THIS IS THE A&J RECLAMATION.
Certain things when they occur, change your life forever. This event, or rather revelation is one such event.
During covid is when we started exploring creative ways to pass our time and actually ponder over the purpose of existence, and not stay destructively stagnant.
The first breakthrough for us arrived when we kicked out organized religion from our lives.
Organized religion comes with a bunch of shackles and traditions that must not be questioned because there’s truly no good answer to be having anything to do with those kinds of weird doctrines, thoughts and practices.
Guilt is the only weapon in the hands of organized religion and once you snap it out of their hands, you’re free and they’re dead to you.
You’re no longer controlled by their opinions and ways and blind beliefs.
You’re now a free human being entitled to live the life you wish to create for yourself and not be stuck in the mire of generational dogma that will waste the only life you have.
So, what next? Take the honey out of poison, take out the false guilt and distraction, being plundered by righteous appearing wolves, etc., move on to a free life, where the world doesn’t make you feel cheated and upset when you know you weren’t that far away from the truth after all.
A DISCLAIMER
(We wish someone would have told this to us when we started on our journey)
YOU ARE ENTERING A BATTLE.
A battle against opposing beliefs.
A battle against traditions.
A battle against emotions.
A battle against opposition.
A battle TO KEEP YOUR FREEDOM AND TO MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES.
Do not enter this battle if a smooth sailing yacht ride is what you are seeking. And that’s not a wrong desire, just be honest with what you want from life.
This ride is a shipwrecking one. Be prepared for things to happen to you that never did before. Be prepared for a tough voyage of cutthroat circumstances. Be prepared for and ready to face what’s going to come your way.
Once we uncovered the lie, we still kept at it though things got brutally hard. People we loved and knew for most of our lives misunderstood us. Our character was unforgivingly assassinated, and we were left out cold multiple times.
But the ride is what made us tough. Strong. Great at warfare. And great at life.
We don’t learn to swim until we are thrown into the deep waters, and we move our hands, feet and head in an all-out attempt to SURVIVE.
The Creator knows what we individually need. What we need to be put through to get our characters right for the future.
Our ride will most certainly look different from yours. We’re all different, you see.
But don’t be swayed by soothsayers who know not a thing of what they are talking about. Don’t be deceived by sweet sounding words and promises of prosperity.
God will give us what is for us in our time.
Cling to the Creator through the storms. Keep your eyes on the truth and your freedom. Don’t tap out. Seek your rewards and stay patient no matter how good or brutal your current circumstances may look or feel like.
REMEMBER AGAIN - OUR JOURNEYS ARE DIFFERENT.
BE BATTLE HARDENED.
Yours truly,
A
Costumes & Cakes
// poetry
The thieves are many
the thieves are few
They manifest and vanish
Depends on the venom they spew.
The Power of Truth
Shall crush your power of lies
You deceivers are quite blind,
The painful rebukes might open your eyes.
I look to see
I see deeply and look
I keep integrity on the path and my autonomy,
While you camp on the book.
Glass Bottom Vision
// Real life by Joel.
It all dates back-to-back when I was a child. There was some strenuous showing up in my schedule. Showing up to my school daily with multiple bags as I represented the school in football. But somehow, though I loved football, I found everything appearing super burdensome.
There was fatigue and a foggy brain that took precedence over the learning and gratification that football should have brought.
I didn't like this imposition in terms of the added human touches to the facets of my life that were otherwise fine by itself.
After 5 taxing days of school my mother chased me down to show up on Sunday. As a toddler who needed a day of rest in my strenuous life, there was absolutely 0 incentive to show up, so I blatantly skipped the session before Sunday school, to clearly draw up my boundary lines and make my disinterest clear.
I did not see me being a part of the rat-race. I didn't buy the atrociously baseless, 2-toned explanations even as a toddler.
I knew back then, the moment I get a chance to escape the clutches, I most certainly and passionately will, with great style and finesse as all breakthroughs must be pursued.
To top it all off, I hated showing up for this Sunday school as I got no real answers pertaining to the questions I had, all I got was a one-size fits all, generic answer by a generic man.
Thou shalt ask, what was the answer?
The answer was: "Be good"
In my head screams resounded: BUT HOW?!?
So school, football and baggage, I dragged this trio, and all felt equally burdensome, because I didn't feel like I was put in a position to maximize the growth one could otherwise experience.
Fast forward to college after all the gratifying pursuits I indulged in, from Event Management to landing my first job internationally in Thailand. I was soaring in my flesh; it was the best and most exhilarating growth curve I was hot-wheeling upon. From there I tried to exponentially grow this curve thinking that the money is a sweet substance that adds some nice physical objects to put down my spiritual thirst. Just like when you're thirsty and there's no fresh water around you, but a can of aerated drink appears to be meritorious, that seems like it would quench your thirst but in actuality it leaves you thirstier than you were.
So I went on another pursuit, it's called BUSINESS.
I started my own one-of-a-kind venture in the restaurant space, selling snow desserts. It did well and was organically profitable, but governmental norms during covid compelled me to shut shop. Now I was out of cans, plans and what not. Keeping the ball rolling, my wife Anisha and I kept looking for the pocket we fit in, and religion was never the focal point at least in my mind. I found money to be a pursuit worth chasing but yet even without any manual, I knew some things to acquire it were without a question off my charter. Anisha and I denied many opportunities to experience the next big up (in cashflow) at the cost of our soul, basically doing things we don't necessarily stand for or believe in.
There was a thunderstorm of backlash by people who claimed to be for us, claiming to want nothing but the best for us; despite us breaking down this spiritually deficit path to them.
All they saw was Mr. GREEN - THE MONEY that would solve all problems, hovering over our heads.
It was strange initially to be looked at as the cash cow but eventually I got to the realization that that's an issue with the people, not with me! Seeing my older futile thought patterns of thinking money is the answer now still being housed in their eyes, I waited on the next fix to elevate my holistic growth.
I am yet to figure out my role, but the voyage of experiences building my strong character is worth it.
I was all game from here. Suddenly the burdensome baggage that I carried around spiritually was being let loose. My spirit clearly segregated the truth from the lies, not only in terms of people but in terms of all my undertakings. It was an easy wisdom stencil that made us feel wiser but appear foolish to the world.
Contentment was the mission.
I kept chasing it throughout my nascent years of development as a kid to this present day. We have surely been tested by fire and the clearer my eyes got the trickier the thick glass chalice of false doctrine would chase us. But whatever, from here on it was no turning back for me or for my wife. I was steered in the right direction and made to propel forward, cutting through many powerful waves, I got purpose, vision, divine guidance, supernatural strength, determination, to build my family against all opposing wills. Anisha and I made a promise to ourselves WE WILL NOT STOP. I won't look through the bottom of the fake chalice, and see a grotesque and pessimistic worldview, but instead I'll do everything in my capacity to break the lies, as that's what I'm called to do.
How?
Just by standing very strongly on the side of TRUTH.
The baggage, the guilt, the demonization and cooling off of strong spirits through lies will stop, and the money plate will be left empty.
This is my vision, this is the oncoming growth curve, a jump over the lies on the path. This is where we embrace our autonomy.
I look at my life without any regret, guilt or anguish. I'm loving the grandiose path I've opted for or been called to observe.
This is LIFE to be lived in the truth.
Yours truly,
J
Away with THE BOGUS LENS
// poetry