Over the years (100s of them, so it all really sneaks up) “commonly accepted meanings” of many words have changed along with society. Often times we humans seem to lose a little of ourselves with each of these accepted modifications.
As well as in recent decades (mainly because of mass-communication) this “cycle” of blurred verbage has accelerated to a point in which we commoners find it impossible to comprehend and inadvertently become less able to be “politically correct” in most in-depth conversations.
A few examples would be:
1). “Gay” ( no longer a happy feeling)
2). “Choice” ( no longer a decision, but instead a political movement)
3). “Conservative” (no longer one that conserves or is frugal with resources but generally viewed as “an undesirable” political stance.
4). The list could go on and on, but me thinks the general point is made with these few and NONE of these three examples are that which is to be discussed (or pick on) in this writing.
MOST accepted changes in common usage or understandings of what used to be “normal” words in conversation have received their new meanings for purely “Political” reasons in what would seem (or could easily be misconstrued as) attempts to mainstream fringe ideals or behaviors by hitchhiking on (and thereby distorting or, to some of us, ruining) words that historically have had an extremely mundane meaning.
One word to ponder on is a very simple one … the word is “Standard” (Standards)
STANDARDS:
Throughout most of history, the word “standard” was something people didn’t really want to hear.. because of its foremost meaning:
If someone was reporting a sighting of a “Standard” it meant WAR was on its way.. for the “Standard” was a banner raised in front of the columns of soldiers, the colors of which and or etchings on which told of the “Klann” or Empire behind that banner and was coming your way.
Often times the message on the standard and the reputation of the group of visitors behind it was enough to send entire towns into kayos.
BUT WHY?.
Because it was the “Standard” (or ethics) by which these foreigners lived, that was NOT what the locals lived by, and they did NOT want to embrace it nor have it forced upon them.
Over time a common question or statement became: “What standard do You live by”?
In our present day, we now refer to it as : “A standard of living”. Which (again) is more of a political statement and something that individuals no longer feel they have much control over. Instead must look to others (mostly government officials) to either raise or lower.
Although if we really look at ourselves “the standard” IS still a very important part of our being and we need to constantly question the motives by which we choose those standards we will follow.
WHAT ARE ACCEPTED AS BAD STANDARDS ?
1) Dishonesty
2) A hateful attitude
3) Do unto others before they can do it to you.
WHERE CAN THESE BAD STANDARDS LEAD US?
1). DISHONESTY:
The product of dishonesty can well be some earthly gain (if a theft or lying for reasons of power) or physical pleasure (if dishonest in a relationship or commitment) or the likes …
“Questioning” of such things is usually done by outsiders, to a dishonest act, and will take on numerous forms, ranging from the nosey “Who? Where? When”? …. to the self-righteous “How Could They”? or the indifferent “What Goes around Comes Around” !
Rarely is dishonesty questioned (in today’s societies) with the more important: WHY offend God Like that ? and or: WHAT can I do to help not only the injured party but the offender ?
So usually MOST persons involved in routine dishonesty not only “have sleepless nights”, they cause others (both immediate and distant) to become involved (if only by gossip) in their lack of holism standards.
Those that are personally involved in dishonesty always encounter the First Gift of the Holy Spirit ..”FEAR OF THE LORD”. and the fear they are experiencing IS a Holy Gift .
Usually this fear is mistaken as a threat to the longevity (length of life) of the “gain”.. and the first steps taken are to “hide” any traces of the act – lie – theft or deception. The dishonest “clean up” is the cause of all form of additional maladies and yes sleepless nights.
AND A THREAT TO IT, THIS GIFT TRULY IS. For if the “fear” (Which is Fear of the just punishment due for the un-just dishonesty) is not pacified by honest acknowledgement and an attempt at restitution, IT (the fear) will not go away and no amount of subsequent dishonest acts (which can only escalate) will bring relief.
All of which may well be why no one on earth enjoys the company of Dishonest People … In their Heart of Hearts even other Dishonest People can’t stand Dishonest People.
2). A HATEFUL ATTITUDE:
While the product of Hate often times is Hate … the driving motive of hate seems to be insecurity.
The root cause of insecurity would seem to be that: Many of us humans have never been able to take the time to learn to love. ( the only true example of which can be found in the life and times of Jesus )
In our lack of love we naturally become insecure (Because we have been created in the image and likeness of God. And the Nature of God is Love. Therefore the further our free will turns away from our true nature the more insecure we become) and rather than go through the task of learning or honing (This task has been assigned to each by the same Creator ) we find it easier to put up the defenses of hatred.
For those whose insecurities are less then our own, (thereby their hatreds are less) … we can easily be intimidating…
Then like Idiots we delude ourselves into believing that they (the intimidated) have a respect (or love) for us … when all along “they” are looking for the first opportune time to exit our presence, and rightfully so, because the standard by which we are living and forcing them to live, …. Well, we wouldn’t want to be near it either, if their hatreds grew larger then our own and we found ourselves intimidated by their new standard.
