We are Not Helpless
May 13, 2023
(left, John with his dog Ruff) 
No headlines today. Too depressing! Like watching a corpse decompose.
We're overcome with a feeling of helplessness as we watch our society rot. But we're not helpless.
Ego (selfishness) is Satan. Satan holds us captive. We can fight Satan by loving each other, In this spirit, I present my friend John who is still serving me and his growing circle of friends.
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John Bilyk is a friend of mine. He's the only person I know who walks the
walk, not just talks the talk. He is the happiest man I know. His secret is that he is NOT self seeking. The Pursuit of Happiness makes us miserable. Instead he has given his life to God.
He does what he thinks God wants from him. He spends his time helping people. This is his "job."
He is a handyman but he doesn't know what to charge because his focus is on helping people. They gratefully pay what they want. He visits his elderly father in a nursing home every day even though his dad chides him for not having a normal job. He doesn't always feel like helping others but he does it. It's his job. I believe the key to happiness is giving our lives to God and doing God's will, however we interpret this. This is also the key to our personal and collective salvation.
The Happiest Man I Know (Updated)
From Feb 13, 2014
by John Bilyk
by John Bilyk
(henrymakow.com)
Thankfully, life is largely a mind game. We live in our heads. And because of this, we can create our own reality.
Life literally is what we make it. I tell myself I'm a super nice billionaire that just happens to like the simple things in life. I walk through the park and tell myself that I own it. I have the gardeners cut the grass, and I even had a trail built just for me.
I'm such a nice guy though that I share my land freely with everybody. As a thank you, they wanted to build a statue of me but I told them no. How would life be different if it were true?
The power to this lies in non materialism. Saying no to things. Being content with what you have. Living a simple life. Not wanting the fancy car or phone. Not wanting the trip to Hawaii. Not wanting fame, fortune or even love. Not wanting. Just accept things for the way they are. Most things are over rated anyways.
Life literally is what we make it. I tell myself I'm a super nice billionaire that just happens to like the simple things in life. I walk through the park and tell myself that I own it. I have the gardeners cut the grass, and I even had a trail built just for me.
I'm such a nice guy though that I share my land freely with everybody. As a thank you, they wanted to build a statue of me but I told them no. How would life be different if it were true?
The power to this lies in non materialism. Saying no to things. Being content with what you have. Living a simple life. Not wanting the fancy car or phone. Not wanting the trip to Hawaii. Not wanting fame, fortune or even love. Not wanting. Just accept things for the way they are. Most things are over rated anyways.
Realize life outside your head is largely outside of your control. Other people decide your circumstances. If you get hired, fired, promoted, demoted, arrested or let go, it all depends on someone else. Life blesses some of us and not others. The only thing you can do is be the best person you can be, and trust that God is bringing you on a certain path for a reason.
Let love be your guiding principle. If you call yourself a nice person, act like one. Do something to improve the lives of those around you. Kiss your loved ones. Shovel your neighbor's driveway. Give away baking. Whatever your skill is, try to share it. Don't let money drive your actions. Be the opposite of bankers.
(Left, St Francis, patron saint of animals) Improving the lives of others isn't limited to humans. Be kind to animals, it won't cost you anything and it will make you feel great. Patting the dog is good for both you and the dog. Even if you don't have pets, feeding birds can give you a feeling of joy.
Have a strong faith in God, and live like God is watching you. Your actions are important, even if no one seems to notice. It matters to God what you do. And it matters to us what we do too, whether we admit it or not. Live an immoral life, and you won't feel good about yourself.
Listen to what your conscience, heart and gut have to say. God talks to us through feelings. The more in tune you are with your soul, the more God can direct you in life. When your actions match your thoughts, then there is congruency in your life, and congruency leads to less stress and better health.
Be grateful for what you have. Everyday. Value your free time, and develop a life outside of work. If you knew you were going to be imprisoned, or a natural disaster was going to wipe you out, how would you make the most of your time you had left? Live like that's the case. Value your moments with loved ones. Value all moments you're not in extreme pain.
Be conscious of what's around you.The more we focus on ourselves, the more we are prone to be depressed. You can't be grateful if you don't notice things. Admire the beauty and appreciate the kindness in the world.
Look for, and accept, the truth. Not only will it help you not focus on yourself, but, it can help you make sense of the world. The rock of truth is something stable one can cling to in uncertain times.
Be your own best friend. God loves you too, so be kind to yourself. Develop good habits. Try to stay out of debt. Live a simple life. I still, in 2023, do not have or want a cell phone.
Talk nicely to yourself. Don't say to yourself what you wouldn't say to others. When I make mistakes I call myself an imperfect human being, but never anything negative.
Try not to use vulgar language. Not swearing is not only proper manners, but it is acknowledging that there is power in our words. Foul language can feed negative emotions and angry thoughts. That's why people who swear often are prone to anger, and use that language more when they are angry. Many people are offended by swear words. You will never know how many people you offend or opportunities you miss by swearing.
And my last bit of advice, remember Satan wants us miserable, scared and stressed. God wants us cheerful and relaxed. So make the most of the situation you're in while you are in it, and be grateful its not worse.
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Henry David Thoreau: I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavour. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." -
New First Comment- from Bly Guy
Hi Henry, commenting on the happiest person you know post, I am that person amongst my group. I am the person in my huge group of friends and family that is rarely in anything other than a good mood and they notice that and wonder how the 'crazy conspiracy guy' in the family is somehow the happiest and most balanced. They especially wondered this when my sister, who I was very close with, passed away 4 years ago.
The simple answer is found at the bottom of the rabbit hole where one discovers we are not the meat suit, that our real selves is our consciousness/soul/spirit. That we are eternal by nature, death and this "reality" are illusory, that love is the only truth. Life is a whole lot easier and enjoyable when one comes to this truth.
Fear or love, the choice is simple. I chose love, most of my loved ones are still choosing fear unfortunately.
LF said (May 14, 2023):
As Covid19 deepened and damaged, it became clear to me, that the world was changing, for the worst. Everything I believed in, was being destroyed and turned upside down. Worse, it was striking at something even more dear to me, than even my own life. My family.
I began to feel “Helpless”. I did not like this feeling.
John is right. All of us, live in our head. What we think, we become. Through his example, he has helped me, in many ways. To calm down. To be thankful.
We talked about using the Lord’s name in vain. Stay away from people who swear, especially if it involves the L’s name. Thank the L for your honest work. Do not be a materialist. Live within your means. Etc. Be the best person that you can be. Let G take care of things, out of your control. All common sense. He even asked to say Grace at my house, before a meal. All of this is infectious, in a good way. I have seen with my own eyes and ears, people change for the good. I am somewhat of an example. My own Grand Daughter, now says, do not swear around GF, he does not like that. Yes children and GD, do hear you. All this goes into your soul.
Thank you, John, you are and have made a difference.