Troubles In Life

Lifes Problems

Everyone experiences problems in life, some major and some minor. During these problems people become frustrated, anxious, upset, and/or overwhelmed. This is normal. Noone enjoys issues getting in the way of their seemingly normal life.

However, many people disregard others during these times. They take on an attitude that their problem in their life is the only one that counts or matters, noone’s elses. They expect everyone else to drop what they’re doing, put their own problems aside, and help them. Problem comparisons may even be made in an attempt to make others feel guilty and that others problems are nowhere as serious as their problem. This behaviour is dangerous to all parties involved.

It needs to be understood that everyone leads different lives with different lifestyles with different circumstances. A problem you may be experiencing in your life, to you may seem or feel more serious than a problem another is going through. But it must be understood that the problems others are facing may be causing similar or worse scenarios in their life as your problem is causing in your life.

For example, here’s a few problems:

1. Family man is going through a legal seperation, may end up being a divorce, and has not been allowed to see his children since the process began. His wife has a history of psychological issues, causing concern in the man for the safety of his children. This man is doing everything he can to get custody of his children, and if possible, fix his marriage – avoiding a divorce, as he doesn’t want a divorce.
2. A family is struggling. This family is barely scraping by, needing assistance from food pantries for food and supplies. This family only eats an average of two meals per day, and still struggles to maintain enough food and supplies. Everything that can be done to bring in an additional income is being done, including starting a small business from the ground up out of their home.
3. Another family is a broken couple with children. The woman was told by social services that she is facing the possibility of losing her children to the system because she’s working throughout the week and the man is living elsewhere for work, causing concern that they’re not around enough for their children. Her cousin lives with her to watch the children while she’s at work. Social services visits her weekly to check how things are going.

Of the above three examples, which example would you say is the worst? Should those of the other two disregard their own problems and focus all their energy towards resolving the problem of the one you feel is the worst?

The reality is that all three of the above examples are equally as bad as each other. All three families are dealing with just as much stress, frustration, anxiety, and/or depression. The only difference is the circumstances creating the stress, frustration, anxiety, and/or depression.

Noone is above anyone else. We are all humans experiencing life. We are all going through problems at some point in our lives. When we are going through our problems, I can guarantee you that 10/10 people you pass in the supermarket are also going through problems of their own. No matter how perfect a friend, family member, or a complete stranger makes their life appear, I can assure you that they are going through something. It may only be a minor issue, but it could also be a major issue.

Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t help others or that others shouldn’t help you. If you’re able to help someone, do so. If you need help, ask for it. But don’t demand others help you. Don’t allow yourself to be so prideful that you feel your issues trumps that of others. Sometimes you will find that those you help through their problems are able to help you through yours. Just because you’re having a hard-time doesn’t mean you can’t help someone else, nor does another going through a hard-time mean that they can’t help you.

Most people don’t tell 100% of their life story, so you don’t know what they’ve been through. Nor do they know what you’ve been through. You may be able to help them because you’ve already been through a similar problem, just as they may be able to you because they’ve been through a similar problem.

Lifes Problems While Christian

What really annoys me is Christians, or those who claim to be Christian, are guilty of this poor behaviour. As a Christian, you should know that we are all equal. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, none better or above another. Yet many “Christians” display this attitude that their problems are worse than anyone elses (including other Christians), and everyone must put their life on hold to help them.

What exactly makes you superior to everyone else? What about your problem makes it so much worse than those of everyone else? Why do you suddenly fail to see the suffering everyone else is going through?

Life isn’t perfect. Life isn’t easy. It wasn’t meant to be. You, of all people, should know and understand this; especially if you actually read your Bible and pay attention to what it says.

Everyone’s always asking why their friends and/or family members are suddenly leaving their local church to practice in private or leaving Christianity altogether. Did it ever occur to you that it’s because you (Christendom as a whole) is leading by a very poor example? Did it ever occur to you, that just through this one issue of the “problems attitude” that Christians are coming off as rather self-absorbed narcissists who fail to practice what they preach?

Christ helped those who were in need. Early Christians did likewise. This was done despite societal opinions and the problems they were experiencing in their private lives.

Stop trying to be above others. Recognize and deal with your problems, but recognize others are going through their own as well. If you can help each other, do so. If you can’t help each other, or if another can’t help you, don’t take it personal. Don’t shun or mistreat them.

Regardless what your problem is, it is not any worse than that of anyone else. Everyones minor problems affects their lives in minor ways, and everyones major problems affects their lives in major ways. The problem itself may be different in scenario or circumstances that caused it, but it’s the same in stress, frustration, anxiety, and/or depression it’s bringing on those going through it.

In the Bible we are warned that people will act in such ways:

2 Timothy 3:1-9 KJV

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Would you rather be of those spoken of? Or do you prefer to truly be a Christian and act as such?

1 Peter 2:21 KJV
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Spiritual Lessons Learned From Fishing

I started commercial fishing to help pay the bills. I began going out with a fisherman whose family has been in it for decades. Days I wasn’t working with him, I was working with other fisherman. I believed I was only going to learn how to fish and make some money. But I’ve learned so much more and witnessed a lot of nonsense. I now have my own commercial license so I no longer need to go out with another to fish legally.

Many believed I was switching careers by going into commercial fishing. That is not the case. I was called into ministry by Jesus. The calling is a lifetime. Other jobs are not. Regardless what job I am doing at any given point, ministry is my career. The job is simply to supplement income of my career.

I still have alot to learn about the habits of fish, best ways to catch them, etc. So I will be posting more about fishing in the future.

