What have you called forth in your life that you are not even aware of? We are living the lives we created for ourselves by our own thoughts, words, and actions as we discussed in the last post. If we want to change our world, then we need to change our thoughts, words, and actions which sounds a lot easier than it is to live, I know. Another important piece to look at in making lasting change in our world is how we use our right of free will. One of the most important universal laws for humans is the Law of Free Will.
As discussed in previous posts, our free will and what we do with it also impacts our world since the Law of Free Will does not act independently. We also have the Law of Cause and Effect (also known as karma). Don’t believe in karma … have you heard of the golden rule? Treat others as you would like to be treated. They are one in the same. Remember the saying what goes around, comes around.
I am going to short cut this for you. We have been given the freedom as humans to do what we want in this world (law of free will) in addition to this freedom comes the caveat that our choices have consequences (law of cause and effect). This was by divine design by God. God does not make things happen or not happen in this world – we do that on our own – consciously or unconsciously.
I think everyone understands when they consciously make a choice but how can someone unconsciously make a choice? I have learned the term “tacit consent” to explain that one. Let’s look at each word separately, tacit as defined means unvoiced, unspoken, silent, implied, understood without being spoken. To consent is defined as to agree, approve or permit. So, tacit consent is when we imply approval to an action or choice by remaining silent. Ahh, here is that silent theme again which allows the darkness to grow in our lives and our world without anyone saying a word or being the wiser.
Now you are thinking well some people might do that but not me, well, think again! We have all fallen prey to this tactic whether we were aware of it or not. Thus, we unconsciously gave silent consent. Now I know you are thinking where? How? When?
We did it by watching a television show. We did it by listening and singing along with the lyrics of music. We did it by listening to the news or reading a book. We did it by going to the movies or playing video games. What? How can that be? I don’t agree with everything I watch, read, or listen to … but I also didn’t voice no that is wrong or turn it off which is how the darkness works to spread it tentacles into our lives. The darkness was shown as a force with tentacles wrapping around earth in the movie A Wrinkle in Time.
After learning about tacit consent and its effects, I started reviewing myself for unconscious choices I had made. I used the watch the tv series “Scandal”. It was a series about politics, secrets, good guys, and bad guys. It was hugely, popular and I was a fan. Although I must admit it had some pretty dark scenes that I was not completely comfortable, but I kept watching. In fact, I think it was the fifth year that it became so dark I started thinking to myself that I am not going to keep watching this if it keeps up. I was happy to see the sixth and final year had cut back on the darkness, so I watched the series to its conclusion with the seventh season. As I silently watched the show for six years, I saw lies, deception, abuse, torture, killings, theft, voting fraud, drugs, terrorism, sex, infidelity, and more I am sure – those are just the highlights that come to mind.
There are so many shows and movies playing these scenes as entertainment for us as we silently watch again and again. The lyrics in some music are so profane that now music is marked as explicit or not. I had to drive my son’s truck to work one day so I thought I will check out the music in his CD player. The CD player holds 5 discs. I listened to one song on disc one and it was so bad I ejected that disc. I did the same with disc two and then with disc three, four, and five. As a parent, I did have the sense to ask my children why they would want to put that kind of trash in their heads by listening to that kind of music. I watched my kids play the video game “Call of Duty” all the time wondering about its effects. On the one hand it is so violent does it promote violence, but on the other hand I thought well if there is a need to defend oneself then they will have learned how … now how warped is that thinking? The internet has brought all types of “information” into our homes such as pornography, bomb making, cyber-bullying, cyber-trafficking, and radical recruitment just to name a few.
As you can see, in every part of our lives we are making conscious and unconscious choices whether we were aware of it or not. These choices were us expressing our free will in society. We were using our thoughts, words, actions and inactions to create our reality. The take away here is to wake up and stay conscious in your thoughts, words, actions and inactions. Guard your right of free will for it is being used by you every day and in every way whether you are aware of it or not and as such you will live the result (effect) of those choices.
I would ask that you really spend some time with this and dive deep. What have you consciously allowed and unconsciously allowed into your mind, body, and environment? What can we do to remain more conscious or mindful in our daily lives? I would love to hear from you! These posts have been building one on the other so you might want to go back to previous posts if needed.
Life is a combination of destiny and free will.
Rain is destiny;
If you get wet or not is free will!
~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
For a Christian perspective read Galatians Chapter 5
Eliza Gaye 