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Grounded unnecessarily
Posted: 30 Jun 2008, 22:31
by hobby
THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is
that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground,
all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up!
Re: Grounded unnecessarily
Posted: 30 Jun 2008, 22:52
by nigelb
Look up with that lot around and your likely to get stung or sh*t on! ;-)
Re: Grounded unnecessarily
Posted: 01 Jul 2008, 00:31
by DaveB
Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up!
Well.. I used to do that when Concorde was still active but rarely since :roll:
Look up with that lot around and your likely to get stung or sh*t on!
Indeed.. it depends on how far you are up the tree ;-)
ATB
DaveB :tab:
Re: Grounded unnecessarily
Posted: 01 Jul 2008, 02:05
by Quixoticish
The irony of a message promoting (presumably) an Abrahamic centric-faith circulated via e-mail full of misinformation isn't lost on me. Buzzards can take off vertically without a problem. Some bats can take off from anywhere. And I've got no idea whatsoever about bees but I'd be inclined to think that's a load of old cobblers as well.
Faith is (sadly, in most cases) not so much of an answer as an excuse to not search for one for the intellectually lazy.
Edit : For some reason this reminded of that line from Shaun of the Dead, "Yeah, Big Al also says dogs can't look up!"
Re: Grounded unnecessarily
Posted: 01 Jul 2008, 08:44
by speedbird591
Hi hobby. Thanks for the handy tip. If ever I'm trapped in a giant tumbler, I'll be sure to look up and hopefully the magic cloud fairy will come and help.
I can return the favour with a tip of my own. I expect you sometimes wonder why people are unwilling to accept your well-meant advice about Christianity when you are only trying to help them. It's probably because many of your colleagues come across as smug and superior - as though they are privy to some special secret that non-believers have been denied.
In actual fact many of us have thought carefully about how to live our lives and have rejected religion at an early stage as irrelevant medieval nonsense. Many of us are free thinkers and are happy to take responsibility for our own lives and problems. We've moved on and grown up and it is
you guys who have been left behind in a make-believe world of tooth fairies, santa claus and childish mumbo-jumbo dished out by men in cloaks and funny hats.
God bless.
Ian

Re: Grounded unnecessarily
Posted: 01 Jul 2008, 11:15
by northantsflyer
I am a Christian, I rarely post here, but love reading all the topics, and try to take an active part in the classic british VA. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and their own belief system, the last comments about 'you guys' is, in my humble opinion uncalled for as a general sweeping statement. It is the first time that I have felt a personal slight when reading these great forums. But then again I guess I have just contradicted myself as I should just accept these comments as justified personal views of another human being - Now I am confused

I just wanted to say my bit, Anyway back to aviation...................
Re: Grounded unnecessarily
Posted: 01 Jul 2008, 12:13
by speedbird591
northantsflyer wrote:Everyone is entitled to their opinion and their own belief system, the last comments about 'you guys' is, in my humble opinion uncalled for as a general sweeping statement. It is the first time that I have felt a personal slight when reading these great forums.
I'm sorry you felt a personal slight at my comments. The slight was intended as a dig against blinkered thinking in general and not anybody's personal beliefs, which is why it was a 'general sweeping statement'.
I apologise unreservedly for making you feel that way. I won't make any more posts about the subject and I'm not going to get defensive about my own philosophy - I don't need to.
Cheers
Ian

Re: Grounded unnecessarily
Posted: 01 Jul 2008, 12:41
by sando
It seems those without faith or lost their faith protest the loudest.
As has already been said back to aviation...............
Bless you anyway
John
Re: Grounded unnecessarily
Posted: 01 Jul 2008, 12:48
by Quixoticish
sando wrote:It seems those without faith or lost their faith protest the loudest.
As has already been said back to aviation...............
Bless you anyway
John
Actually I have a very strong faith; I just believe that faith is a private and personal thing and choose not to share it with those I don't trust, and more importantly I would never attempt to convert others. I strongly believe this is the only sensible and correct way to practise any religion or belief system and attempting to turf your faith on others is totally bizarre and confusing to my mind.
Whilst your post may not have been aimed at me I wanted to chip in just in case. If it wasn't I apologise. If it was then don't assume that simply because someone is critical of certain aspects of the Abrahamic religions that they have no faith. In many cases it can be quite the opposite.
Apologies to general forum readers as well, this is an aviation forum so really we should be on topic, but then to my eyes the original post isn't exactly on topic for the forums either. ;-)
Re: Grounded unnecessarily
Posted: 01 Jul 2008, 12:58
by Garry Russell
This is E&S so it does not have to be aviation related at all.
Lets not get too serious though.........we all have our beliefs.........and respect for one another ;-)
Garry