Love, Respect, and Trust

Love is the most valuable precious thing in our universe. But respect and trust are more important because you cannot have true love without them.

Remember, the enemy is NOT the person who resents/hates/spites/disrespects/mistrusts you; the enemy is the resentment/hate/spite/disrespect/mistrust itself.

This is an important distinction and can win/lose a battle for you. It's similar to how the spirit cloaks itself in flesh and not vice versa. If you focus on the person as the enemy, you are trying to subdue their ego with yours - that's wrong. If you focus on the battle with their hate, you've a chance of actually winning. And actually, it's not you that's winning - it's your love.

Overcome hate with love, mistrust with trust, disrespect with respect,.. The only thing i cannot fight is apathy - the true enemy of love. With apathy, there's no toe-hold - nothing to position yourself against. If someone you love is indifferent toward you, all you can do is express your love - do not use your love as a prison - that's not even love anyways. Express your love and set them free. If they're truly yours..

Please try to remember the foundation of any enduring relationship is trust and respect. i've been told respect must be earned but it can also be a gift .. i'm in a precarious situation here in Thailand as a guest in my ex's house.. i can only stay here as long i demonstrate acceptable behavior.. A very small part of me is curious about Pattaya - a place infamous for parties and nightlife.. But i've just enough money right now for my son and his Thai family - or some stupid trip to Pattaya.. Try to guess how i'll spend the money. ;)

My commitment is to my son's village and Thai family because of the incredible genuine love and care they have shown him over three years of his wee life.. For the longest time, my dream was to garner support for a public swimming pool here but watching some other village children - how they treated my son so indifferently, makes me wonder if i have my priorities straight.. i'm coming to the conclusion 'a weighted return of love - proportional to that he's received' is perhaps the best solution to my prioritization dilemma. What i'm trying to say so obliquely is that i need to return the priceless love he's received mostly from his Thai family - over village concerns..

Maybe someday later, i can teach at the temple - the contents of these latest essays.. Later, i can garner support for a public swimming pool.. Later, i can open an aviation school and teach flying.. i have faith that - as long as i'm needed, my heart will beat. So i have some time for these other dreams.. First things first. ;)

Arthur.