The Camel In The Tent

Not long ago I was in a short discussion about the state of our world and especially the way our federal government is conducting it's business these days. Ever hear about the camel in the tent during a sand storm? In this story the tent owner allows the camel to put only its nose in the tent but soon the tent owner finds himself kicked out of the tent for the camel has taken it over. I used this analogy to illustrate what our lives will be like as long as we keep allowing our responsibilities to be outsourced to governmental entities or other such institutions. If we continue to allow others to stick their noses where they don't belong we will soon be perplexed and unprepared finding ourselves kicked out of our own tents and into the sandstorm.

I was then asked, "How can "we the people" get rid of the camel?"

My response was thus:

"There is a book called The Fourth Turning which talks about the cycles of societies the world over. Any reader of Scripture will also see these cycles. I think mankind will always institute some sort of government and it’s greatness will vary by where it falls in the cycle. There is always a downfall of these governments. There is another book called The 5000 Year Leap which discusses keys to liberty but one essential key is virtue. I think all we can do is do the best with the hand we are dealt.

Confucius in his classic essay The Great Learning said:

The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.

Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their states were rightly governed. Their states being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy."

In an article titled Education Must Precede Activism the author, Stephen Palmer, used the above quote. Mr. Palmer goes on to say, “Not only does turning inward lead to wisdom, but it also leads to power. This is the core message of the Cause of Liberty. Fixing ourselves as individuals is what fixes the world.”

The best resource for fixing ourselves is scripture or for a more secular reference As A Man Thinketh.

I realize this may sound disappointing but really the best we can do is educate ourselves and those in our circle of influence on the cause of liberty and the best way to institute it so we (or our descendants) are ready to step in when the fall happens. In other words, don't outsource your personal responsibilities, be prepared and have a spare tent ready!