Martial Arts Talk
October 10, 2002

In this column I will share some of my predictions for where we come from, where we are and where we are going in the martial arts. As I see it, martial arts are about survival. Time and time again I have seen the metamorphous of regular folks with regular problems find new hope, faith and courage through first learning to meditate. There are more yoga related sites and transcendental meditation than martial arts. We are a part of the new age but not the main path. This incident of September 11th 2001 was a confirmation that the United Nations and International Law will prevail in our lifetime. Since we won’t have any more world wars, we will merely stay prepared.

Where we came from:

Despite The Urantia Book and Shirley McClain, we have this thing called ‘hard core’ recorded history. It really is solid to about 2000 BC for the ‘One God’ concept. Let’s face it, most of the world believes in a One God concept. For the answer to where we came from, I would simply say crystallized dogma for the most part. We needed it then and we still seem to need it now, albeit much less so. More folks worldwide understand the wisdom in the message (Old Testament rooted,) “I am that I am.” Remember, even Jesus did not come to destroy the old, but rather merely add to it. In a nutshell, more people are realizing there are options. Imagine how a deaf, dumb and blind person faces life? Can you think of anything more important than having inner faith and courage to love, fight the good fight and run the good race? Jesus said “if you are not against me you are with me.” Do you see how positive that is compared to “if you are not with me you are against me.?” In essence, where we came from was parental lineage that was courageous and wise. They laid the foundation for us to finally live the “I am.” Indeed it is better to live the life of rather than talk the life of.

Where we are:

We are at a cross-road in the evolution of human government. We know God is love. We know we live in an orderly universe and we know that our collective will power as one world acting within the United Nations we created is a golden opportunity to utilize communication, cooperation and share technology that has the ability to make crime more obsolete. We know there are anarchists that augment misery. Intelligent people accept the need for an upright, magnanimous, harmonious and calm central authority. Intelligent people also realize that throughout mankind’s history, man has never accepted peace as a normal mode of living until having been thoroughly convinced it is best for his material welfare. The silver lining in negotiating is this; we all have a duty to be happy. Using power over others and glory for self will be a negative and the “essence of evil.” If courage and faith are the two most indispensable attributes to insure survival, then why not be happy about it and have a sense of humor?

Where we are going:

All things work for God’s Will. We need to meditate and appreciate the ‘big picture.’ Technology will help make crime more obsolete, but traces of it will continue. Because of this later, we need to always take the high road. When we don’t squander time with negativity, whining and sniveling, looking for differences over similarities or holding power over others and glorifying ourselves, we create a creativity vortex of attraction. By observing less and deliberately creating more often, we can literally create our own positive realities. We can do this for ourselves and thus make us more effective in easing the burdens of the less fortunate.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge all the good things that go on in the world each day in the name of progress. Life is progress. Democracy is not crystallized, rather it is like truth itself – ever growing in progress of light and life.

In these times that confront us, let us think positive and think big. Let us always honor the common laborer who is truly the backbone of our society. Let us also honor our mothers and fathers all the days of our lives and strive to make the world a better place for our next generations as a token of our appreciation for the gift of life.

I hope all of us can learn to find our gift of ‘Spirit’ early so that we can get about our life’s work all the quicker to serve and make a positive difference.

James Patrick Lacy
18 Daoist Palms
www.ironpalm.com