Why Bad Things Happen - Swedenborg and Life

[@HeleneStaley]

Emanuel Swedenborg would have been so pleased to know that long after his lifetime that a group of people would come together to use his work to gain understanding in their own lives and to help others to do this as well.

[@nicolasachilles524]

i guess I am quite randomly asking but do anyone know a good place to stream new tv shows online ?

[@henrikarmani8015]

@Nicolas Achilles I would suggest Flixzone. Just search on google for it =)

[@leearcher6853]

@Henrik Armani Yea, been watching on FlixZone for months myself :)

[@nicolasachilles524]

@Henrik Armani Thanks, I signed up and it seems like a nice service :) I appreciate it!

[@henrikarmani8015]

@Nicolas Achilles Happy to help =)

[@bendingfireandlight2881]

Swedenborg is an amazing body of work giving hope in the search for a loving universe and ultimate reality of love.

[@offTheLeftEye]

I couldn't agree more! Thanks for such a wonderful message :)

[@hs6404]

I am watching and listening to this video again. I am re-reading "Divine Providence" and recognizing the lessons in this video discussion. I like when that happens. We are so blessed to have the Swedenborg Foundation and Swedenborg's writings.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Thank you for such an encouraging message, Helene! I've always appreciated your willingness to share with us your journey and interaction to Swedenborg's teachings. We are grateful for you!

[@HeleneStaley]

I find comfort in watching SF discussions.

[@offTheLeftEye]

We're so glad, Helene, and we feel blessed to have you as a part of the ongoing discussion on our channel.

[@Kobbyahmed]

Curtis God bless you for your teachings and explanations from swedenborg.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Kobby, God bless you too, I'm so glad it resonates!

[@stephanieyeshuaislife7236]

Thank you so much for making Swedenborg's insights more understandable to us, and for having the courage to tackle the big questions! Great show!

[@offTheLeftEye]

+ydoyou wannano You're very welcome! Thanks for the encouragement!

[@sirace6]

hello from korea great show 👍

[@LK-pc4sq]

love your videos they are so peaceful and meaningful :) I spend my time asking NDE survivors what life is like on the other side and its so amazing to hear there stories.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Very cool, +Loren K! There are so many inspiring stories out there! It's great to hear that you're enjoying the videos. Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@bethmcgee9176]

That's VERY COOL ! It must be fulfilling ! God Bless!

[@karinawitt5406]

Ich lese sich alle Bücher, die ich dazu finden kann. Es nimmt dir die Angst, das tut so gut🙏🏻♥️✨

[@bettyabote4229]

True Curtis there's always something good coming, God has good plans for us. Thanks OTLE.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Absolutely, Betty! Well said! Thank you!

[@maye_dragonfly]

I really love this show, thank you Curtis for all that you do to get the word out. God bless you 🙏 this show has helped me so much since my husband's passing last year. I am truly grateful I found your show 🙏💕 God bless

[@offTheLeftEye]

Oh Mayelin -- my heart goes out to you for your heart-wrenching loss. We are so glad to hear that the ideas in this show have helped heal your heart even just a little bit. I assume that you've found various episodes on our channel about the afterlife? If not, let us know, and we can recommend some. Or just keep perusing the channel! I also like to recommend a couple of specific episodes to people who are dealing with deep grief, episodes focusing on a couple who lost their son in a terrorist attack. Their story is so moving. Angels After Terrorism - kzbin.info/www/bejne/raTTY4KjfM2Cosk How to Connect Spiritually - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKWqgXmiltGVj6M I hope you'll find a couple ideas in those videos that may bring you some more comfort and hope. Much love to you on your journey.

[@karinawitt5406]

Der Vergleich mit dem Blick über eine Stadt und die Lichter ist wunderbar, ich kenne das Gefühl genau ✨

[@offTheLeftEye]

So glad it resonated with your own experience, Karina! Thanks for watching!

[@alexspectre962]

Thanks for all your work. Your shows, and Swedenborg's work, always gives me a sense of peace and relief. It's much needed for me and for all people (I assume). Kudos!!

[@offTheLeftEye]

It's always nice to hear from you, Alex! I'm glad to hear about your love of these spiritual ideas. God bless!

[@bettyabote4229]

Very true!

[@kens6168]

I learned so much! Thank you and God bless.

[@offTheLeftEye]

I'm so glad it resonated with you, KRS#6! God bless you too!

[@hs6404]

Curtis, you are so funny with the scissors! What was doubly funny is that you asked viewers to please not look away. I was listening to every word when I looked across the room just in that moment.

[@offTheLeftEye]

I'm glad you enjoy the humor ;)

[@ceciliabertinelli2205]

Thank you so much for this video! It has helped me understand some events in my life that were, at least on the surface, incomprehensible. May God bless you and your work guys!

[@offTheLeftEye]

That's wonderful to hear, Cecilia. We're so grateful when God uses the shows to help someone sort something out in their own lives. Thank you for being a part of our audience, and we're wishing God's blessings to you, too!

[@reademccardell1843]

Love this show, love the message and love the shirt Curtis is wearing.

[@studioseaglass]

Great show! My experiences line up with everything expressed.

[@briankelly85]

we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars...

[@ElizabethMohr]

Detail on why life circumstances often seem to present a wild west scenario. ♡ 'What God Can't Do' is another excellent resource.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Oh, Elizabeth -- Those wild west scenes can be tough! Thanks for reminding us (and me!) of these resources that can provide a bit of comfort on a confusing topic. ~Chara

[@barbaramartins9224]

You Are Awesome 👏 Curtis Childs! Great Show! 🙏🏻🌟💕

[@offTheLeftEye]

Thanks, Alexa! I'm so glad you got something good out of this one!

[@barbaramartins9224]

@offTheLeftEye Thankxx You And All Your Guests!!!!!! All Your Shows Are Fantastik , Keep All Going Awesome Shows👏 In 2020!!!!!! 🙏🏻⭐️💕☀️

[@lyndamartin7584]

Amazing Sweedenborg Tks Guys🍀😇💜🎓

[@offTheLeftEye]

Thanks for watching, Lynda! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@davidwise3426]

Excellent, so true. My only disagreement is the personalizing of "God" (i.e., God feels...) If this gives people comfort, then so be it. I'm comfortable with the higher consciousness being a neutral force.

[@wonsgnem4436]

God created humans，he is more than humans，thus he must have got some personalised quality，maybe only tenny tiny bit，maybe god is too great to be recognized as a personalised entity，but it is undoubtedly understandable that he loves us so much that he is willing to present himself to us as a human being.

[@HeleneStaley]

I've watched this video before, but I needed to view it again. Doing so is therapy for my soul. We live in a world society that is often not fair andfrequently cruel -- and some actions are due to total ignorance. I am thinking about the children who have died at the hands of adults --- Several news reports of children who stole food to eat in Africa and were beaten and burned to death for it. Insane. There are more reports such as these, so as a matter of debriding the negativity of our world from our thoughts, it is a good idea to return to SF videos often. I think of the news reports of women in places such as Sweden, Norway, England being attacked by Arabs men and causing tremendous fear in these countries, and the only thing we can feel in our souls is great sadness. If we have any sanity left after hearing these reports, we run to God begging him to make these horrible things stop and get people to behave .

