An Idol according to the English dictionary is an image or representation of a God used as an object of worship, adulation and obsession.
This can become anything we are obsessed with and defend sometimes to the extreme. It’s a long list but here are just a few; power, money, our bodies, religion, nationality, hobbies, and any addiction such as drugs and alcohol. The list is endless, but they all have a common root, Ego – self-esteem, arrogance and importance. We made Ego up for ourselves, and now find it rules us and is deeply embedded in this world of form. It has been for as long as we have taken bodies as vehicles to carry our true form, which is Spirit.
But this wasn’t always the case. We all know the story of Adam and Eve being thrown out of Heaven but although this happened and we left Heaven, it was our choice to do so and nothing to do with God. We had a mad idea that we can separate from our creator and experience things we cannot do in spirit.
Believing this would be even better than heaven, we instead created Hell and replaced God with Ego. Ever since then we have been moving away from our true self’s and from the light to the darkness.
Why are we here?
We may have lived many lives in this classroom called Earth, but why are we here? Our purpose here is to learn who we really are, spirit and not a body – that we have the choice to return to spirit, lighter than we are now or to keep heading into an even darker, bleaker future. It is f0r us to decide.
For many, the hardest lesson of all is that we have no control over others’ choices. We have been given the gift of forgiveness although even this we must learn to use properly. We cannot forgive others, only how we have judged them on our own perceived guilt. This we can forgive and strive to do better.
Making judgements that need forgiveness requires vigilance. However, we see these judgements in an order, judging one as larger than the next but this is another judgment which in turn needs forgiveness.
We value idols and put them on pedestals believing them to be ‘better’ than us – they always disappoint. The old adage, ‘Idols with clay feet’, is very true. The trouble is, we put so much hope, dreams and faith the hope they will fill our shortcoming with power, fame, money and happiness. They are false gods and often lead us away from the light instead of towards it. Rather than ‘loving’ them, perhaps we need to look within and discover what is lacking in our lives.
Trying to fill our imaginary ‘empty space’ with false idols like actors or pop stars, or with money, image money and power is both delusionary and illusionary. In our ignorance, we imagine idols can bring us safety in a dark, threatening world and fulfil our dreams and wishes. Our futile hopes that they will ‘save us’ is delusional. Look carefully beyond the glitter and see them for what they really are. You will not find peace in them. Idols need to be believed to ‘come to life’. Giving them our power means engaging in their ‘dark’ energy.
Searching ‘within’ for help will help you see the darkness of idols and help you find peace and love. Idols more often divide us than unite us, anything not of God is only in our minds. We are never content with small ideas and foolishly look to idols to ‘complete’ us.
Learn your lessons
Recognise your attachment and dependence on your idol and stop repeating the same error repeatedly. If you have tried something and it has failed, why go on doing the same thing again? It will never bring you the outcome you want. So, what will? Take the chance to do something else.
We have been conditioned to see the world in a certain way so maybe a change of mindset might help you see that your dreams are upside down. Can this be true? Yes, it can. Step back and take a good look at the world and what is going on. Although sometimes depressing, it is also strangely familiar – like being on a roundabout and with no getting off. The same scenario repeating over and over with no resolution or change.
We may not be able to control others, but we do have to power to change ourselves. Our minds are very powerful, but they can also be very destructive if they are in the grip of Ego. The real lasting change comes when we stop, listen and turn away from hate and pain returning to our creator with remembrance for who we really are. We are not bodies – we are Spirit, we are eternal, immortal beings. We are one with the Creator.
A lot of people are blindly walking into the dark, it will take many lifetimes before they get weary of this illusion and realise there must be more than this. Thankfully there is – all it takes is a change of mind.
Written by T. J. Hobbs
thobbs@rocketmail.com
01189 810743
Article published in More to Life – Edition 69
