Albert Schweitzer, selected, short inspirational essays

Skepticism
The city of truth cannot be built on the swampy ground of skepticism. Our spiritual life is rotten throughout because it is permeated through and through with skepticism, and we live in consequence in a world which in every respect is full of falsehood. We are not far from shipwreck on the rock of wanting to have even truth organized.

Truth taken over by skepticism which has become believing has not the spiritual qualities of that which originated in thinking. It has been externalized and rendered torpid. It does obtain influence over a man, but it is not capable of uniting itself with him to the very marrow of his being. Living truth is that alone which has its origin in thinking.

Just as a tree bears year after year the same fruit and yet fruit which is each year new, so must all permanently valuable ideas be continually born again in thought. But our age is bent on trying to make the barren tree of skepticism fruitful by tying fruits of truth on its branches.
(Life, p. 259) from Albert Schweitzer and Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

The Loss of Self Confidence
The circumstances of the age do their best to deliver us up to the spirit of the age. The seed of skepticism has germinated. In fact, the modern man has no longer any spiritual self -confidence at all. Behind a self-confident exterior he conceals a great inward lack of confidence. In spite of his great capacity in material matters he is an altogether stunted being, because he makes no use of his capacity for thinking. It will ever remain incomprehensible that our generation, which has shown itself so great by its achievements in discovery and invention, could fall so low spiritually as to give up thinking.
(Life, p. 257) from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

 The Man of Today
The man of today is exposed to influences which are bent on robbing him of all confidence in his own thinking. The spirit of spiritual dependence to which he is called on to surrender is in everything that he hears, or reads; it is in the people whom he meets every day; it is in the parties and associations which have claimed him as their own; it pervades all the circumstances of his life.

From every side and in the most varied ways it is dinned into him that the truths and convictions which he needs for life must be taken by him from the associations which have rights over him. The spirit of the age never lets him come to himself. Over and over again convictions are forced upon him in the same way as, by means of the electric advertisements which flare in the streets of every large town any company which has sufficient capital to get itself securely established, exercises pressure on him at every step he takes to induce him to buy their boot polish or their soup tablets.

By the spirit of the age, then, the man of today is forced into skepticism about his own thinking, in order to make him receptive to truth which comes to him from authority. To all this constant influence he cannot make the resistance that is desirable because he is an overworked and distracted being without power to  concentrate. Moreover, the manifold material trammels which are his lot work upon his mentality in such a way that he comes at last to believe himself unqualified to make any claim to thoughts of his own.
(Life, pp. 255 f.) from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

Modern Thought has No Goal
With the spirit of the age I am in complete disagreement, because it is filled with disdain for thinking. That such is its attitude is to some extent explicable by the fact that thought has never yet reached the goal which it must set before itself. Time after time it was convinced that it had clearly established a world-view which was in accordance with knowledge and ethically satisfactory. But time after time the truth came out that it had not succeeded. Doubts, therefore, could well arise as to whether thinking would ever be capable of answering current questions about the world and or relation to it in such a way that we could give a meaning and a content to our lives.
[Life, p. 254] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.


Thinking Drops the Tiller
In modern thinking the same thing happens as in religion. Thinking drops the tiller from its hand in the middle of the storm. It renounces the idea of giving human beings ideals by the help of which they can get on with reality. It leaves them to themselves, and that in a most terrible moment. For the present moment is terrible. Man has won power over the forces of nature and by that has become superman - and at the same time most miserable man! For this power over the forces of nature is not being used beneficially, but destructively.
[Religion, p. 1520] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

Modern Thinking Unequal to its Task
The spirit of the age rejoices, instead of lamenting, that thinking seems to be unequal to its task, and gives it no credit for what, in spite of imperfections, it has already accomplished. It refuses to admit, what is nevertheless the fact, that all spiritual progress up to today has come about through the achievements of thought, or to reflect that thinking may still be able in the future to accomplish what it has not succeeded in accomplishing as yet.
[Life, p. 255] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

Life Without Thought
No one who opens the sluices to let a flood of skepticism pour itself over the land must expect to be able to bring it back within its proper bounds. Of those who let themselves get too disheartened to try any longer to discover truth by their own thinking, only few find a substitute for it in truth taken from others. The mass of people remain skeptical. They lose all feeling for truth, and all sense of need for it as well, finding themselves quite comfortable in a life without thought, driven now here, now there, from one opinion to another
[Life, p. 258] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.
 