[@offTheLeftEye]

I hear you, Helene. I, too, need to keep coming back to things I've learned through Swedenborg's books when I need to process upset from terrible things that happen in the world. It helps me to be reminded how temporary earthly, external suffering is compared to the eternal comfort, healing, and growth that can be the vast, overwhelming majority of every person's existence. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In the end, the perpetrators are creating their own lasting torment, while the victims will be completely healed, with all the memory of pain washed away, and only the strength and wisdom remaining.

[@karling6953]

I am from those countries and the reason is cultural collision. An arab man has NEVER seen a woman without a veil and in Nordic countries people used to always go to the sauna naked together, men and women, in gathrings. In public there are different saunas for male and female in many places except for small kids, who follow their parent regardless of the sex. And women often overpower men unlike in Arabic countries, where women are not trusted and repoting a rape can get the woman killed, so of course there will happen bad things when the language and the way of life is totally different. Nordic women should never go to the house alone with a guy fom different culture because they see that as a promise to rape a woman. Plus people up North trust others very much (except foreigners nowadays), which people from South learn to take advantage really fast. It is like letting a group of demons among just born angels. I have seen the whole thing so in my opinion arabs shouls not be let to enter Nordic countries - not before thorough education and some kind of entrance exam. At least not to roam freely to sabotage local people like in Sweden, where there are places even an ambulance can not dare to go anymore and the police is yelling help internationally with the problem. Oh and thennyou are a racist if you even write like this even though it is true. I might get a crime sentence just from telling you this and quoting the newspaper from what I red what the police of Sweden are telling. You are not allowed to say one group behave worse than others even if it did. One politician in Finlans got a hate crime sentence just by commenting one group of refugees how they abused the system. That is not even a joke. And he commented it in his own blog. So it isvery hard to solve the problem if you are not allowed to talk about it at all. It really makes me wonder why you have to bring people fron thousands of miles or km away to a culture they have no intention to adapt at all. Whose idea is that? To cause problems and disaster? I doubt peoole from Arab countries like it very much up in the cold and dark either among people who do not even dare to say hello to you anywhere anymore. Besides people in Scandinavia are not as social as people in closer to equator. It is a crazy idea unless a person wants to adapt and be kind etc. But even then it is hard for them. The world is like Alaska and colder and darker. Why do they not go to Africa? Or other arab countries? At least the religion should be the same in these relocations. Sorry if I am complaining like this but my flarmate got stabbed while taking a dog out by a refugee! One poor guy tried to rape her. She was just walking her dog out! So seriously at least bring only women here frommthose countries and not only young men. At least whole families and not loads of single men who are around 20-30 years old! We only see young men arriving so why? I do not get it. It is like bring them here to rape some locals. It is like a foreign army conguering the country under the pretense of refugee. Please somebody explain. Correcting and clarifying a few things from beginning.

[@karling6953]

Actually to think about it more, why do they have these problems in their countries? Western countries are destroying their country right? I hear how they keep asking us joining their army for some unknown reason. They break arab countries etc. and peoole need to go away. One refugee showed me the pictureof their house. Why to destroy civilian houses? Maybe I should not comment any of this. It is so senseless. But it is still a lot a lot cheaper to help people in their own countries than drag them up here. One guy costs us 30 guys down there. The whole war thing is mindless. Why western countries mess with those countries? I hope somebody up in the ladder wises up and stop this circle of destruction and revenge, please. Thqnk you for considering what to do to stop your coutry from destroying far away countrje.Thank you for feeling sad for raped women. I wish the wars would end soon.

[@elisehill3574]

Watching this after the Texas school shooting 😞

[@valhenry9726]

gospel preaching Love your neighbor as yourself and Do unto others as you would have them do unto you see also matthew 5,6,7

[@angelfirelite]

True Val but, I must say, I am losing hope at 73, I see nothing getting better, very sad and depressed!

[@lindacamarata3592]

thanks for these insights..

[@yacovmitchenko1490]

In my view, it's fairly simple. Between births, we were given an opportunity to merge with God, or the Source. But due to fear or various impurities, we turned away and were drawn to a realm which best accords with or represents our tendencies, abilities, intelligence, and level of clarity. It is similar to dreams: we dream what we are, or rather, our dreams show our tendencies, predispositions, beliefs, fears and so on. It's pointless to wonder why our dreams are not much more beautiful than they are. Or rather: they're not more beautiful than they are because of certain unsavory qualities in our psyche which still bind us. So it is with waking reality. That can also help explain why certain bad things happen to "good" people. Apply my dream analogy here: in a dream you may be an innocent girl chased by a monster or rapist. The fact of the matter is that you are BOTH that girl and the monster, as well as the surroundings in which you find yourself. As your mind projects that dream, so it projects your waking reality.. You are not SO innocent or good as you presume. You would not dream of the monster unless the quality or trait of a monster was within you. So it logically follows that there is no injustice in the world, any more than your own dreams can be unjust to you. That at least is my own view. So it's not about God banishing us or sending us evil or hardship. Our own minds, due to impurities, cannot (usually) see God and collectively project this world of duality, of separation, along with everything that plagues humanity. As for "free will", I see the issue differently from Swedenborg. We don't have free will; the will itself, as it plays out here, is deterministic and implies a certain degree of confusion or uncertainty. We couldn't choose God, only a concept or idea of God. Our will is a concentration of desire, and desire is largely conditioned by our biology, environment, and culture. In other words, whatever we will can only be within the realm of cause and effect. Our chances improve when we don't will ANYTHING AT ALL, when the will and mind are completely inactive. Wordsworth's "wise passiveness" is a beautiful expression. Then something from beyond cause and effect may be glimpsed. It's a matter of clarity, or high intelligence and sensitivity, not of "free will". It has nothing to do with human beings having the freedom to establish a relationship with God. Rather, it has something to do with seeing through impurities and realizing one IS God.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Thanks for sharing your perspective, yacov. Interesting points to ponder!

[@GiniaMarie1]

Oh Man!! I missed the broadcast. phooey, had trouble loading it but I could listen along to some of it. It was great and I'm very much looking forward to next week! I hope I can figure out what went wrong tonight.

[@offTheLeftEye]

+Gini Winslow Let us know if you have any more problems watching the show!

[@gabemccall3523]

Agreed, nice reminder that God has a plan for good. And yes, got to truly have freewill. That's what makes us....us! Good show, Good spiritual food!

