Karma

Last week’s installment of church billboard inspiration was one that I didn’t bother to examine. It read, at the time, “A life lived with God is a life of legend.” or something to that effect. I just remember thinking that if they’d used “the Lord” instead, it would have been a rather catchy alliteration. Oh, and for some reason, mental images of the crusades, famous book-burnings, bloody religious “reformations” (the fragmentations of Christianity), and the persecution of the Jews. That too. Although, I think perhaps they were referring to the life of Christ.
But I digress.

On to the product of this our most recent Sunday, a piece that is either hair-raisingly tongue-in-cheek or blithely ignorant of itself. It follows:

THE MASTER KEY TO SUCCESS IS KNOWING THE MASTER.

A light and simple thing if your instinct is to recognize “the master” as being God. And yet, applied on a wider scale, it is a sickening likeness to the old adage “It’s not what you do, it’s who you know.” Worded in this manner, it makes a very bold statement. We live in a country whose barely qualified president is the son of a former president, whose family has ties to major corporations, and such experience verses him only in the elitist strategies which, though effective among businessmen and behind closed doors, were never intended for international relations. And from there down, on it goes: every day, those associated with others in positions of power and wealth climb to the top with less virtue and true intent than those who give all of themselves to achieve what they otherwise have no means to reach.

Ironically, these men may be of faith and religion themselves — keeping close their concept of “the master”.

So, sadly, I cannot refute this statement. But the one thing that gets me about it is this: for one who truly knows “God”, with an understanding and acceptance that it is simply a word for something which surrounds us all, and a true feeling of inner peace with one’s life - what is success to that person? How do you reach such a pure thing if you go in with the intention of finding a quick means to a secular end? It cannot mean what most associate with “success” in the world of work, activities, family structure, self-management. Knowing such a “master” can lead you only to acceptance, and only if you wish to reach it.

Interpret it how you will. It just depends on what you’re after.