Descarte is credited with the saying, "Cogito ergo sum", or "I think, therefore I am", and western philosophy has been built on this gross error ever since.
Didn't he realize that "I" assumes, or presupposes existence, or state of being, before that existing being can engage in thinking?
Building on this, one cannot say that one has "nothing" to start with. We always have the state of our being, or our existence. We start from self. We can begin from knowing the reality of self. We can be aware of ourselves. And immediately thereon, we can realize, or be aware of how our existence, or self, is immediately contextualized by other selves, or beings, whether animate or otherwise.
At this point, I have no intention of entering into philosophical treatise, or its near corollaries - ontology and epistemology, but only to draw principles from these trains of thought for something very practical - how do we move forward and upwards in life.
A person rightfully, cannot say I have nothing. For that person actually has everything he needs, within himself, especially his thoughts, or the inner world. And especially if that individual begins with GOD, or from GOD, and is a believer of the One True and Living GOD. The knowledge of such brings a realization that an individual's existence is never alone. Coming from GOD, this individual realizes that GOD is closer, and almost the breath of his life. Doesn't this echo what Romans 10 says? That we do not need to bring GOD down, neither do we need to raise GOD from below. That GOD is near us - Emmmanuel - even the very words of our mouth - our confession, can manifest GOD. He has so chosen to be known, and to operate among us.
Coming back to the practical realities of life, an individual cannot say that "he has nothing"! He has his GOD created mind, and to realize the awesome truth that his existence is predicated upon GOD. He ought to quickly realize that he is "created in the image of GOD". Therefore, the very potential of GOD resides in him.
With this GOD given and GOD created mind, the individual is able to engage in GOD's modus operandi - creation and sustainability.
And how does the individual do this?
Again, the book of Genesis is a great place to begin our learning and realization of GOD's modus operandi.
Realize that Genesis chapter 1, verse 1 begins with, "In the beginning GOD…", and we are very quickly brought to a realization that we need to decide for ourselves, whether we too will choose to begin life, and the life of our mind, with GOD, or plunge into a life that is without form, empty, and dark.
However, let me get into my thesis now. No person begins with nothing. Even if you were born miserably, without parents, without money, you still have the great gift of a self from GOD. As you would begin to notice, I have chosen to begin with GOD. And this self is a gift from GOD. With GOD's potential, this wonderful self has the mindful capacity to think. And this ability to think is shown through the decisions it performs. Every individual is a decision making mindful being. And even when we don’t decide, guess what? We by default chose NOT to think. We are inherently decisive people. It's only the quality of our decisions which lead us to continue to become what we will become. It's also the quality of our thoughts which determine the quality of our lifestyles.
Coming back to Genesis chapter 1, I am always amazed that the Spirit of GOD brooded, or as the Hebrew would put it, "rachaph", flutter or move over nothingness, and even, darkness, and then produce something so beautiful - our present natural world, the heavens and the earth, all that we can see on the earth, and in the space of heaven.
So, taking a leaf out of GOD's modus operandi, I would really need to spend time over areas of nothingness or even darkness of my life, and together with the Holy Spirit, see what He is brooding over to create.
To be continued ...
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