by John Philipp
Member since:
August 10, 2006

Thought~Byte No. 146

March 24, 2009 11:54 PM EDT
views: 129 | rating: 9.7/10 (26 votes) | comments: 85

Thought~Byte No. 146

 

 

Concept and words by John Philipp. Drawings by Phil Frank.

(The comments below are where the wisdom is found.)

 
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Comments: 85

John Philipp Mar 24, 2009, 11:55pm EDT
Thought~Bytes are posted every Wednesday. To see all Thought~Bytes and get an email when new ones are posted, please join Thought~Bytes
JOHN BECK Mar 25, 2009, 12:01am EDT
Who's we?
Gary (aka: William Pinn) J. Mar 25, 2009, 12:03am EDT
Good one!
Lee P. Mar 25, 2009, 12:09am EDT
Oh well. I don't have much longer to worry about it (I'm old, who hoo), so I'll just imagine that we decided only the good things and will live them all. I liked my journey.
P.W. Dowdy Mar 25, 2009, 12:14am EDT
I agree.
Randall C. Mar 25, 2009, 12:18am EDT
Not sure I agree with that thought-byte.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:19am EDT
It's the royal "we," John — sort of.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:19am EDT
Thanks, Gary.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:20am EDT
Lee, there's always tomorrow.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:20am EDT
Thanks, Pat.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:22am EDT
No need for you to agree, Randall.

People make their own connections with the Bytes.

More information on the "I'm not sure part ..." would help.
Randall C. Mar 25, 2009, 12:25am EDT
But I can see what your trying to say
Randall C. Mar 25, 2009, 12:27am EDT
kind of like a double edged blade, it can be switched to accomodate either direction
Randall C. Mar 25, 2009, 12:32am EDT
Your drawing is throwing me off. You can't look back and say this is where I should be
Randall C. Mar 25, 2009, 12:36am EDT
Okay, that's my take on it
Ellie !. Mar 25, 2009, 12:37am EDT
I think Randall is saying that what is now the past was the future before. And it was the present when it was deciding the future that is now the present.
Vivian A. Mar 25, 2009, 12:37am EDT
Just trying to live up to those expectations John. Really...rolls eyes

I couldn't possibly change course now, could I?
Ginger C. Mar 25, 2009, 12:45am EDT
By the time tomorrow gets here its today!
Michelle C. Mar 25, 2009, 12:55am EDT
Interesting and I can relate to that somewhat. ;)
Georgiana S. Mar 25, 2009, 1:19am EDT
the circle of life
~Sia McKye~ Mar 25, 2009, 1:38am EDT
This can be taken several ways, John.

What happens to us in the past, puts us on the road to a particular future. But being the dreamer, I think we dream of what we want, make goals, and make it happen. Sure the influences what has happened to us direct the general direction but it's modified by our dreams and goals and ability to make it happen.
Tanya P. Mar 25, 2009, 1:49am EDT
Good thing for re-writes!
THE PAST IS DEAD. Yesterday is already in the past. There are things from yesterday that still need to be addressed today, but God allowed us to walk through the problems of yesterday so that we can be a part of His solution today. God’s power is all encompassing. He is more than able to take the issues and hurts and pains and make it all right today, but we have to trust Him.

He wants us to be over comers but we have to know in His will that we are over comers. I’m not talking about an identity issue -- it’s an opportunity to see God’s power at work today! It’s the chance to see God do new things, new ways. It’s a chance to be formed once again on the potter’s wheel by our Creator so that we can be a vessel He can use today.

