and maybe new learning, but there’re lots of lives that just need some place secure to stand while they put themselves back together.

Can they stand securely on your platform? Can I stand on mine?