The Religion of Our Age
If one reviews the development of religion since the middle of the nineteenth century, one understands the tragic fact that although really living religion is to be found among us, it is not the leaven that leavens the thinking of our age.
[Religion, p. 1484] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

The Lack of Reason in Our Time
The history of our time is characterized by lack of reason which has no parallel in the past. Future historians will one day analyze this history in detail, and test by means of it their learning and their freedom from prejudice. But for all future times there will be, as there is for today, only one explanation, viz., that we sought to live and to carry on with a civilization which had no ethical principle behind it.
[Decay, p. 61] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

The Clogged Spirit
A fundamental impulse to reflect about the universe stirs us during those years in which we begin to think independently. Later on we let it languish, even though feeling clearly that we thereby impoverish ourselves and become less capable of what is good. We are like springs of water which no longer run because they have not been watched and have gradually become choked with rubbish.

More than any other age has our own neglected to watch the thousand springs of thought; hence the drought in which we are pining. But if we only go on to remove the rubbish which conceals the water, the sands will be irrigated again, and life will spring up where hitherto there has been only a desert.
[Decay, pp. 92 f.] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

The Divorce of Science and Reflection
Today thought gets no help from science, and the latter stands facing it independent and unconcerned. The newest scientific knowledge may be allied with an entirely un-reflecting view of the universe. It maintains that it is concerned only with the establishment of individual facts, since it is only by means of these that scientific knowledge can maintain its practical character; the coordination of the different branches of knowledge and the utilization of the results to form a theory of the universe are, it says, not its business. Once every man of  science was also a thinker who counted for something in the general spiritual life of his generation. Our age has discovered how to divorce knowledge from thought, with the result that we have, indeed, a science which is free, but hardly any science left which reflects.
[Decay, p. 72] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

Secondary Issues Prevail
Our philosophizing has become more and more involved in the discussion of secondary issues. It has lost touch with the elemental questions regarding life and the world which it is man's task to pose and to solve, and has found satisfaction more and more in discussing problems of a purely academic nature and in a mere virtuosity of philosophical technique. It has become increasingly absorbed in side issues. Instead of genuine classical music it has frequently produced only chamber music, often excellent in its way, but not the real thing. And so this philosophy, which was occupied only in elucidating itself, instead of struggling to achieve a world-view grounded in thought and essential for life, has led us into a position where we are devoid of any world-view at all, as an inevitable consequence of this, of any real civilization.
[Ethics, p. viii] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

The Danger of Technical Language
Technical expressions are a danger for every system of philosophy, whether Indian or European. For they may become formulae which hinder the natural development of thought in the same way as ruts in a road hinder traffic. So to find out what are its real contents it is reasonable to test a system of thought by setting aside expressions which it has coined for its own use and compelling it to speak in ordinary comprehensible language. [Indian, p. ix] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

The Tragedy of Western Thought
Western thought is not governed by mystical thought by the idea that the one thing needful is the spiritual union of man with infinite Being, and therefore (if it is obliged to renounce the hope of attaining to a knowledge of the universe that corresponds to ethical world- and life affirmation), it is in danger of saying it is satisfied not only with lowered ideals, but also with an inferior conception of world-view. That is the tragedy that is being enacted before our eyes. [Indian, pp. 253 f.] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

Spiritual Bankruptcy
Renunciation of thinking is a declaration of spiritual bankruptcy. Where there is no longer a conviction that man can get to know the truth by their own thinking, skepticism begins. Those who work to make our age skeptical in this way, do so in the expectation that, as a result of renouncing all hope of self-discovered truth, men will end by accepting as truth what is forced upon them with authority and by propaganda. [Life, p. 258] from Albert Schweitzer an Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

The Ideals that We Need
Humanity has always needed ethical ideals to enable it to find the right path, that man may make the right use of the power he possesses. Today his power is increased a thousandfold. A thousandfold greater is now the need for man to possess ethical ideas to point the way. Yet at the very moment when this happens, thinking fails. In this period of deepest need thinking is not giving to humanity the ideals it needs so that it may not be  overwhelmed. Is that our destiny? I hope not. I believe not. I think that in our age we are all carrying within  us a new form of thought which will give us ethical ideals. [Religion, p. 1520] from Albert Schweitzer an  Anthology. The Beacon Press. 1947.

