Laws and Rules

Well, it has been a while since I posted. Not a prolific blogger apparently...

In my planner (yes, I carry those, no "blackberry" for me) I have a list of Jonathon Edwards' resolutions. A Christian in the early 18th century, he would feel convicted of some negative thing he shouldn't be doing (sin, in effect) or something that he should do for his physical, mental or spiritual health and he wrote the right thing down as "resolutions" and "read them every week." While I'm not an expert on this Christian man, I keep his list in my planner as I am coming to a point of writing my own.

Here is his first:
"1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever."

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge."

I have been troubled this past week. Very troubled.

The "trouble" actually started 3-4 years ago when a new administrator came to my worksite.
Slowly but surely the positive atmosphere on the campus began to melt away. People were moved. People were asked to resign. Not too unusual for a new administration with a goal to keep the "business" going. But there was more.
People were lied to. People were manipulated. People were hired into jobs that seemed unnecessary. People were moved into jobs for which they were not trained. People were laid off. People started working doubles. And then we saw our residents start getting hurt more often, and for three years the death rate has increased.
People have called third party agencies (I know, because they have told me) and people have reported abuse. But they are saving Tallahassee money...and they remain.

This week, someone told an individual I know about the Administrator's favorite book. It is called "The 48 Laws of Power." Here's a few of these for contrast with the great theologian, Jonathon Edwards:

" Law 6
Court Attention at all Cost
Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.

Law 7
Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit
Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause.

Law 12
Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim
One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones.

Law 17
Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability
Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the tables: Be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize."

Can you even imagine how odd it is to be suddenly confronted with what you've known all along, that the man in charge is no Christian. He is a "bishop" in his "church" which some people refer to as a "cult." It uses other books than the Bible. I wonder what his elders would think of his "laws." What does his wife feel about living with such a man?

The absolute polar opposite to Jonathon Edwards, don't you think?

The difference overwhelms and has saddened me.

It put fear in me as I realized I am in spiritual warfare.

I do not mention his name here. For one of Edwards' resolutions is:

"16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good."

People know what he is doing so there is no other real good to come of me mentioning his name.

Good Christian people, pray for us...and particularly for the intellectually disabled people we care for at this facility.