[@offTheLeftEye]

Thank you, Gabe! Glad that this food is satisfying to you. Did you try e-mailing us so we can talk about you joining Curtis and Jonathan in a future chat show? You can use the private message feature in KZbin, or message the Off The Left Eye Facebook page, or e-mail us at [e-mail]

[@gabemccall3523]

offTheLeftEye I have not yet but when I get home tonight I will. ☺

[@randydiluzio8269]

Hello, very good video, thank you. This video did answer a lot of my question about why evil exist. I like the way the video explained how free will flows through the divine design, but can manifest itself. in different forms. It made me feel better about life in general. I forget sometimes, Swedenborg sees the world through a higher spiritual lens then we do. Best regards, Randy DiLuzio.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Thanks so much, Randy! It means a lot to us to know that these concepts were helpful, and gave you a more positive view of life. Yes, we have to be able to look at life through a higher lens, and Swedenborg was given the job of offering us a higher lens! Wishing you well.

[@randydiluzio8269]

Same to good people!! All The Best, Randy.

[@joyborazjani2355]

Providence-tinted glasses. :D Such a powerful and deep episode! Thank you!

[@offTheLeftEye]

That was a fun one!

[@jewellee2363]

I'm a new sub to this channel, was sent by Jacob Israel. so many things are finally making sense to me. thank you❤

[@offTheLeftEye]

Your'e very welcome! We're so glad to have you here, and glad that the ideas are resonating with you! Curtis hopes to exchange interviews with Jacob sometime in the coming year. God bless!

[@jewellee2363]

@@offTheLeftEye that would be awesome!!! I'm looking forward to it❤

[@PhillipLWilcher]

There is no one else quite like you, and in that is to be found your freedom. However, it is not in the will to do what you want, but in the want to will what is right. Our independence can only be sustained by a shared commitment that seeks the resolution to this one question: how ought we best live together that neither forsakes the self or takes for granted life's togetherness. Suffice it to say, freedom is not free.

[@kelitaanan8683]

Phillip Wilcher

[@EarInn]

Well said, Phillip Wilcher. Freedom is not free. Understanding, acknowledgement, and will (surrender) are required.

[@PhillipLWilcher]

To enter our entirety is to enter eternity. Eternity : entirety.

[@FAPPJAPPDAPP]

Life is hard and then we die, thank God for that, we all go sooner than later, and remember that God sees all and know when its our time. Death is beautiful for the good, better do good and have something to look forward to, for this death is a most delightful one for those who understand.

[@offTheLeftEye]

I certainly appreciate your point in light of the pain that many carry in this life. Are you struggling with something big right now?

[@PhillipLWilcher]

Bad things happen for the same reason good things happen: to teach us about love and compassion. Everything, for better or worse, is but a variation on a theme, and that theme is always love. More manifest in our suffering, it instils the will to survive: Within each hurt its healing, Within each healing heart, The grace of love forgiving, When forgiveness we impart.

[@texasoutlook60]

We want our children to love us because they want to not because their have to. The same can be said with our God thus we have free will.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Beautiful insight! Thanks for sharing that.

[@8888888Lu]

This is great knowledge

[@offTheLeftEye]

I'm so glad this resonated with you, Luciana. Thank you for watching!

[@8888888Lu]

Have you ever heard of spiritism? It´s very similar to what you are saying.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Interestingly, the spiritism movement of the Victorian age was fueled by Swedenborg's writings.

[@8888888Lu]

It's funny I study spiritism for many years, but I had never heard of Swedenborg before. Now I have watched many of your videos and everything seems the same. Do you know Allan Kardec?

[@offTheLeftEye]

No, sorry, I don't know about Allan Kardec. Does he have a spiritual philosophy that you like?

[@TammyLoveLife]

LOL The Scissors Bit!!! 😁

[@offTheLeftEye]

:D

[@kirsten5723]

I think Pema Chondren said, "You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather. "

[@Bill99Cass]

This brings to mind the story of the prodical son. The good son who stayed home and was a good rule follower Learned nothing while the prodical learned everything.

[@offTheLeftEye]

That's an interesting connection, Bill Cass, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@julianbristow4793]

Concerning the Devine Design: If there is freedom ( that is, with ourselves in different amounts ) then I would definitely believe in, or choose what is GOOD and TRUE with the Lord, even if we lost most of that freedom with the fall of man. …….I liked what Swedenborg said about threefold and fourfold atmospheres. That is, the one being purer than the other. I suppose that God could do that in an orderly fashion. It’s a little confusing to understand at first, but makes sense as you keep repeating it to yourself. ……How God can take a troubled atmosphere and make it better by compounding it from a previous atmosphere is fantastic! ……Being a “prisoner” of this world with so many limitations, is bad enough, but thought of actually being “ free” to serve the Lord , would be the greatest thing❤️🙂😃

[@offTheLeftEye]

Full spiritual freedom ahead, Julian! And I see that even though you do feel imprisoned sometimes in this earthly life, your spirit is still using its freedom to choose the Lord! So it seems to me you're on the path. Blessings to you!

[@julianbristow4793]

@@offTheLeftEye Thanks, that’s inspirational❤️🙂

[@julianbristow4793]

Upon revisiting this video, I was thinking that we are born not knowing what good or evil is. Depending on the circumstances and conditions we are brought up or raised in , can influence a form of thinking that is either good or evil or a combination of both. I suppose our free will chooses which is best for us. We follow our loves and desires. I wanted to be a good person, but that didn’t happen. That was my choice or desire, but evil was in there and I didn’t want that but got it anyway so there are things or forces that are beyond our control that can invade us of violate us against our wishes. I suppose we are imperfect and flawed while we are here on the earth. I believe God can regenerate us towards good if we wish, one step at as time. ❤️😃👍🏻

[@offTheLeftEye]

Well said, Julian. Indeed, Swedenborg said we can do nothing good of our own accord - only with God's help. So yes, God can regenerate us, with our consent and desire, as you say! And thank God for it, because a life of love is so much more peaceful and fulfilling than one without!

[@julianbristow4793]

@@offTheLeftEye ....How true that is! ...A life of love! ❤️ It seems we have to work at being good, but not evil, that takes no work. It can scoop us up if we are idle or unaware. 😊

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@julianbristow4793 it takes no work to be evil - but it sure does come with consequences! I think of a phrase I hear a lot about junk food - "A moment on the lips, forever on the hips." LOL.

[@julianbristow4793]

@@offTheLeftEye That was funny, yes, I see what you mean!.😊😊

[@debramercer1138]

@@julianbristow4793 Julian, don't forget you wouldn't be who you are at this very moment without freewill, ya know? 😁✌️

[@PsycheDismantled]

Do a show on magical arts! Yes Yes!

[@denzilzulu4327]

The example of the lottery was a good one Curtis......lol

[@offTheLeftEye]

Glad that one tickled your funny bone, Denzil!

[@ts7628]

Thank you Curtis for this show especially ( children in heaven)Swedenborg show brings so much comfort to me and my husband since the unexpected of our only child 13 years old son year 2020.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Oh T S -- What an unbearable loss! I'm so glad you can find some comfort in Swedenborg's reports about the reality of the afterlife and God's all-encompassing love. Blessings to you as you carry on without your son, looking forward to an eventual joyful reunion!

