Personally, I do not care what you believe for religion, nor do I care about your bedroom choices, your skin color, your culture, heritage, or even your clothing or hairstyle. What you do is more important. What I do is more important. How we form a free-thinking society, responsible people who love freedom and liberty under the “Rule of Law” is more important. I have been called a bigot, a racist, a sexist, and so much more, primarily by ignorant byzantines who projected their own inadequacies, and I happened to call them out. I have thick skin and big shoulders; you want to accuse me of stupid stuff; that is your choice; thankfully, you will also enjoy the consequences.
What is Sacrifice?
Webster provides multiple definitions for sacrifice; only those contained below are we considering:
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- “An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.”
- “A bid made in the belief that it will be less costly to be defeated in the contract than to allow the opponents to make a contract.”
- “Give up (something important or valued) for the sake of other considerations.”
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Gary Hamel is quoted as saying, “A noble purpose inspires sacrifice, stimulates innovation, and encourages perseverance.” Herein lies the importance of understanding sacrifice as a principle of power, a tool for constructing a life, and a mode of understanding the world. People will always sacrifice for that which they desire; understanding this principle explains many human behaviors and the resulting consequences.
Consider our current (fraudulent) president, Biden. He has sacrificed dignity, potential, life, and much more to attain in his senility the president’s chair. I long to ask him if it was worth the sacrifice. Except, the consequences of the president’s actions have ripped holes in the fabric of America, monumentally increased distrust in government at all levels, and is actively working to ruin America during his remaining days as president. Hence, we must ask America, was the candidate worth the consequences?
As a principle, sacrifice must be understood as a double-edged sword; it cuts both ways. Selfishly sacrifice, and you get harmed, selflessly sacrifice, and you gain even as you lose. Like the double-edged sword, there is no safe spot to stand; you either slide one way or another, and danger lies on the edge of decision making.
What is Selfishness?
Interestingly, selfishness is being selfish, and being selfish is all about “lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with personal profit or pleasure,” according to Webster. More specifically, selfishness is also self-centeredness and realizes that one is only concerned excessively or exclusively for oneself or one’s own advantage, pleasure, or welfare, regardless of others.
James Altucher is quoted saying, “Your competition is not other people but the time you kill, the ill-will you create, the knowledge you neglect to learn, the connections you fail to build, the health you sacrifice along your path, your inability to generate ideas, the people around you who don’t support and love your efforts, and whatever god you curse for your bad luck.” The perfect summation of a life lived as selfish and self-centered. Thereby presenting a person with some interesting questions, especially for juries deciding guilt or innocence, managers of people in employment, and parents of children. Do we understand that selfishness is an empty hole that can never be filled? Do we appreciate that sacrifices made selflessly are many times lost in the selfishness of others? Will we choose to learn, connect, build, generate, and support?
Speaker Pelosi (D) is the most selfish person it has been my displeasure to know. Blind to other people’s struggles, refusing to represent her district properly, continuously thinking she is the keystone in American Government and an institution in her own mind who refuses to act in any manner worthy of anything higher than utter contempt. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi (D) is not alone in her attitude, actions, or refusal to represent those who elected them to a seat of American power. If Speaker Pelosi had an ounce of humanity, she would have retired many years ago; instead, she bitterly clings to power and projects her insecurities and ineptitude onto others in her vile and detestable manner and methods.
Why is this topic important?
Sacrifice and selfishness are two sides of the same coin. The extremes of a decision matrix line, where the person must choose, and cannot long remain neutral. However, like all things, selfishness and sacrifice can be taken to the extremes, and in the extreme’s bondage, chaos, and trouble lie. Do we, the lovers of liberty, understand that the extremes of anything bring problems, sickness, death, and disease?
Consider for a moment a friend of mine. He sacrificed a lot of credit card debt to fund projects that were supposed to help other people. But in the end, he had to file bankruptcy, he lost his house, he lost his spouse, and too many people thought his “sacrifice” was for selfish ends and hated him for his “gifts,” all while being “grateful for the gift” to his face. Can a selfish act be a sacrifice worthy of the name; no! We see this pattern explained in the New Testament when Jesus Christ is teaching the sermon on the mount; he talks about a man who fasts to be seen of men and has his reward not from God, but man. He speaks of a man who prays on street corners to be seen of men and has his reward. What is a sacrifice-minded person to do; enter into your closet and petition God in secret, and He who sees in secret rewards openly.
The connection between sacrifice and selfishness is clear, but also the extremes of action in selfishness and sacrifice are also apparent. We have examples all around us of selfishness taken to extremes and the danger that lies on that path. We also have examples around us of those who sacrifice selfishly and struggle. The answer is to balance sacrifice and err on the side of selfless sacrifice; essentially, not running faster than we have strength.
Selfless sacrifice is not a new principle, tool, mode of living, or human capability, but selfless sacrifice requires discernment in making decisions. Selfless sacrifice requires education, knowledge, and experience and includes failure! Selfless sacrifice does not have a media cheering section but does come with genuine gratitude by those who know, and the reward is always greater than the sacrifice, law of the harvest. Selfless sacrifice includes action, trust, hope, faith, and joy. Paradoxically speaking, one would not involve joy in the activities of sacrifice. Still, selfless sacrifice does include feelings of joy, hope and can be considered an extension of a person’s commitment to charitably living with others.
Best of all, selfless sacrifice is not a “religious” anything! I know many great, and good people from all walks of life, and every religious flavor possible, and of them can be said, “They walk as an example of charity, hope, and faith embodied in human frailty.” Hence, to all the irreligious and atheistic people, you can walk in like manner and have honor without affecting your choice of religiousness. Selfless sacrifice contains the power to connect with other people, animals, and even plants in a more profound, more full manner than currently enjoyed.
I offer these thoughts for your consideration, hoping that by choosing differently, we can create a truly better world and not just a surface polish. We, the humans on this planet, can live differently, without ruining our economies, without destroying each other, and without sacrificing freedom and liberty for the chains of government, and bondage to politically powered people. All I ask is that you think about these principles and take action. Thank you!
© 2021 M. Dave Salisbury
All Rights Reserved
The images used herein were obtained in the public domain; this author holds no copyright to the images displayed.
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