Why Ignorance & Oblivion Aren’t Bliss

Some people are scared to know too much information. Some people seem to not be able to handle some Truth. Some people get downright angry at Truth tellers. Some people want to stay in their “cozy” place of ignorance and their invented story of a good-feelings or sensual-pleasure “reality.”

I have heard these sorts of comments:

• I don’t want to know.

• Only tell me good things.

• I only want to hear good news.

• You’re so negative!

• You’re no fun.

• There’s nothing we can do about it, so why think about it?

• I go along to get along.

• You need to stop thinking about that stuff.

• You’re a conspiracy theorist.

• Everything is fine with me, what’s your problem?

• I’m happy with how things are, why aren’t you?

• Don’t worry, <so-and-so> is going to save us!

I understand the importance of not being paralyzed by dread and fear. However…

The reason to know and to be aware of what’s going on, well-beyond the surface, is because we must know who and what we are serving. We are always serving someone(s) and something(s)—with our schedules and routines, attention, focus, energy, thoughts, words, efforts, actions, choices, health maintenance, causes, advocacy, intentions, money, transactions, agreements, compliance, consent (literal, implied, or compliant consent), addictions, distractions, people and data we expose ourselves to (via any and all our senses), responsibilities, integrity, standards, morals, values, beliefs, principles, etc. It doesn’t matter if we have witnesses to any of these things or if we do them in secret: we are always serving someone(s) and something(s).

We are spiritual beings with souls, in our human bodies—for which we individually are responsible and accountable. Being ignorant and oblivious don’t escape or excuse us from this fact.

Our responsibilities and duties are to be aware; dig below the surface and beyond what we are told; educate ourselves on psychological tactics and nuance; be self-aware and self-reflective; and be conscious of what our inevitable serving could lead to, foster, enable, and support. This is the only way to know who and what we are serving.

Rather than this being scary, depressing, and uncomfortable, it’s quite empowering. This is where our power lies: choosing who and what we want to serve and act accordingly, on ever level and in every way.

"Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
- Joshua 24:14-15 (KJV)

“Gotta Serve Somebody”
Bob Dylan, 1979

You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

You might be a rock ’n’ roll addict prancing on the stage
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage
You may be a business man or some high-degree thief
They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk
You may be the head of some big TV network
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame
You may be living in another country under another name

You may be a construction worker working on a home
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome
You might own guns and you might even own tanks
You might be somebody’s landlord, you might even own banks

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop
You may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody’s mistress, may be somebody’s heir

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed

[Chorus]

But you’re going to have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re going to have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re going to have to serve somebody

Do you need coaching? Please contact me. I’d love to help you.