Release the past. Release it once and for all. Know who you are in God. You are an heir and a joint heir. You are His co-worker and laborer in the harvest. You are a friend of the King of all Kings!! You have worth. You have a place. You have God-ordained authority. REST IN GOD, TRUST IN GOD, LEAN ON GOD, let Him take control of your life and use you today.
Thank you ,for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

passion
What is the burn in the death of your soul burning to get out ?
Linda T. Mar 25, 2009, 2:35am EDT
Events in our past do put on us a certain road but we can change the course of that road if we wish to. The past does not have to define who we are. I will be a work in progress until I take my last breath.
Elizabeth A. Mar 25, 2009, 2:55am EDT
One way or another, 'The sins of the father are visited upon the sons.'
Wilhelmine Estabrook Mar 25, 2009, 5:51am EDT
Something to ponder. Interesting takes the others have with this byte.
kimberly g. Mar 25, 2009, 7:34am EDT
stop.look.listen.still lost sometimes!
Larry M. Mar 25, 2009, 8:05am EDT
Another of those boxes we put ourselves in without meaning to.
Nancy Biri Mar 25, 2009, 8:19am EDT
cute
Rae M. Mar 25, 2009, 9:13am EDT
That is so true
Robert - just a simple man - B. Mar 25, 2009, 10:13am EDT
I often call my friend in Australia to see if I'm still alive tomorrow. And in return I confirm that she was indeed among the living yesterday.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:53am EDT
Too funny, Robert.

(I think you getting the better of that deal)
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:53am EDT
Thanks, Nancy.

All Thought~Bytes are true, Rae — except when they aren't.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:53am EDT
"kind of like a double edged blade, it can be switched to accomodate either direction"

See, Randall, that's a way of looking at this Byte I hadn't seen before. Thanks.
David W. Mar 25, 2009, 10:53am EDT
So true, we become what we think we are instead of aspiring to what we can be.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:54am EDT
"Your drawing is throwing me off. You can't look back and say this is where I should be"

No, you can't, Randall. One thing this Byte means is that we decide how we are going to be as a person and then fulfill that expectation.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:55am EDT
"what is now the past was the future before. And it was the present when it was deciding the future that is now the present."

Ellie, you're driving me to think. COFFEE!
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:55am EDT
"By the time tomorrow gets here its today!"

I know that was true yesterday, Ginger, but I'd hate to generalize :)
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:55am EDT
"Interesting and I can relate to that somewhat. ;)"

Thanks, Michelle.

Read it again tomorrow (and the comments) and I'll bet you'll add another connection as well.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:55am EDT
"the circle of life"

Georgiana, someone once said that the human race is run on a circular track.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:56am EDT
"This can be taken several ways, John. "


I hope so, Sia. That's the intent.
"I think we dream of what we want, make goals, and make it happen. "

An important facet here — and there are others.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:56am EDT
"Good thing for re-writes!"

Excellent and unexpected connection, Tanya.

Thanks.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:56am EDT
Wow, whellbarrows of wisdom from the Wassners.

Thanks.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:56am EDT
"The past does not have to define who we are."

Very true and very important, Linda.

Add to that, we do not have to define who we are.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:56am EDT
"One way or another, 'The sins of the father are visited upon the sons.'"

Some would say only when invited to, Elizabeth.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:57am EDT
"Something to ponder. Interesting takes the others have with this byte"

This Byte definitely needs pondering to get all the "juice" out of it, Wilhelmine.

I agree with you that the comments are providing a broad brush here. Excellent.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:57am EDT
"stop.look.listen.still lost sometimes!"

I wonder what the GPS equivalent for the soul is, Kimberly.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:57am EDT
"Another of those boxes we put ourselves in without meaning to."

Very insightful, Larry.

Often we don't realize it's even a box.
Bill W. Mar 25, 2009, 12:10pm EDT
If you decide your future in the present or in the future, you still live it out unless you decide on suicide. What matters is that you decide it and not just let it happen to you. There is too much of that going on.

Rest easy
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 2:03pm EDT
There are two wave lengths here, Bill.

One has to do with goals and accomplishments and setting goals makes sense for most people (as long as achieving the goal doesn't eclipse enjoying the journey.)

The other has to do with your "script," how your life will play out psychologically. Like, I'll always be a disappointment to my mother and others who love me. Those decisions are made early and need to be relooked at.

Remember, at one point in time a 3-year old was the CEO of Personality Development.
Ruth J. Mar 25, 2009, 2:17pm EDT
Your byte and all the comments are forcing my brain into overdrive. I think I'll reread Faux Fitness and do some rewrites on my History of Me. After all I am the writer and the editor.
Haim Kadman Mar 25, 2009, 2:19pm EDT
Human typical weaknesses, thanks John.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 2:40pm EDT
"After all I am the writer and the editor."