When I began, I was a bit nervous being on the water. Alligators, rough water, etc. I was nervous the boat would dump in one area of the water known as the “Danger Zone”. I was nervous of the alligators. Not long into it, I became confortable. I enjoyed the boat ride, I enjoyed being on the water, and I even saw a manatee swimming not far from us.

A bit into it, we were wading the water. Yes, we actually got into the water. The first time I was nervous. But I grew calm quickly. I noticed gators swimming all around us, but as we stayed calm and just went about our business, the gators we came close to would drop under the water and take off.

Fishing began as a very calming and relaxing experience. What helped me calm down is I believe I was able to connect to the spirits of the Utica. The Utica are the natives that used to live in my area. I kept noticing them on the shoreline (known as “the hill” to local fisherman). Seeing them weirded me out at first. I tried brushing them off as employees of the FWC walking the management areas. But when I realized their style of clothing and hair length, there was no way they were FWC. Nor were they locals, as the picnic areas of the management area was closed. (For your reference, the waters I was in and the management area are in the Ocala National Forest / Welaka National Park.)

One day fishing, we were discussing the different types of bass. I had mentioned I had never seen a red bass. The Utica were on the shoreline. The fisherman I was with then catches a red bass. A decent size as well. Due to laws here, we had to let him go, but I got to see a red bass. On another occasion we were fishing Tilapia. Couldn’t find one. The Utica appeared and directed me where to go, and I directed the fisherman. When we got close, the fisherman decided to stop where we first came upon a grass line. A mother gator started flailing around warning us we’re getting too close to her babies. We went down the grass line a good stretch and found our tilapia.

I realize this all may sound weird or farfetched to some. But those who have been reading my material and/or know me personally, know my beliefs and my faith. I’m very open-minded. Each time I went out on the water I prayed to Jesus for protection and a quick catch so I can get back on land.

The first fisherman I was working with, we had a trying experience. We almost attacked each other one day on the water. He was frustrated because he was losing fish out of the net. I was frustrated because I was just learning how to do all this and I was getting yelled at. We came close to hitting each other before I sat down and he decided he’s letting his nerves get to him and we’d just head back and call it quits for the day.

Aside from the day of frustration, the first month, maybe month and a half, of fishing was calming and relaxing. And I felt I was connecting with nature. Even managed to talk the one fisherman into throwing fish I felt were too small back into the water. I was learning a lot about fish, their habits, etc.

Fishing is almost like evangelizing and preaching. Just as people will not join with an individual, group, or faith they don’t agree with, the same goes for fish. They commune together. But at certain points of the day, they scatter from incoming predators. All types of fish seemingly get along in the shallow grass lines, while others prefer the deeper waters. If you are calm, you will catch the fish. If you are angry, frustrated, or in any way riled up, the fish will scatter. They can sense us long before we even see them. Similarly, people will only join a group of people that are calm and share similar moral values. People will not join something willingly that they fear.

Part 2

In recent weeks, I began to see the ugly side of fishing. I would like to hope big scale commercial fishing is different, as I am only a local commercial fisherman supplying local customers. I started getting told by one fisherman not to take another I was working with to an area of the water (as if he owns the water). Most waters I fish is state owned waters open to the public, no private waters. I was also told not to take the other two fisherman I was working with to “his” customers. Even went as far as threatening me.

We’re not the only four fisherman in the area, and we’re not the only ones supplying the very same customers he’s claiming or fishing the waters he’s claiming as his. The customers in our county have been supplied for decades by the first fisherman’s family, therefore if these customers are anyones, they are fisherman 1’s, not fisherman 2’s. The customers in the other county I don’t want to touch (even if I remembered how to get to them) and won’t tell anyone where they are as fisherman 2 used to live their, so if he wants to claim customers he can claim them and keep them to himself (though I am sure other fisherman are supplying them as well).

A few days ago I went fishing with fisherman 3, who fisherman 2 doesn’t want in “his” waters or near his customers. We didn’t catch much at all that day. Fisherman 2 had a heart attack and threatened he was going to hit me over it. Meanwhile we did not go to “his” customers. As a matter of fact, fisherman 3 still had our rediculously small catch at his house because he couldn’t sell them.

Fishing is a source of food and income for many who live on the water. For thousands of years various cultures fished for food and worked in cooperation with neighboring tribes. Maybe trading fish for other foods or supplies they needed. Who is any man to decide that any body of water is strictly theres? Or any area of customers is strictly theres? What happened to open market capitalism? And why should you feel betrayed that I took another to a particular spot and now know nothing is there so we don’t waste our time going down there to find nothing?

This is a lot like religion as well. Whether it’s Christianity vs Islam vs Buddhism vs Atheism etc. Or it be within a faith, for ex: Pentecostal vs Baptist vs Catholic vs Methodist or Sunni vs Shia vs Wahabi in Islam. Each group acts territorial over their followers and doesn’t allow said followers to ask questions, think for themselves, or leave and join another that makes more sense to them. Each group also feels they are superior to every other, yet go against their own beliefs and morals to prove alleged superiority.

When you realize that religion is of man and spirituality is of God, only then will people willingly join you without fearing you. When you realize you don’t own a group of people, for we are all equal, we are all one, only then will you achieve what you desire. Only when you act out your beliefs, live your faith, will you truly be superior to others, for now you are the example for others to follow.

We are all one. We must act like it. To keep fish away from a fisherman, therefore preventing him from being able to support his family, you are not only hurting him, but you are hurting yourself as well. You are him and he is you. How can anyone honestly expect to see peace and prosperity worldwide when neighbor is against neighbor? If a single neighborhood cannot get along peacefully, do tell how it is expected the entire world is to do so?

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