These quotes were included in my first book I Am Sharing, available for free download

Finding the Peace Within

One of the greatest things I can do
Is find the peace within
Just to stop for a moment,
or two, or three
the business outside
in the world of men
spins around
swirling, distracting, taunting
more, more, more
it says
"pay attention to me"
it is interesting, intriguing, fun,
for awhile
then, as it demands its price -
"More, LOOK AT ME - I am it!"
my centered feelings, twinge "no"!
but the voices in my head
say, "go for it, it's the plan, the game.
it's the best show in the town."
the further I go,  the more it demands
meanwhile, what I am says
"wait"
together this creates
this playscape called life
but the further I go
the more that I find
that the enjoyment of what's outside
is an inside game
the more I find my grounding
my centering within
I find vast peace
and appreciation
the demands of the outside
fall into their role
an expression of the vast inside
just waiting to be shared
is not a forced thing, 
or contrived
but what is truly real
some call it love
which it is
but I can call it me
for it is what I am
and I cannot escape it
for as I continue to go within
to find the peace in this world
its the only decent thing to share
and it is truly mine
the greatest gift I can find

Thoughts and Words & Your Present

Investing my Infinite Endowment

Keep my thoughts and words on the best.
- love               - trust
- the breath      - allowing
- fun                 - Joy
- my vision for all to be happy
- nature             - Gaia
- appreciation    - gratitude
- harmony         - Being
- wonder           - play
- communication
- balance           - diversity
- wholeness       - sun
- appreciation    - senses
- noticing           - experiences
- development    - music
- signs/synchronicities
- creativity          - dedication
- persistence       - patience
- knowing           - feeling
- Spirit                - cooperation
- integration        - ascension
- harvest             - now
- present             - friends
- friendship         - all perfection

You can't argue with the breath.
You can't argue with God.
It's all God.
I am God.
You are God.
"They" are God.

Nothing is arguing with anything just in the process of development and evolution in experience of God/One-ness which is easiest experienced one breath at a time be-cause the breath is current, in the now, present from which all points in time are created or altered. There is no other time to be concerned with then the present/now.

Justapose "now" - won!
What are you doing with Your Present?

On Trust and Money Virus/Counties

We are all working out trust related issues, however to overcome trust issues is simple, be trusting. People who are "un-trust worthy" will quickly remove themselves because they don't trust. My experience is to only be able to work on me, not have un-trusting antenna out because that is my projection and will always return the same experience/energy - that which is the lesson I am here to learn about.

People with abusive parents, or untrustworthy (parents of orphans) have to dig deep and get past the tendency to not trust anyone because human systems have tended to be not trustworthy. That is because people lie and are not putting their trust in the only trustworthy thing, that - Desmond would say Breath, some would say God, All That Is - I would say whatever made THIS - and I am 100% of THIS. No part of me is left out. A wise friend Barry stated that he would keep repeating the same mistakes/experiences until he learned the lesson from the experience. I have learned two main things "Trust" and "Love More". And hence if I am 100% Source, or Breath then I can deduct that I am made of, and being supported by what I can trust 100%. How do I arrive at a place to trust and be loving? Act that way, to the best of my ability each day. And keep that same effort, practice up.

Money viruses
There are no bar codes on apples or trees or leaves or animals, except when we put them there.

We have been put into a labeling, numbering and counting "nightmare". It is like a virus, running in our brains computer. Essentially, with most people, running their RAM memory at its limit.

To think of the un-sanity of this is to imagine oneself attempting to count everything around them. The leaves, the blades of grass, grains of sand, clouds, hairs on our heads, etc. We have been pulled into a "counties" program. The bean counters and hoarders of beans rule here. We are much like Scrat in the movie Ice Age. Chasing the proverbial nut. Which, by its very nature, we will never get. Because most of us, deep down, don't FEEL we deserve. We don't trust. So we will never let ourselves live it. That is because we are here trying to learn a lesson. The lesson of trust and love. To get this lesson we have to "fake it 'til we make it". To be trusting and loving.

This is the wisdom contained in Jesus message "love God with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself." Which means -
If I learn love, for me, in the true sense, then I will experience that love, and what others do is not my business. But, they will have to follow me because there is only one way to go.

One breath at a time.

The Great Global Society - Humanity Movement

 A Vision for Action of the Reverence for Life University and The Cosmic Stock Exchange

To Re-Purpose these existing organizations, or "work around" like water does when it comes to an obstacle.