[@friarjimmy]

Part of it is that the Almighty has allowed us free will, and many of us flawed people use this free will to do horrible things.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Yes, our gift of freedom is what makes us truly human. Yet all things left in freedom have the capacity to be abused.

[@eagyinjection]

All these horrible things emenate from abusive childhoods. If god truly loved us , would he have given us abusive parents or is this part of a bigger plan. Also there is no real free will. Everyone on the plannet has to do the will of God or you will go to hell

[@leftstanding]

I think I understand why if there's love, then with knowledge there must also be evil (since evil is basically a perversion of love), and also that love cannot force evil because then it's not love. That more or less explains why there's evil and it is allowed to certain degrees, but I still don't understand why evils like natural disasters and cruelty and suffering in the animal kingdom exists, much of which doesn't seem to contribute to our spiritual development (much of which even goes unnoticed) or the good of the world.

[@offTheLeftEye]

I can relate! Some of my questions are left unanswered, too. There are some things we may never understand, not in this life. But in service of trying to understand the best we can, we can open ourselves to learning through prayer, reading (and watching!), reflection, and action. In my own life it has helped me tremendously to read Swedenborg's book called Divine Providence to try to get a handle on why things are the way they are -- and what it is I should be doing about it. That book helped me understand when to yield, accepting things as they are -- and also when to exert myself and participate in making a change. I will never be able to harness a hurricane, but I can use less plastic. I can do something small and good to prevent my own actions from contributing to global warming. I can take responsibility for my part. Small, good things. That's where my hope is! --Kendall

[@leftstanding]

@@offTheLeftEye I'll check that out, thank you for your recommendation, Kendall!! :) As far as natural disasters goes, the best nonanswer I have for it is that the earth wouldn't exist without them. And similarly as far as the cruelty in the animal kingdom, we wouldn't exist without them. Of course, this isn't a satisfactory answer, but maybe in the afterlife where the connection between the spiritual world and the material becomes evident, we can finally reach an understanding. At least there's that hope.

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@leftstanding Yes, absolutely, all of these kinds of questions can be answered in the afterlife, where everything can be seen from a spiritual perspective. There are many reports of NDEs in which the person received satisfying answers to their most burning questions. Often the person couldn't remember the answers when they came back into their physical bodies, probably because the answers were beyond earthly understanding. But they were left with the strong feeling and knowledge that there ARE answers, and that everything does make sense when seen from that perspective!

[@leftstanding]

@@offTheLeftEye Kind of like the man mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12 who "heard unspeakable words" in the 3rd heaven. Ugh, this is all very frustrating. XD

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@leftstanding I know! I wish we could know it all! And yet, I think there are some answers we have to build to, that we're not yet ready for. Like how we can't go on a roller coaster ride until we're a certain height...we have to grow into certain awareness before we can know certain things. So I think the answers come when we need them, and when we're ready - but not necessarily when we want them! You might like this clip about spiritual awakenings - I hope it's reassuring that you are on the right path, and things will open up for you! "Signs of A Spiritual Awakening Explained [Quick Answer]" kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGG7h2ChmNxmoLM

[@sharapalmer7024]

Hi OTLE, Could you all pray for me? I have contracted that virus and I'm a little sick. My son came over and now I'm sure he is a "carrier". He stayed with me a couple days, they were good day's and the Lord did some healing in his mind, it was amazing to watch. Anyway, I've got a mild form of the virus. I am sick but not as bad as it could be. I know the Lord is watching over me or Iol, I would be dead. Thanks so much...Shara

[@offTheLeftEye]

Shara, of course we will pray for you! I'm so sorry to hear you have the virus, and hoping you are one of the many who recover quickly! I'm glad your son was there for you. He will just have to do some strick quarantine for a couple weeks and then I am sure he will be fine to carry on, but I have no doubt it was worth any risk for him to be there for you. I'm glad you went through healing together, even if it was different times. Stay well and stay positive! Nothing can be more useful than giving yourself a ton of love during this time. Keep us posted, we are thinking of you.

[@momon1828]

thanks sometimes we need to let GOD be GOD

[@TammyLoveLife]

LOL Keep up the Scissors bits :-D

[@offTheLeftEye]

Ha ha, thanks Tammy, we aim to please!

[@CherylSllane]

What is the random bell sound coming from, is this from the channel?

[@offTheLeftEye]

Hmm I am not sure Cheryl. Does it happen with other videos as well?

[@elisabethn7962]

Either you get influenced by things, or you influence things

[@offTheLeftEye]

Yes! Both are happening. We can't choose what influences come at us, but we can choose how to respond, and what kind of influences to pass along.

[@Daev777]

I would listen to a show on the Magical Arts... the most powerful thing someone once told me: "Your words cast spells, consciously or not"

[@offTheLeftEye]

Interesting way to think about it! I do believe that our thoughts and feelings have an effect on others. But I also believe that no one can take away our freewill about how to react to any thoughts or feelings that come our way.

[@213mrclean]

You know Kurtis Swedenborg is right when he says its our selfish nature that we must overcome, Its like we are all little children fighting over toys (That's mine give it back... Give it back now!!!) We have all seen and heard children fight over stuff, But the point is we are suppose to grow up past that, evolve... But some people just don't I wonder why that is?

[@danmartinez5752]

Gerald Brush I have trouble with that...trauma maybe?

[@dianematlock7922]

No not trama alliance, merging with the pain intensifies it...it becomes your only focus...what you pay attention to is drawn to you...you get what you give...people assume that I am going to take care of them as if It why I am alive is to take care of their needs...I'm trying to fight my way out of a wet paper bag....the wetter it is,the harder it is to tear with your hands...when I'm trying to tear myself out..I need a cheerleader...this knowledge cheers me on...can't do what chu don't know how...this tells me how things work and why I feel the way I do...it brings me joy...Anita Baker reference...lol

[@brexitannia9703]

I asked this question when my daughter in law was killed in a senseless car crash caused to trugs, 2 months later my wife left me and our children this was in 2019 time heals and am in a good place now or at least a better place ! I couldn't understand why God had let her go especially when I prayed for her but she was still killed... What was the point in prayer??? I still have faith but at time I question WHY ? Thanks for your videos.

[@offTheLeftEye]

WHY is definitely the huge and ongoing question, Swedenborg Golborne! My heart goes out to you for the painful losses you've endured, and I'm glad to hear you feel somewhat healed by the passage of time. A few of our videos come to mind, in response to your comment. Try them out and see if they speak to you! "The WHY is Everything: A Cellular Blueprint for Life" -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGq6lmtvfK-JsNU "What is the Most Effective Prayer?" -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZXHdaN4lMR0f6c "Prayers for Receiving God's Will Need to Be Specific" -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/jovamKWMrZmtrcU "6 Spiritual Powers of the Lord's Prayer" -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpXToYWAZ9mKjaM Blessings to you as you carry your questions in your life!

[@brexitannia9703]

@@offTheLeftEye Thankyou very much for your kind reply it's much appreciated and I will look at the links you sent me. May I wish you a very happy and blessed New Year 2022 😊❤️

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@brexitannia9703 We are wishing you many blessings in 2022 as well! God bless!