Great phrasing, Ruth, and don't you ever forget it.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 2:40pm EDT
You're welcome, Haim.
blaine d. Mar 25, 2009, 3:44pm EDT
it's is all a mystery to me, i am not cover in a book! great one!
Lydia (part of the solution) Shelley Mar 25, 2009, 5:07pm EDT
If it is true that we are the sum of our decisions, that would stand to reason. In fact I would go as far as to say that any plan we make is in the past by the time we execute that plan... I mean, I wrote THIS in the past. By the time I click submit and it posts, it's the future already.
Vic Needs Coffee Mar 25, 2009, 6:42pm EDT
That's so true.
Angela A. Mar 25, 2009, 7:16pm EDT
I do that a lot.
Trying to do better!
Glome . . . Mar 25, 2009, 7:53pm EDT
Me too. :)
Sheila Deeth Mar 25, 2009, 9:23pm EDT
That one's got me thinking.
Jenysie Jane Mar 25, 2009, 9:51pm EDT
something to ponder...
K D. Mar 25, 2009, 9:55pm EDT
Yep! We can decide our future in the past somewhere and it's nice that we can make modifications along the way, too!
Jan S. Mar 25, 2009, 11:18pm EDT
I think this is wrong. We don't have to be who we were raised to be. We can make changes, new choices and start over any time we want. Once we believe this, we can be what we choose.
Steph-in-NE ..... Mar 26, 2009, 12:42am EDT
I like you r way better then Randell way you have more character to it,, thanks for sharing
Dennis Gilman Mar 26, 2009, 10:18am EDT
Very true John.

I have been such an idiot in the past that I now have good reason to shudder about my future.

Fortunately, today will be the past; so I can use it now to decide my future.

Trouble is, like all humans, I have forgotten too much of my past.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:43am EDT
Sorry I was offline yesterday afternoon on. I was helping my granddaughter get ready for a recital. Spent most of the day with a gaggle of three-year old girls.

I'm exhausted.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:57am EDT
"I have been such an idiot in the past that I now have good reason to shudder about my future"

Just the opposite, Dennis. Your mistakes are behind you.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:57am EDT
" it's is all a mystery to me, i am not cover in a book!"

You're lucky, Blaine. Life should be a mystery.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:57am EDT
"By the time I click submit and it posts, it's the future already."

Intriguing point, Lydia. Thanks.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:57am EDT
"That's so true"

That's what I'm thinking, Vic.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:58am EDT
"I do that a lot.
Trying to do better!"

If you're aware, Angela, it will change.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:58am EDT
Glome, will help.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:59am EDT
"That one's got me thinking."

Good, Sheila. That's the point of Bytes.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:59am EDT
"something to ponder..."

Enjoy your pondering, Jane.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 11:00am EDT
"We can decide our future in the past somewhere and it's nice that we can make modifications along the way, too!"

Good point, K D. It's really about deciding who we are not what we do.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 11:00am EDT
"Can you get to the future if your past is present?"

Sure, Ric. Take a left at In Charge Avenue.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 11:00am EDT
You're welcome, Steph.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 11:00am EDT
"We don't have to be who we were raised to be. We can make changes, new choices and start over any time we want."

Agreed, Jan. That's why I used the word "often."
Jerri H. Mar 27, 2009, 10:25pm EDT
So very true
John Philipp Mar 27, 2009, 10:36pm EDT
Glad you think so, Jerri.
Jennifer aka Jenn B. Mar 31, 2009, 11:17am EDT
I Am..the past...the present...I am the future
John Philipp Mar 31, 2009, 12:19pm EDT
Doesn't surprise me, Jenn.
Jennifer aka Jenn B. Mar 31, 2009, 10:02pm EDT
LOL..with a smile
LaRue B. Apr 1, 2009, 4:21pm EDT
Live for today.
Learn from the past.
Plan for today.

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