How Did I Get This Old?

by Russell D. Longcore

(Editor’s note: This is an update from my birthday last year. There is a free gift for you at the bottom of this page.)

Your Editor turned 58 today. Curious thing, this aging. My high school class had its 40th anniversary class reunion this summer. Who were all those old people at the reunion? I still look out at the world with eyes that feel about 25. Is this how you go through life, always feeling inside much younger than the chronological age of your temporary meat house?

A couple weeks ago, my wife…the Redhead…asked me if I wanted a party for my birthday. I said no. Sunday morning the 28th, just before noon, the Redhead sent me to the grocer to pick up a few items. When I returned, I opened the door to a surprise birthday party!! And guests continued to arrive throughout the day. We ate too much, knocked back a LOT of frozen drinks around the pool, and then picked up our guitars and did some pickin’ and singin’. Laughter was the lingua franca of the day. I am amazed that all these people were able to keep the party a secret. But what a grand exhibition of love it was!!

I’ll always remember this last year, though, as one of the most important years of my life. Over this past year, I have had a spiritual transformation not unlike a rebirth. I’ve come to a place that my spiritual life is no longer based upon a set of beliefs found in old books, old traditions and “truths” without proof. My understanding of the Creator God is now founded in KNOWING his character and attributes. For me, this new Way has closed the door to one small room and opened the door to a much larger room. I feel like I’ve only just begun knowing God, and I am thrilled that I will have the rest of my life to discover Him and become more and more like Him. All conscious beings have the ability to strive toward higher levels of energy and lower levels of entropy. To be like God is to live in His higher energy.

Over the last year, I have experienced another deeper level of consciousness and awareness of God’s energy. Haven’t you ever had a sense of anticipation about some thing that you couldn’t really quantify…but you still felt it authentically? That’s where I am.

In the recent past, my outlook about people was that I could get along fine without them. Consequently, I have few friends and thousands of acquaintances. But my spiritual journey is creating within me a desire to know people intimately and help them dream…and then help them achieve their dreams. I’m finding meaning for my life through service to others.

The most important goal I have today is to love authentically. No games, no pretense, no bluff and bluster. I want to be as transparent as possible. I want to listen carefully to what people are telling me, and to ask clarifying questions so that I know that I’m really HEARING them. I want to give people a willing ear and an open heart. Yes, that means that I will be vulnerable sometimes. But walls keep people out while you are locked behind them. I’d rather risk and feel emotions authentically than spend all my time protecting myself and keeping people at arm’s length.

If you want great friendships, you must first BE a great friend. If you want to be loved, you must pour love out on others first. Seek first to understand, rather than to be understood.

In my car, on the inside of the windshield, top left corner, is a Post-It note with these words: “Live in the Solution.” What’s it mean? If you have a problem in your life, it most likely is there because of something YOU did in the past. If you don’t like the way your life is right now, you are responsible because your present life is the sum of all your past decisions. So how do you change your present circumstances? You must identify the solution to your circumstances and your problems. Then stop dwelling on those problems. If you live in the problems, they won’t change. Spend your time “Living in the Solution”…that’s where you’ll find the success you seek.

I’m glad that you dear Readers continue to come to DumpDC for our brand of information. I hope you can sense the love for mankind that I try to infuse into my articles. I sense you have, since some of you have been effusive with your praise. My desire is that more and more people will realize that secession is based in love for all mankind, not simply an optional political choice among those striving for power. The nation that is most successful in protecting individual liberty and property rights for its citizens will be the measuring stick of Loving Governance against which all other forms of governance will be judged.

The Bible says, “For God so loved the World, He GAVE…” Let us love our fellow man by giving ourselves the purest example of Mankind loving itself…Secession.

It’s the only hope for liberty on the North American continent.

Kumbaya, my lord…kumbaya. Let’s all hold hands now…

DumpDC. Six Letters That Can Change History.

© Copyright 2011, Russell D. Longcore. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

PS: Here is my birthday gift to you…a free book. FoggBook