[@TammyLoveLife]

I have bifocals too Curtis.. and the bifocal contact lenses. They use to use one eye for the near and other for far distance.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Some people still do that, Tammy! Can't wrap my head around how that would feel, but the amazing brain seems to adjust!

[@TammyLoveLife]

I use to have the one eye as that and the other as the other distance. Worked just fine :-) I now have the multifocal ones (Bifocal)

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@TammyLoveLife Awesome! I'm glad you keep finding good ways to have your vision doing what you need it to do.

[@PhillipLWilcher]

"God acts within his own design" because God IS the design, in as much as the existence of God does not make sense to me, it IS a sense to me.

[@AdriBraam]

Hi +Phillip Wilcher Maybe this detailed explanation by Swedenborg will help. It will connect our 'condition' and design to the Source of our image and likeness. webhome.idirect.com/~abraam/documents/DLW.pdf Please enjoy. Also, many pages have references to this book: webhome.idirect.com/~abraam/documents/DP.pdf Have a great weekend.

[@PhillipLWilcher]

+Adriaan Braam Thank you Adriaan. I am presently awaiting the arrival of several of Swedenborg's books that I have ordered through Amazon. Meanwhile, and just for the moment, on reading the first line about the nature of divine love in the first clip you kindly sent me, these two thoughts immediately came to mind which I will share with you while they remain urgent: 1. Through understanding the need for love, can we understand the nature of love. 2. When logic steps back, love walks in. Recently, there came to me by way of awareness the most beautiful of all realisations, that when you feel the presence of Jesus in your life, you see his presence in all things. Thank you again for the links. I will enjoy them as I appreciate you sending me them. Blessings to you!

[@AdriBraam]

Thank you Phil, and have a great read. Very much appreciate your deep thoughts.

[@PhillipLWilcher]

Adriaan Braam Thank you Adriaan. It is pleasure to meet you here. I am relatively new to this channel but it is quickly becoming the ONLY channel for me here at KZbin. It feels like home. Blessings!

[@AdriBraam]

So much thanks for your kind words!! Yes, there is lot to watch :)

[@marshtubbs9999]

I actually laughed out loud at the scissors thing.

[@offTheLeftEye]

:) Glad you enjoyed that!

[@johnm2856]

Bad things happen to help you learn lessons a free will can understand in binary? You missed a great show, but Im still undecided on thunming up or down. watch it and thumbs up its 63 to 4

[@sumanghosh-pb3dw]

Answers in NDEs: 20:47 - NDE of lady - 8th sentence 21:33 - images began 2 appear. It all made sense. 22:08 - now I get it 29:23 - There are no "laws of permission".... God can't keep bad things from happenin (4th n 5th sentences). 39:12 - why is war allowed to happen? If there is a God I don't think he wants 2 interfere with what happens. Also some one said he gave us free will so if he intervened in things we would't have free will. Sometimes prayers may b answered. I've heard a few cases where prayers may have been answered. 41:22 - Emanuel said wars r caused by spiritual wars. 1:10:16 - can murderers reincarnate? (1:10:31) - Emanuel said no. Emanuel talks about people bein killed n askin killr y they killed them. It's obvious there killr killd. 1:18 :46 - Emanuel said there's lots of evil in spirit world.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Yes, I also remember reading that wars happened if they were the only way we could learn - if there was no other way to overcome something. Maybe it's the same in the spiritual world, since we are deeply connected to spirits. You might like this short clip, suman ghosh; "Can Evil Spirits Be Reborn to get A Second Chance?" kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqilgWSOpa6Xhrc or our episode on reincarnation, "Do We Reincarnate?" kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYe8fHicpdOroJI

[@katiec3768]

Great video! I was wondering if you could address the bad things and suffering that happens to animals. I have heard the atheist argument that a loving God wouldn't create a world where animals die painful deaths or suffer. I'd love to know how to best respond. Thanks again for all that you do!

[@offTheLeftEye]

Glad you enjoyed this one, Katie! I'm hoping that our series "God and Evil" can provide you with some helpful talking points. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5fTiZWNmrqba6c

[@katiec3768]

@@offTheLeftEye thank you very much!

[@offTheLeftEye]

We are glad to have you in this conversation Katie. We all have more to learn. @@katiec3768

[@tnworks]

Not sure I am understanding this. I get the part about hidden Divine Providence, however, what of those who just seek wealth, and get it. Or, those who seek power and get it... only to be used against others? The part of the Bible that says, ""the meek will inherit the earth," I believe is true. However, in the meantime, many meek are being stepped on, punished degraded and or killed so that ""others" can profit by it. An example would be all those people who got scammed by the banks with bad mortgage loans, only to have their house taken from them by that same bank. They were left with nothing... and these were good people. And, the CEO's of the bank did not receive any punishment but instead, got increased bonuses of millions of dollars. To date, not one person named responsible has had criminal charges brought against them. We can say, this is the storm, that something good comes from it, but yet, what good has come from it that shows people here that there is responsibility for bad action. Or, that a higher mindset evolved from it? They passed a law that was suppose to protect individuals from this ever happening again. Okay, that is good. However, in 2015, they repealed it, again allowing the banks the opportunity to do it again, holding the people responsible. My point is this. If people do not "see" consequences of bad behavior, then they too decide it is okay to do bad things. We "see" evil acting out every day. And though their may be Divine Providence, it is mostly hidden. So, people do not recognize it and having only evil as their 'sight"allows, tend to move in that direction. I do not understand why God has to be SO hidden, to the point that you can only have faith that He exists. I don't know, maybe having the words ""I am watching"" appear in the clouds over every place people live in the world at the same time would do it. Just something that lets people know that yes, there is free will, but it doesn't mean there are not consequences. You mentioned the Holocaust and how that moved people. However, today, there are many groups of people that believe it did not really happen or say that the job wasn't finished and needs to be. There is more hate and division in the US then ever before. These are the things I see that I do not understand. The only thing that I can guess from it is that maybe its time to close up shop and God is letting us run ourselves fully into the ground. It is hard to see because of all those who are good that are casualties in this. And yes, I know ultimately there are no casualties but here on earth, people are being robbed of their opportunity to grow in spirit here, which I imagine is important or we wouldn't be here. Sorry for the long text but I am becoming more and more disheartened with society and, instead of engaging in it, to share in the love and joy of the human spirit, I am withdrawing from it. That doesn't seem right either.

[@carolinapoorboy]

Don't have an answer, but I share in your frustration.

[@now591]

This is why I do believe in "reincarnation", and that souls incarnate again & again till they've learned everything. I do believe that those who do harm come back and get to be at the receiving end of the same thing they "dished out" . I think that the earth plane is like a giant refinery.

