It seems as if I keep running into this problem – for quite some time now – but have realized its significance only recently – and frankly, I am NOT happy about it; and I was wondering what others thought of this issue or if it has even been an issue for them at all.

Before I launch into my subject, please allow me to clarify that I am NOT advocating any kind of Religion, Belief, and/or Practice of any kind. I am simply making comparisons of my own and from what I have come to learn in the 59 years that I have traversed this Earth and by engaging in what we “euphemistically call ‘Life.’”

I am but a fellow sojourner on this Journey through Consciousness and sometimes I find myself “struck” by the absurdities of life and can’t help but wonder that I am the only one – so it seems – that really notices these absurdities and dares to say something about them. Like the child in the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Whilst the adults ewwed and awwed over the emperors “non-existent” clothing, the child simply pointed out the obvious – “He isn’t wearing any clothes!”

This relates to a “state of mind,” which in this case was demonstrated by the Emperor being so out of tune with his own psyche that he allowed himself to appear “Naked” in public, actually believing himself to be fully “clothed.” In other words, he was so “open-minded” that his brains fell out! I wish to have my grey matter remain within the confines of my skull, thank you very much! So, now that that is over with, here goes:

Money, yes, money. Some say it’s the root of all evil and there was a time that I agreed with that statement because money can be quite mercurial and very hard to come by, especially these days! So I began to “develop” a theory about money that would help me see the “spirituality” in it and for a while it was working, it isn’t the money itself, it’s the intent behind what the money represents, that is the true energy of the currency. So, you’re wondering why I’m now calling it “the Mark of the Beast?”

The reasons are many, yet somehow I am seeing the larger picture and I am beginning to realize that if you don’t play the game – “Economics,” and its avatar “Consumer,” by “their” rules, you’re basically “out of the game.” In this case, ladies and gentlemen, the game, is Life, yes, Life as we know it, especially here in the United States where I currently reside. This has become so much more pronounced to me in light of situations arising out of this Covid19, Corona Virus bullshit!

Please don’t get me wrong and start accusing me of not believing that there is such a thing as a world wide pandemic and other such nonsense, I KNOW there is because I lost a cousin to this stupid virus, so I know the pain and the suffering because of it! However, I also know the “collateral” damage left in the wake of it’s rounds around the globe! The repercussions of those trying to put their lives back together after it all, and it’s still happening now, not that it’s over by any means.

The issue has become about someone “compromising” their “health” along with their “beliefs” in order to be able to earn a living! Many people, are being “forced” to inject themselves with a “dangerous” virus on the “off-chance” that it’s going to protect someone else in their “inner’ circle. Never mind that many of us could potentially be “naturally immune” to this particular virus and what it can do to our immune systems to be “forced” to fight it by it being directly injected into our system, as opposed to getting it “by normal means of contracting a virus well who really know those repercussions?!” It’s Barbaric and it’s UnConstitutional to boot! One should NEVER be “forced” to “choose” between “continuing on living” as opposed to just “earning a living.” Tsk, Tsk!

I know because my daughter is facing this dilemma, she appears to be naturally immune since she has been in close proximity to others’ having the virus and she herself has tested “negative” for the virus each time! Yet, now she is “forced” to be tested every week (and these tests are not cheap) just so that she is “safe” to return to work. I mean, where’s the sense in that? It isn’t even a sense of “right or wrong,” because what is right for you may not be right for me and vice versa, but in this “civilization” we seem to have become a “one size fits all” society; and there just ain’t so such damn thing, so where’s the “Civility in that?!

But when it really hit me was when my other daughter had let me know of a unique and potentially adventurous opportunity involving a “Ghost Writing” project that her husband had mentioned. Well I finally got the particulars of this “project,” and after understanding the premise of this post-war, “dystopian society” novel, I realized that it held a lot of “Religious” connotations in it, particularly that of The Mark of the Beast; in this particular story the “mark” being a “Chip” which is being forced by “Christians” to be implanted into their foreheads or in the palm of their hands, just like in the “Book of Revelations” – His words, NOT mine – he even mentioned Elon Musk! I said to myself, this is a “religious” novel, that most likely would not “appeal” to those of us who are NOT religious in any way and that “my” particular involvement in this project would be a compromise of my own beliefs.

When I expressed this concern to my daughter she immediately accused me of coming up with an excuse for NOT doing the project – which is so far from the truth considering how much I bugged her about it – she then “suggested” that it was a work of “fiction” and that I could either make it “personal” or I can make “money!” And that’s when I lost it and I became reactionary and I accused her of not believing in me and all kinds of stupid things that we say sometimes when we don’t think before we speak!

However, the irony was NOT lost on me in the moment either, that “money” in this case was the issue and in that instance, it – money I mean – became the “Mark of the Beast!” Because in my opinion – knowing that Christians all over the globe believe in the Bible – it would NOT be considered a “work of fiction.” Had he not used those phrases especially, I would NOT have a problem writing this particular story, however as I pointed out to my daughter that if I “did” get the job as the ghost writer that I would write a surprise ending or a “twist” in the tale if you will, whereby it was the “Christians” themselves who were “administering” the Mark of the Beast and “All are deceived!” Somehow, I don’t think the “author” would like that very much! Ha ha ha!!! She didn’t think it was funny either! :-0

So there, I said it! Play the “Money Game,” – “by the rules” and you could “earn a living.” But, step outta line . . ? Well you all know the rest! I hope that those of you who follow my posts – and I appreciate you all tremendously – I hope you all realize that this particular post is mostly “facetious” in nature because, you know, we need money to survive. However, I have found that even in “Spirituality” it has become “All about the Benjamins,” and it sickens me!

I was actually watching a program that deals with Near Death Experiences (NDEs) and those that experience them for themselves and there was a particular guest, I’m sorry I don’t remember his name, however he was recounting his story of his near death and how he had encountered Jesus on the other side. Well, somehow, in his experience, Jesus showed him the apostles and all of the miracles and the teachings that Jesus had done in His day, and this NDEr, suddenly came to the realization – when he returned to his body of course – he realized that what Jesus did was set up a “System,” by which he was able to get as many “followers” as possible; and to this day, this man uses this “system” which he calls a “Marketing Program,” in his day to day life to further his own career and to help “others” get wealthy as well – though he does claim to do it through “spiritual” means, whatever that means. The point being that he has converted “Jesus,” the so-called “Son of God,” into a Salesperson – albeit a very good one – but a Salesperson nonetheless!

Marketing Program?! WTF!! When I hear stuff like that, especially in this day and age, sounds to me like the “Beast” has found himself a “Loophole” – and I’m not even a “believer!!” Imagine that!! Whaddaya think??!! Hmmm . . .

Only time will tell, I suppose. At any rate, thanks for reading! Let me know what you think! Peace! Carry On, Carry On! Oh and Happy Holidays!!