Not long ago someone told me that their place of work had recently asked him to come in on his day off because they were short staffed due to several call-offs. He chuckled and said that he had told them he was just finishing up a strenuous activity and would not be able to make it in, a statement that was not remotely true.
I asked him why he didn't simply tell them that he didn't want to work that day. He replied "because it's rude. I know it's the truth, but it would be rude to say something like that." I feel that the truth is often considered rude for various reasons and I find this rather appalling. Does one actually want to walk around ignorant to the truth? Does one who would lay punishment upon someone for speaking the truth desire to walk around like a fool?
When you punish someone for speaking the truth you are asking them to lie to you. People generally do not desire to face punishment and will do whatever it takes to avoid it. If a person is punished for speaking the truth then they will lie and he who hands out the punishment is not only punishing them, but punishing himself for he has condemned himself to ignorance.
He is afraid of that oh so simple truth because of the meaning behind it. He claims to love freedom and he wants to believe that he has ever tasted it, but this truth, his fear reveals more than what he wants to see. His fear reveals his bondage. He is not free, not free to tell the truth and not free tell his boss he does not wish to work even on the day that he is contractually supposed to be off.
Oh sure it's his day off and if he did tell his boss that he just didn't want to come in they certainly couldn't fire him for that, but he knows as well as I that he would be labeled "not a team player." His boss, not liking to have his authority undermined would have taken a disliking to him. He'd have been relegated to menial tasks, not respected and ultimately a reason would be found to fire him in order to set an example for the other employees. It doesn't matter if you're at work or not, your boss believes himself to be your king and not to obey his command will be met with deadly force.
His bosses unbridled lust for power is his undoing. The boss has condemned himself to ignorance. The boss' desire to punish those who would disobey him has not inspired them to obey, but instead to lie. Now the boss walks around his castle with little to no knowledge of what goes on in and around his castle. What kind of leader is ignorant to the facts? How can one effectively lead if they have no knowledge of the truth?
It was his day off and coming in would've been considered above and beyond his contractual obligations, but not coming in is considered a failure to perform to expectations. This is conflicting logic that is found all too often in the work place. This is conflicting logic that serves to reveal the true nature of the beast. They lust for power and will stop at nothing to ensure you remain under their command, that you remain a possession of theirs.
In some religions it is believed that one can be 'possessed' by a demon. I agree, but I feel they have misinterpreted the nature of this phenomenon. To be possessed by a demon is to be in their possession. The demons own you, they take money out from their pocket and purchase you as if you were any other object.
The demons do not take over one's body in some paranormal method, in fact it is quite normal these days. They control your actions through the use of fear, judgment, greed, lust, temptation and intolerance. Sure you can disobey their commands, but where will you go? What will you eat? Where will you live?
Be free from them I say, but forgive them and do not seek revenge for the demon knows not what they do. The demon's morals were taught to them by their parents. Parents who presided over such things as the Salem Witch Trials, the slaughter of Native American tribes, gladiatorial battles for sport, public executions and slavery.
Be free of them, but forgive them for they know not what they do.