[@julianbristow4793]

I was noting what Swedenborg said... “There are also permissions whereby spirits who think they are powerful enough to accomplish anything, claim to have the power on their own to arouse evils in mankind, and engage in other unallowable and unlawful activities, trying any of numerous methods, even unlawful ones usually employed in working wonders - thus “ magical arts”.....A question. Was there any video made on “ magical arts”? In the video, Curtis was thinking about producing one. I’m not sure if one was ever made or not. Or maybe there is a video, but with a different name? 😊😊😃👍🏻

[@offTheLeftEye]

Hmmmm, Julian -- not ringing a bell. I'll let you know if I can think of one!

[@julianbristow4793]

@@offTheLeftEye Okay, 😊 thanks! ..... I heard Curtis saying that they should make a video about that ( magical arts) ....... I wonder, could it have been about enchantments? There was a News From Heaven video called “ What are Enchantments “ it aired about 3 weeks ago. Maybe that was about the magical arts? . The reason I’m so interested is because it’s so easy to fall into misleading deception here in the physical world. Evil can always capitalize on the magical arts to fool innocent people.

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@julianbristow4793 yes, we did touch on that idea there! "What Enchantments Are" kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnu3aaOJeZV1r5Y if you're interested! It can - and Curtis suggests it does so in ways we don't always see for what they are! Check it out!

[@julianbristow4793]

@@offTheLeftEye .........Thanks! 😊❤️..and yes, that was probably the one. ...It’s so easy these days to open a portal for these evil spirits to enter. Swedenborg seems to have dealt with his own evil spirits at the time. The more you know, the better you can protect yourself. Life is challenging enough, without evil spirits becoming part of the game.👍🏻

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@julianbristow4793 Yes, that's exactly it -- the more you know, the better you can keep yourself protected! Evil spirits want to stay hidden so we don't notice their influence, but when exposed, they are actually very powerless!

[@Maravedi44]

This Earth is awful @ the momemt. The past 2 years have been horrific. I've lost everything. So sick of the corruption here.

[@offTheLeftEye]

I'm so sorry to hear you've lost everything, tHRS. Such an unbelievable era we're in. I pray every day for enlightenment for each human being, and a healing of corruption in all its forms. Wishing you blessings ahead!

[@Maravedi44]

@@offTheLeftEye can i ask... if a man lives his adult life happy, vivaciously, everyday trying to serve others, seek truth, and draw nearer to God.. but in a period of deep depression and regret, takes his own life, what, in your esteemation are the spiritual ramifications?

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@Maravedi44 my dear friend, first of all, please consider reaching out to a therapist or qualified counselor! You may also want to try the suicide lifeline if you need someone to speak with. Here is the number: 1-800-273-8255 Melissa here, and I have asked that same question, and been in dark places. I believe in Swedenborg's writings, though, and Swedenborg believes we continue on in the afterlife, with whatever state of mind we are in here. That means that if we commit suicide, we must still face whatever it is that led to that choice, in this life or the next. And because our spiritual state manifests literally as our surroundings, clothing, etc., dealing with that state may be even more challenging in the afterlife than it is here. Have you ever seen "What Dreams May Come" with Robin Williams? That film is based on Swedenborgian ideas, and portrays a character whose suicide traps her in a miserable state in the afterlife, with visuals to match her state of mind. No one goes to hell because of suicide - but in a way, we're already in hell when we want to commit suicide. We would end up in the world of spirits, working through that state in whatever way is appropriate to us, depending on who we are, why we left, and what our needs were. Here are some clips that may be useful: "Do Suicides Go To Hell?" kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIK7mGhtps-gbck "What Happens After Death if Mental Illness Blocked Rationality" kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5XIY2qQh7Gom6c and full length episodes, "The World of Spirits" kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6DEgaqer6l7ja8 or "Spiritual Detoxing" kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWbbqYKOepKtbZY Remember, things may be very hard, but you are deeply loved, your life is meaningful and purposeful (even if it doesn't feel that way), and I pray you find peace and love!

[@Maravedi44]

@@offTheLeftEye ugh, truly trapped!! I had the whole floor fall out from underneath me, life has become miserable.. Was looking for relief and love on the other side..

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@Maravedi44 You are experiencing a time of "rock bottom," which is a very hard place to be. But if you turn to God for strength, you can be led to a new beginning. Ask God to guide you about how to move forward, and then be patient. Reach out to others for help, because God helps us through each other. Just take one step at a time. Just take one day at a time, finding the best way to get through. God can bring good out of everything that happens to us. Picture yourself just a little while in your future looking back and saying, "Wow, that was VERY hard, but things have gotten better now." Because that is what will happen. You will find a new path. Find counseling or a friend to talk to, to help you grieve and let go of what you have lost, and then open up to what will come next. There are countless stories out there of people who lost everything in one way or another, and gradually found a new path that is often even better than the previous life. Hang in there, friend! Here is a video about the good things that can be happening in our spirits as we go through hard times: "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People" kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnmxqnqhj9uasLc

[@pamelacollins1153]

According to Swedenborg, God will not allow evil that does not have some kind of positive side effect. Does that mean God will not allow us to destroy the Earth’s climate beyond repair? How bad will He allow it to get before He steps in because we are running out of time. We need to start praying hard for those working on the answers.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Those are big questions, Pamela! I don't know that we have answers for them. But one thing to do is to try to think spiritually, rather than physically, about it. Swedenborg says the purpose of all of creation is that there may be a heaven made up of the human race -- interesting that the purpose is not the planet itself. God sees the eternal, infinite view, not the temporal one. God is leading us all, at all times, toward everlasting happiness. God's providence covers every single moment and is always working to bring good from bad situations. I don't know how that mathematically adds up to the fate of this planet, but I try not to worry about it, and just do my part in loving our earth! Such a non-satisfactory answer, I know. I'm just trying to apply spiritual principles to the big questions of life -- and sometimes we just have to keep asking the questions! Blessings to you and your compassionate heart, Pamela!

[@pamelacollins1153]

offTheLeftEye think you for an honest, beautiful answer. The Lord is ultimately in control and Heaven is the goal. Thank you 🙏

[@silpheedTandy]

17:32 arg, i hope i can find a more recent video explaining this topic. this background music is so distracting (loud and percussive) that i cannot process what the guy is saying. it's so frustrating that i've given up on trying to watch this video.

[@offTheLeftEye]

I am so sorry that it is distracting for you Silpheed. Have you tried just reading subtitles? Here is a newer video that might have better balance. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5fTiZWNmrqba6c

[@silpheedTandy]

@@offTheLeftEye thank you for that link, and for graciously reading my expression of frustration. i wish KZbin had a feature powered by Artificial Intelligence that could lower background music for me; it's so easy for content creators to put their background music loud enough to be distracting (esp to audio-processing sensitive viewers like myself!). what i tend to do with KZbin is i often only listen to it while in bed, when i don't have the energy to sit up and watch. it's especially helpful in depressions. i have indeed been glad to have found that the newer videos tend to be listenable for me on this channel. i might not always agree with them [sometimes i disagree very strongly!] but i appreciate the host's sincerity. especially when he shares some of his own personal life or personal experiences along with the material.

