Victor or Victim?

I don’t know about you, but this has been a rainy and busy week for me. My week started off with a last minute call Sunday night from my friend, Nancy Lopez of delawarehispanic.com and WILM radio. I packed up my video camera early Monday morning and ended up at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Wilmington Amtrak Railroad Station. After much waiting and security checkpoints we were escorted to the press area and experienced more waiting. Finally the ceremony began. Mayor James Baker, Congressman Mike Castle, Senator Tom Carper, Senator Ted Kaufman, Governor Jack Markell and our new Vice President Joe Biden each took turns at the microphone. What a show! With a backdrop of the rain pouring down and leaking through the roof, it seemed apropos that renovation was beginning soon.

After I left I began to think about the adversity that our Vice President had experienced early in his career. With the tragedy of the loss of his wife and daughter and the task of continuing in Congress and raising his sons as a single dad, he had chosen to be a victor and not a victim. What a class act. Not only has he overcome all of the apparent obstacles in his life, he has ascended to the position of the second most powerful man in the world. Would a victim traverse this journey? Hardly. Only a person who has mastered his destiny and overcome obstacle after obstacle could have reached the final destination of accomplishing their goals. Joe Biden is a role model for all of us. He has demonstrated that being real and being who you are is the most important aspect of reaching your goals. Remember, God created you to be who you are. Who are we to question this? Our knowledge of life is limited at best, whereas God can see the whole picture.

This week I will begin focusing on a new series of articles involving being a victim or being a victor. I can already see the ruffled feathers that will result from my discussions. And I mean discussions. As always, I invite comments and criticisms. I believe that respectful debate is a great process to unveil the truth. Please engage in a dialogue with me for we all will get closer to a clearer definition of being a victim or being a victor. A victim is a person that succumbs to situations, events, people and circumstances. They don’t believe that they have any control of these things in their life. Stuff happens and they ask what Tony Robbins calls and endless loop question of “Why me?” A victor is a person who, no matter what befalls them, has an attitude of gratitude and accepts the challenge of turning things around. Stuff happens because our thoughts and emotions attract those circumstances. Being a victor is being a master of your thoughts and emotions.

I will begin examining various religions and belief systems and attempt to get at the core of their beliefs. By subjecting these beliefs to the critical eye of the truth microscope we can all make an informed decision as to their validity. Why am I doing this? Because I have a tremendous respect for the truths that are revealed in many religions; religions that have served their people with hope and support. I will expose any religion that is “made-up” and contributes to the victim mentality of their constituents. It is time for these belief-rape religions to be exposed. Why? Because any group of people that manipulate and take advantage of their constituency needs to be exposed. The most precious freedom we have is the freedom to worship and believe as we choose. When religious groups begin to control and manipulate our every action, they are beyond the charge that God has given them. I will begin my series with Scientology. My extensive research and some of my readers have given me a charge to expose this “made-up” religion. A “religion” that involves itself in every aspect of their constituents lives. I hope this forthcoming debate will answer the question if Scientology is truly a religion or a business. Let’s get to the truth!

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.

An Inspirational Story

Previously I talked about what our needs, wants, desires and expectations are. I have an interesting story to relate to you about a lady I know that helps to clarify the differences between emotional levels. I received a call yesterday from this lady who had just been let go from her job. She was one of the best performing workers at her job but recently contracted an illness which lowered her immunity to infections. She had lost several days from work last month and the management at her job told her that since she was such a good employee, that if she needed to work from home for a while they would support her in her recovery. She felt very good that she had that support. Due to her illness, within a month she contracted another flu-type infection and still went to work but had a difficult time focusing. The management told her that they needed her at work and she came in even though she was still sick. Her need to keep her job to support herself was real and she came to work. Other workers weren’t as dedicated to her job as she was.

Last week she missed 3 days of work because she couldn’t even talk. Since she was a customer service rep on the phone all day, it didn’t make any sense for her to even try to work on the phone. Her doctor faxed an excuse to her job. When she showed up Friday for work she worked the full day and when the day was over they called her into the manager’s office and let her go. Since the State of Delaware is an employer-at-will state, employers can fires anyone for any reason. They told her that her work performance was down (her minimum expected phone call goals were 160 calls per day and she was reaching 300 calls per day; more than any other CSR) and that she had missed too many days from work. Her reaction to this news was one of inspiration. Instead of a “woe is me” attitude, she gave thanks to God for the blessing of not having to be associated with a company that fires someone for being sick. All along she wanted a better job, but her need to keep a job took precedent. Her desires to be better than she was kept growing within her. She began to expect the best in her life and God allowed her to be able to receive the best by leaving a job that was not conducive to her growth. Left alone, she might not have left the job, but she chose to look at her firing as a blessing.

What I will say next might ruffle some feathers, but I really don’t care. I am a child of the sixties and I have always chosen to question authority and religions that impose man’s, not God’s, dictates on individuals under the guise as the “word of God”, or some other authority. I have always respected other religions other than my own, but I must draw the line here. The optometrist that my friend worked for was proud to display that they operated their business under the principles of Scientology and the business practices of L. Ron Hubbard. In fact, she was persuaded to attend an “optional” seminar of these principles “off of the clock” from work. The seminar wasn’t mandatory, but “highly suggested.” She also told me about the ongoing tension in the office that was created by what she called “Scientology henchman” who monitored the employees and their work. Calls came in daily from Scientology headquarters to monitor their progress.

Years ago I read Hubbard’s book, “Dianetics”, and was taken aback by his pseudo-science and hypnosis of his followers. I was courted by Scientology at the Celebrity Center in Los Angeles, CA. in the late 70’s when they wanted to put a galvanic skin response meter on me to determine whether I was “clear” or not. This meter was supposed to show the “knots” in my nervous system. When I asked the “clear” initiator to show me his results on the meter, he declined; even though he had a large certificate over his head that stated he was “clear.” That told me all I needed to know. So I began some intensive research on Mr. Hubbard.

I discovered that when the State of New Jersey and the American Medical Association was challenging the veracity of his new founded faith (Scientology) he fled the state to avoid prosecution. His son, L. Ron Hubbard, Jr., remembers him moving them out of their home grabbing shoe boxes full of cash. Cash he had received from loyal followers of his “Scientology.” After being a science fiction writer for many years, he discovered that religion was his way to cash in. Please research what I am saying and see the facts for yourself. Here are some links; L. Ron Hubbard, Sr. and an interview of L. Ron Hubbard, Jr. Any belief system or religion that claims to be the only way to enlightenment is setting you up for a fall; or at the very least, separate you from your hard earned cash. Please check out this You Tube link. The poor guy is so afraid of Scientology retribution, he wears a mask. Religion needs to teach FAITH, and not FEAR! If any Scientology official has a problem with what I am saying, I invite you to an open debate on video of your principles, conclusions and the ethics of your founder and the statements he has made. Let’s let the people decide whether your organization is on the up and up.

Back to the lady that was let go. She is very happy to not be in that environment anymore. Her expectations for a better life have led her down a path to receiving that better life. In fact, she already has had several offers to work independently and in line with her talents and abilities. Sometimes life can appear to be handing you a lemon, but as the saying goes, just turn it into lemonade!

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com.