Yes, that's true, sincere, you have to be turning it over to Him. I'm glad I'm too slow in some situations; if I were as lightening as some others, I know I'd do or say something I'd regret. Ignorance has its advantages.
You certainly hit the nail on the head, Tim:
I have no doubt, that our so called tame society here in America could stoop to that level under the right conditions. Just imagine your colleagues dealings within an all out survival mode for life. It's easy for me to say it, b/c at the moment I'm not being threatened with being carved up with a machete, but I could say in these dealings I mentioned above, I
feel like I'm being carved up - an in exchanges that outwardly to any observer would probably appear as routine or business-like as any other. But when you know the behind-the-scenes workings of some of it, it's anything but.
The internecine part makes me think it's no different. I guess if a brood of african thugs with machetes was approaching right now, I'd be wishing for the "peace and safety of America".
But after being involved in some of this stuff, and not very deeply involved actually - just deep enough to get a clue or two, I fail to see much difference.
It's a predator world. It really is a world of predators. Everyone serving up each other for lunch(tho they call it "joing each other for lunch"). Everyone has his own argument. And everyone, in his own eyes, is completely 'right'. And we all sit observing the other party with feasting eyes, like the wolf with Little Red Riding Hood.
But it's like the "tame society" so called, that you mention, is anything but, anyway - without any guns or swords. I've had an accomplished, professional banker tell me point blank he couldn't trust any of those working directly under him. And an accomplished, professional artist, well-known, who said he had no friends in the art world - had to go outside to make any friends. His art was rich and dramatic; I guess everyone disliked him for that. He seemed a humble man, and just kept to his work. But always won awards.
We aren't doing it physically, but it's still going on. Africa is physical. America's is invisiable, I guess we'd say.
All very disappointing - to go to professional people, so-called, - accountants, lawyers, bankers, doctors, and suddenly realize the person across the desk is really as conniving as the drunk out there on the sidewalk - probably much more so. The only difference is is that he is concealing it under suit, tie and, I hate to say it, even stethoscope.
Surgeons have to keep the hospital operating, just as bankers have to keep the bank running.
And everyone is just consuming each other. But very few even realize what they are doing, or taking part in. Under the 'guise' of professional pursuits, or whatever.
"...for whatever does not proceed from faith, is sin...", Romans 14:23b.