[@offTheLeftEye]

We are glad to be in this conversation with you Slipheed. Yes, feel free to watch the newer ones, and to disagree with what does not sit well for you. We do not want to "convince" you of anything, just offer ideas and possibilities for you to explore and take what works. @@silpheedTandy

[@JohnCamara7dominion7]

Would you link me to your video about Adam and Eve? Also, did you do a video on hell? If so, would you link me?

[@offTheLeftEye]

Sure, Juan. Here's "The Meaning of Adam and Eve" -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIfPh3WFqLxooM0. And we have lots of videos that talk about hell, but here's perhaps a good overview: "What is Hell Really Like?" -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYmmgGSGa9dggdk

[@LittleKitty22]

I'm familiar with the concept that everything that happens, happens for a reason, and that even terrible things have a reason. My grandma always taught me that everything happens for a reason. However, there are things that are so terrible that they don't achieve anything good. What about such things? For example, my cat's very brutal murder. Since that happened, 13 years ago, I have only suffered, haunted by what has been done to my cat 24 hours a day! The agony is beyond words, made worse by the fact that I can do nothing to get justice for him - and his murderer is living just a few doors from me now, stalking and watching me every day, taunting me, vandalizing my cat's grave all the time! He is sdragging my name through the mud with very extensive smear campaigns, he stalks other women, he touches children - you name it he does it, but police side with him because he's a local celebrity and wealthy - and a freemason like them! I'm not the same as before the brutal murder of my cat, the happiness I had with my cat is gone, and I am especially haunted by how brutally he got murdered - if he had died naturally I could live with it, but the way he died haunts me all the time! Nothing good has come from this, no one has learned anything from it, nothing has changed for the better through this. Same with all the needless abuse I had to suffer, or my grandma's murder, nothing good has come from it - but what got done to my cat is by far the worst. The murderer has been hunting me over several millenia, he already committed murders over 3,000 years ago when he murdered my then husband and me, and he has committed many more crimes over the millenia - he has been a slave owner and all sorts, and boy did he enjoy torturing his slaves! He has taken things he had no right to take, which is why he murdered already over 3,000 years ago, and he's been murdering ever since! Why can't this devil be stopped? There are some creatures that just shouldn't be alive, such as this thing, and it was the same with creatures like Hitler, Stalin, Mao and the likes!

[@offTheLeftEye]

My heart goes out to you for such horrific moments in your life, Little Kitty. According to Swedenborg, God's love doesn't want such things for us, of course, but God works to bring something of value out of it. Perhaps most of that value won't be discovered until we fully graduate to the spiritual world -- many people with NDEs report that they can see how everything in their life made sense, even the hard parts. But even now, I see in you a strong sense of what's right and a grasp of the importance of good boundaries. Might those be labeled as good things? I pray that you can find a sense of safety in your present life, and some kind and trustworthy people. I pray that you can let go of traumas from the past, and look for small blessings in your immediate circumstances. Even the love of your grandma is a deep blessing. I know it's a challenging concept, but here's a show we did called, "Life Isn't Fair.... Or Is It?" Maybe it's not helpful for you right now, but I offer it, just in case. kzbin.info/www/bejne/amOldnWng5V7abs. Wishing you peace!

[@LittleKitty22]

@@offTheLeftEye Thank you! Sadly, at present I have no one trustworthy in my life, and certainly no safety what with being stalked by my stalker and the r @ p e gangs that are so protected by the police here in the UK, a landlord that's constantly demanding to come into my home and to look not just into every room but also into my closets and cabinets, and doctors that refuse and operation and leave me profoundly disabled because they consider me unworthy of surgery. There is no safety in my life, just fear for my safety and my life all the time, never anyone to turn to, no one that even cares. I have experienced NDE's but they were horrible, it was during the time I kept getting arrested because of false allegations by someone who wanted me dead. I was already skeletal at the time as I couldn't eat due to the constant fear, and with then the police hounding me and subjecting me to torture - well, my tiny body gave out and I had several NDE's. They were awful! I was surrounded by screaming demons that were pulling my soul out of my body, they kept screaming in my ear and hanging around in my house mocking me! I'm not sure actually whether these were NDE's or just my soul being pulled out of my body, but I had none of the experiences typical of an NDE, such as a loving light and being surrounded by one's loved ones that have crossed over already. Nope, none of it, just screaming demons pulling my soul out, and me hovering above my body, observing everything in my house from there and observing my body lying there. I know I had the blessing of my cat and my grandma but both got taken from me, and so brutally. I really can't see what good can come out of this. But thank you for the link, I'll have a look at that video. Love and peace to you too!

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@LittleKitty22 Bless you, for being willing to offer peace and love to us even in the midst of your own suffering. That is the kind of innocence that God can infill. He does love you, Little Kitty. He is taking care of you. Hold that true idea close to you as a kind of protection from the fears. He does love you.

[@cheridavies5851]

at the age of 8 I ask why if God was love why he allowed some really bad things to happen to me as a child. I learned it was to help me grow stronger so I could help others with the same problems. If man could learn to use the bad as stepping stones to grow stronger and tell the evil to go it would help their lives to be better.

[@offTheLeftEye]

Cheri, I want to honor you in sharing this with us. I'm so sorry you had to experience some really bad things so early in childhood. These things can never be justified, but your wisdom having endured some hardships is really inspiring. Thank you so much for the willingness to be vulnerable and courageous.

[@laurelharris8519]

You've inspired me. Thank you so much.

[@sumanghosh-pb3dw]

1:11:09 - offthelefteye, a murdered person doesn't have 2 forgive murderer to reincarnate? Is that what is said here?

[@offTheLeftEye]

Good question, suman ghosh! Swedenborg doesn't really mention reincarnation. He seems to focus instead on our spiritual growth during our life on earth, and continued development in the spiritual world. This blog post discusses how Swedenborg's understanding of regeneration in the spiritual world is similar to the idea of reincarnation, which you might be interested to read: www.swedenborg.com/swedenborg-and-reincarnation/ And you can check our our episode on the subject, Do We Reincarnate? kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYe8fHicpdOroJI Let me know how that resonates with you!

[@cmariaconnie1985]

Why do bad things happen to good people?

[@AdriBraam]

+Maria C Bad things happen to everybody. and it happens to make us better and stronger, depending on how we respond. Our body can not become stronger by just thinking about it. We need action and friction and challenges. To become a stronger/better spirit we need to make the right responses to challenges and improve our loving character (which is who we are, and determines where we go).

[@cmariaconnie1985]

Good point totally understand what you are saying thanks.

[@leslieleong1213]

thanks. everyone said there are no punishment and just lessons to be learned. are there really lessons to be learned to romantic relationship separation pertinent? thank you....