- Peace Corp                                   )
- Red Cross                                     )   - Combined and Re-purposed
- Military                                          )
- CCC - (American Depression)       )

Read and Speak This Statement!
"I Am 100% God!"
"We Are 100% God!"
"Eye Am My Breath / God's Breath"

(conversion process explained in A Real Opportunity - Time to Change - The Media)

We are joining forces to respond, rebuild and build in those places hit by natural disasters. Shift energy from fighting with police to responding to human need. Set a top priority list including those places that have been historically affected, written off (displaced peoples and temporary communities).

Just shift a tiny portion of "business as usual" to Breath Conscious action and watch a massive tide of effect.

- Convert "pigs at a trough" (normal disaster relief efforts, e.g. New Orleans) response to sensible,
    thoughtful, efficient, purposeful, cost effective, transformed response
- Training for team - Team/Individual Experience Plan & Study Guide
- Utilize our "rebuilding team" that is already with us (David G, Neal P, Jason B, Scobie R,
   Roger B, etc.)
- Humanitarian efforts based upon "Reaching Out From With-in"
- Financial system and capital dispensing and distribution - Architecture for a Global Sustainable Society
- Adapt the Hybrid Community Diversified Cooperative  pdf (see case example concept)
- Beginning Personal Understanding - Preparation for Re-Creation
- Statement for team members "Proclamation for Emancipation"
- The Practice
- One Love, One Step Walk - Jamaica

Envision a new Civilian Conservation Corp for the world

Put veterans, persons released from prison and other people challenged to work on purposeful missions - as described in Reaching Out From With-In

This is a derivation of The Decision, which lead to the book "Vision - We ARE Re-Creating the World".

This is the realization of the vision I was given in 1979.

Foundations to include, convert, or re-purpose
- Gates
- Buffet
- Rockefeller
- Ford

Visionaries to emulate
- Schweitzer
- Borlaug
- Ghandi
- Einstein
- Lincoln
- King
- Marley
- The Beatles

Call on some famous people who we know
- Jeff Bezos    - Jack Dangermond     - Oprah     - Matt Damon     - Robert Redford
- Morgan Freeman     - Willie Nelson    - Jim Carey     - Leonardo DeCaprio     - Ray Benson
- Elon Musk     - David Wilcock     - Drunvalo Melchizedek

Other influential people, just a few that came to mind.
- Inelia Benz    - Nassim Harreim     - Patrick Flanigan    - Bob Schneider   

Digesting Victimhood

I Am NOT a victim of God's abandonment, wrath or vengeance. I Am 100% God, supplied through my eternal breath and infinite love and abundance, flourishing, thriving and creating all of the aspects of my life. I have ceased repeating victim stories and have now digested the lessons to be gleaned and harvested from all of my experiences throughout all of my incarnations and those of my family to be fully present, trading, brokering and sharing on The Cosmic Stock Exchange. I accept full responsibility for this Divine Gift, continually expressing my full gratitude and appreciation to God, Love, All That Is as a fully Breath Conscious aspect of God trading as Andrew Skadberg.

I/EYE AM MY BREATH. I/EYE AM 100% GOD. AS I/EYE APPRECIATE THIS TRUTH I/EYE AM APPRECIATING AND EXPANDING INTO GREATER AND GREATER AWARENESS, PULSATING, VIBRATING AND SPIRALING AS PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL LOVE, MY BREATH

I/EYE AM MY BREATH. I/EYE AM 100% GOD. AS I/EYE APPRECIATE THIS TRUTH I/EYE AM APPRECIATING AND EXPANDING INTO GREATER AND GREATER AWARENESS, PULSATING, VIBRATING AND SPIRALING AS PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL LOVE, MY BREATH.

I/EYE AM MY BREATH. I/EYE AM 100% GOD. AS I/EYE APPRECIATE THIS TRUTH I/EYE AM APPRECIATING AND EXPANDING INTO GREATER AND GREATER AWARENESS, PULSATING, VIBRATING AND SPIRALING AS PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL LOVE, MY BREATH..

Trust My Love

I took a breath,

And entered this world,
We all share the same source,
There is a movement, an intention,
The breath is going somewhere,
And it doesn't go back,
The stories spun, the experiences had,
The memories fulfilled,
Are all recorded,
But each moment a new recording,
A new movement,
Of the cacophany of life forms,
Dancing, swirling, emerging, contracting,
Expanding, vibrating, co-creating,
Loving
Itself
To experience more
Joy, pain, sensing, knowing
IT is the life in everything
Sustaining, supporting, coaxing, prodding
Love More!
You, Me, We, Eye
See My love, feel My love, Be My Love
No matter what
You are coming home
You are at home
In Me
Always
Trust My love.