On the other side of the coin (we that allow anyone to “intimidate” us) are only joining in on or allowing our own insecurities to surface. WE thereby, all too easily, allow the vicious cycle of (insecurity – hatred – intimidation) to continue. Often this “allowing” is simply remnants of past hurts, of which we have NOT fully accepted Gods forgiveness for (and thereby offered to others) and have NOT co-operated with Gods total healing process.
The country school – logic proof of this is: IF we would have FULLY co-operated with Gods total plan of healing, we would be secure in His Love and enjoying the Peace which is the product of That Love and is also that which hatreds and intimidation have no power to harm.
When we (with hateful attitude) encounter someone that truly has Love: One of several options (or poised opinionated attitudes) is usually taken within the mind of the intimidator.
1). “They are weak and I think my intimidation is working and producing the expected response of respect (Love). So for the time being they are ok and I can exploit them later if needed”.
2) “They are stupid – faking – and an easy person to obtain whatever I need from them”. “Although I may have to play their love game during the intern”.
3) The encounter will cause confusion, or a temporary interest in becoming like that person ( unknowingly mimicking Jesus), But all to often the task is too great and the hateful one will need to return to their former standards in an effort to “maintain sanity”, in that the unusual feeling of respect (for a fellow human) is now kindled within the hatful heart and the confused mind has little or no idea how to translate it.
3) DO ONTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY CAN DO IT TO YOU:
This standard is commonly raised …as a joke… but as with most jokes there is a taint of truth to the utterance … and to a few to many sorrowful souls this twist of “The Golden Rule” (which I believe is itself a “twist” of a very important Commandment in Scripture see #3 below) has actually become a Standard by which lives are routinely altered.
Giving into a “Devil may care” “Yo Dawg Sup”? “Whos yo Daddy”? “Chit Happens” attitude, makes it all too easy to continue to follow such STANDARDS..
If we could see things as God sees them … Me thinks we would be appalled by the hideous nature of those “Standard Bearers” leading the columns of so many souls away from the Standard of the Cross and with hardened hearts or mistaken vision are following those standards into an eternal separation from a Loving Father.
WHAT ARE ACCEPTED AS GOOD STANDARDS ?
1) Honesty
2) A caring attitude
3) Do onto others as you would have them do onto you. (even this one is a little watered down from actually “caring” and can lean more toward “just being fare”).
WHERE CAN THESE STANDARDS LEAD US ?
1) HONESTY
The end product of an honest person will be that of “peace” (“sleeping at night” if you will) in that there is nothing to look over your shoulder about, other then those times we have to be “brutally” honest with our fellow man (concerning matters in which “they” are in need of obvious reproach) and our “brutality” (however well meant) may cause them to feel belittled. But all in all if flaws are reproached in true Christian Kindness there will be no need for loss of sleep in that we will be laying awake, not worrying but, praying for that situation as we should.
2) A CARING ATTITUDE
This one is something that is “portrayed” far more then it is lived and very few in today’s societies possess the tools needed to truly care about there fellowman. Our “I” “Me” “My” way of thinking has become the “standard”.
Although if we can attempt to master the romantic art of selfless love (only possible by mimicking the Master Himself: JESUS) we CAN thereby gain access to and obtain possession of those needed tools. Proper care and usage of those tools (compassion – forgiveness – longsuffering or patients ) will lead to teaching others about the joys of the work involved. This is the goal of all the Saints, all of the Angels and should be that of each of us.
3) DO ONTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO ONTO YOU
This old man, has never found this one in the Good Book although has heard this “Golden rule” quoted as though it is Scripture since my youth.
Which over the years has lead me to think it too is an attempt at watering down the 2 Commandments of Jesus.
Those being :(as always depending on which translation of Scripture You chose to read and follow)
1). To Love God with our entire Soul (Heart, Mind, Being), and with all of Your Strength. and:
2). Love your Neighbor as Yourself. ..
BECAUSE in these commandments Our Lord is telling us of (or summarizing) all of His other teachings from the moment of Creation to His example of Poverty at Birth to His Praying for His Enemies from the Alter of the Cross …
Thereby insisting we “Do onto others “BETTER” than we would have them do onto us”.
ONLY by this attitude can peace be achieved.
And ONLY IF WHILE we “attempt” to treat others better than we expect to be treated, we all allow the justice of any punishments due for the lack of proper treatment to be compensated for by THE ONE Who is truly hurt MORE then we are, that Being is the ONE TRUE GOD …Who set the Standard.
The ratification of this thought process is that of the “STANDARD” which God Himself has chosen to raise in front of HIS Army:
It is that of THE CROSS … not the fear of the sword … not the riches of gold … not the Might of the volcano …. or the soft cuddly fuzzy all loving teddy bear ….
It is STANDARD of the Cross … and the obviously unraveled paradox of Glory and Honor through Humility …. Leadership and Power through LOVE … and an Eternal Existence of Bliss will be where it leads, to join HIM and ALL humans who await to welcome us to THE BIGGEST – FUNNIEST – HAPPIEST – LONGEST LASTING PARTY YOU COULD IMAGINE … and You can know that some form of this STANDARD( 
)will be raised at that party.