[@offTheLeftEye]

+leslie leong Hey! You're very welcome. It seems that there can be lessons learned in all areas of life. We're actually doing an episode about romantic relationships tonight that you might find interesting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWixqq1setuFZ5o

[@leslieleong1213]

+offTheLeftEye ........thanks. i have in despair and despondent, forlornness for over 2 years since the breakup which is entirely my fault for not cherishing her. i went to the psychiatrist and it didn't help and everyday, i wanted to kill myself since there is no more hope to find anyone. i have waited so many years for her to come into my life and i ruined it. what shall do now? what is the point of living now being alone without romantic love? thanks

[@offTheLeftEye]

+leslie leong I'm so sorry for the pain you have gone through, Leslie. A broken heart is very hard to recover from. But do not think that you ruined your chance for love. It is most likely that this woman was not your soul-mate, but from being in a relationship with her and losing her, you have learned important things about cherishing your partner. Now you will understand more, and be better prepared, for when you meet your real soul-mate someday. You will not make the same mistakes. I know it is hard to wait, but earth life is very short compared to the eternity that you can spend with a soul mate. Keep working on becoming a more loving and useful person. That will help you grow closer to the soul of your soul-mate, and you will be all the more ready to love her when you find her, whether that happens on earth or in the afterlife.

[@leslieleong1213]

+offTheLeftEye thanks. i have bought some books from you and hope to understand more reading them.

[@AdriBraam]

+leslie leong Hi Leslie how are you doing? Very much hope you are using the approach and information from Swedenborg to your advantage. Sometimes people have to lose their job, their wife, their everything, before it dawns on a person that things have to change. But again, we are only here to learn. God will not punish anybody!! but shape his/her surroundings to fit perfectly with that person's character. There is nothing good about going to the other side, while we still have to learn important things here. God will bless you.

[@pachamaala3477]

whats with the black T-shirts Curtis?. just curious haha

[@offTheLeftEye]

Not sure why Curtis happens to have a number of black t-shirts. I'd say, many people have a lot of "basic black" in their wardrobe, but, most of them aren't show hosts! :)

[@katarinasmith4351]

Still don't understand why children and animals have to suffer such abuse. No satisfactory answer to that.

[@hopespringseternal7028]

THEY SUFFER BECAUSE EVIL HAS CONTROL OF THIS REALM. sry caps... :)

[@lyndsey.malaniamarie]

why do bad things Happen to people who don't deserve it? why do people poke fun and joke around about serious matters and exploit others misfortunes?

[@XYZ___976]

Theodicy anyone?

[@JohnCamara7dominion7]

So called "free" will is not logically possible. "Psychologists need to comprehend that the logic of the physical universe - indeed, any possible universe - rules out free choice, and irrespective of the indeterminism of quantum theory. Why? Well, because who a person happens to be from a moral point of view cannot possibly be under his or her control. To be responsible for how they act they would have to be responsible for how they are, and to be responsible for how they are they would have had to have created themselves, and no one can be the causa sui, the ultimate ‘cause of oneself’, because in order to do so, he or she would have to be in every sense his or her own parent, his or her own author. If you try to argue that a person has created himself or herself then you have to posit an earlier self that creates the later self, but then you note that the earlier self could not have created itself but must have been created by an earlier self, and you end up with an infinite regress of selves needed (Strawson, 1994). Yet, ultimately for libertarian free will you need an initial creator self, a ‘prime mover’ self, which is impossible to get to because how would it have come into existence?" - Excerpt from an essay on free will "Present-day libertarians tend to pin their hopes for free will on quantum mechanics, but the random chance of quantum theory has no connection whatsoever to the concept of ethical freedom; the freedom to choose, the freedom to will. Doing something because (hypothetically) a subatomic particle randomly moves inside your skull offers no more freedom than doing something because genes or culture dictate it. The quantum event may be uncaused, but your (hypothetical) resulting action would itself be caused by the quantum event. The action is therefore not uncaused, and it is most certainly not chosen or willed. Indeterminism cannot save free will for humankind, because if the mind is, at least in part, undetermined, then some things ‘just happen’ in it outside the laws of causation for which, by definition, nobody and nothing is responsible. An individual is not responsible if their actions are caused, because those actions were ultimately set in motion before they were even born. But an individual is also not responsible if some of their actions are uncaused, because those actions just came out of nowhere. To be freely choosing an individual would have to be free from both deterministic effects and indeterministic effects. Free from both A and not-A, as a logician would put it. To be freely choosing you cannot have A, but you cannot have not-A either; free choice requires something that cannot logically exist in this or any possible universe." - Excerpt from an essay on free will

[@offTheLeftEye]

Thanks for sharing these, Juan. We do believe in free will on this channel; that it's fundamental for any faith or spiritual growth in any of us, and a fundamental principle of human life. Swedenborg in fact believed that the Lord values our freedom so deeply, that "the Lord guards freedom in man, as man guards the apple of his eye." (Divine Providence §97 newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/divine-providence-ager/contents/970) Those quotes are complex and deep, and I (Melissa) am afraid that I don't have the ability to argue with them, nor do I want to. I believe I am free to choose my path in life, just as I can choose how I react and behave in any given moment, no matter what my circumstance and stimuli. In this way, I create my own reality. I am exercising choice and preference, thereby shaping my life and impacting those around me. I guess I don't question it much, because this makes sense to me. It *feels* true. But I can't tell you what's true, I only know what resonates with me. If life doesn't seem to have freedom for you, then I suppose you know how you can operate within that framework. To me, the purpose of life is to grow. Choosing *not* to grow may be painful, even punishing, but it's still a choice we can make, and often do! But if I embrace growth and expansion as a possibility for myself, and immerse myself in that possibility, I reap the rewards and see changes happening all around me! Our purpose may be set; to grow and love and expand. But our choice is whether or not to engage with that purpose. If we don't have a choice, then what is our purpose? We have no function. We are just like leaves, blowing in the wind, and everything is random and beyond our control. That doesn't resonate with me, and I'm content with the concept of free will as part of my reality. But we all must examine what we know and what we've learned and shape our destiny and our beliefs from that! May you find the truths that work for you, my friend! Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts with us!

[@JohnCamara7dominion7]

@@offTheLeftEye Did you choose to exist? No. Right? Why? Because you have to exist first to make that choice. Right? So then we must conclude that you have to know before you make a choice. But who fully knows all and every factor involved in the decision making process? Only God my friend. The rest of us are blind as can be when making decisions. We think we know what we are doing but we don't. It's a mirage. An illusion. And a prideful act to be exact. Lucifer's very own sin when he said, "I will". That's pride. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. - Luke 23:34 King James Version

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@JohnCamara7dominion7 thanks for sharing your perspective! I sure do agree that humility is vital to any relationship with God!

[@nightflight83]

God loves suffering.

[@TammyLoveLife]

Lol mediocre answers

[@offTheLeftEye]

We try, but we're only human! :)

[@TammyLoveLife]

No the answers are Very Good, I was repeating Curtis :-P

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@TammyLoveLife Oh, okay, thanks for clarifying! :) We have hundreds of shows in our library now, many from several years ago, so we can't remember what was being said in the older episodes! :D

[@TammyLoveLife]

Yes i have seen over 150 at least I think

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@TammyLoveLife We're so happy to know that you are out there in the audience, Tammy. Sending much love to you!