Friday, March 12, 2010

Aiming Or Maiming

From My Perspective - - -

The trite saying is: “If You Aim At Nothing – You Will Always Hit Your Target!” Another paraphrased saying is: If you throw enough Jell-O at a wall – some will eventually stick – but there’ll be a terrible mess as a result of that effort. Taking “aim” always suggests precision and direction. A well-aimed rifle shot is much better than a random shotgun blast. One will hit the target – the other can result in damage and maiming. The more one takes specific aim with the skill of a marksman the more likely the target and goal will be achieved. It accomplishes a level of confidence as one hones the skill of accurate aim and marksmanship.

A New Confidence Index has been released. “For 44 years, since 1966, The Harris Poll has measured how confident Americans are in the leaders of major U.S. institutions. Then, based on the responses, Harris calculates an overall Confidence Index. Over the years, it has gone up and down. In 2002, it touched 65. In 2008, it fell to 44. This year, it stands at 53, one point lower than in early 2009. While the overall Confidence Index has not shifted much this year, the individual confidence ratings used to calculate this average have undergone a great deal of change. The biggest modulation since early 2009 is the substantial drop in public confidence in the White House. The number of those with a great deal of confidence has fallen by 9 points from 36% to 27%. There have also been declines in those with a great deal of confidence in colleges and universities (from 40% to 35%), organized religion (from 30% to 26%) and television news (from 22% to 17%). On the other hand, there have been increases in the number of those with a "great deal of confidence" in the courts and justice system (from 19% to 24%), major companies (from 11% to 15%) and Congress (from 4% to 8%). However, confidence in all of these institutions is still very low. The five top institutions that inspire a great deal of confidence in more than 30 percent of Americans include the military (59%), small businesses (50%), major educational institutions, such as colleges and universities (35%), medicine (34%) and the U.S. Supreme Court (31%).The five least inspirational institutions include organized labor (14%), the press (13%), law firms (13%), Congress (8%) and Wall Street (8%).”

Most of these findings are based on two primary areas: (1) perception – the influences that impact how one thinks things are going and/or happening; and (2) result – does one have the sense that things are occurring in an even-handed way with maximum integrity. The media and political spin can have an effect upon how one thinks, as well as the level of confidence one has at a given point. Usually, one looks for a light at the end of the tunnel. Currently, most people can’t even find the tunnel much less any light at the end of it. The current political climate was based on the premise of: “Change You Can Believe In” and “Hope” for those who are struggling and laden with despair of ever having a portion of the American Dream. While those political slogans can (and did) gain attention and response, it is always a misdirection for the poor, needy, desperate and hopeless. The misdirection is putting ones confidence in a man, a party, political promises and rhetoric, etc. When realization and relief do not appear on one’s horizon, a person becomes mentally maimed - and disillusioned. Once more, the aim was to gain votes – not to provide assistance and relief.

What can one do? The obvious answer is to change the focus. Don’t rely on rhetoric, hollow promises or a man's style. The true confidence one should have is stated in – Psalm 146:3-5 – “Do not put your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help and whose hope is in the LORD his God,” In Hebrews 10:35-36, “…do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Placing ones hopes and confidence in a man or movement will allow one to soon reach a place where there is a loss of trust and confidence in everyone and everything. Putting ones hopes, dreams, aspirations and confidence in the Lord will always result in fulfillment, acceptance, peace and assurance because God’s Aim is precise – He always hits the correct target at the right moment. He will never Maim you physically or spiritually. He will always guard your mind, will and emotions. You can always confidently rely upon Him. Consider these things with me!

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