A Rebel At 61--Or--No, I'll Not Sear My Conscience, Thank-you

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 

Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron."   ---1 Timothy 4:1,2


(Oh, and to be clear, this isn't just about wearing masks, but rather, much more than that.)

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This morning I hung laundry on my 30-year-old wooden clothes rack out on our front porch. Glorious out there it was, sunshine-bright, 67 breezy degrees.

Hanging laundry outside. That's a major reason I refuse to live under the thumb of a Home Owner's Association.

I'm here at my HOA-free, rather-tacky-looking 'hood because I want to--

Paint my house any (sane) color.
Plant any type flower.
Grow any size garden.
And hang lighted crosses in my windows.

I'm 61 and I love freedom. Oh, I know. People these days say we've only ever had quasi-freedom and perhaps that's true. But I know this: before Covid-19 that quasi-freedom felt good.

What we've instead had since March? A nightmare. One it's been hard shaking from my head (tho' I'm closer now).

Friends tell me, "Just accept this. It's no big deal." Former friends, that is. シ

Local government insists I wear a mask to every indoor place. Even have my temperature taken by strangers. They say I must play by their rules, these God-resenting, we-know-best-you-know-nothing-and-who-cares-if-you're-jobless? people with an agenda.

But I have an agenda, also. Mine? To not sear my conscience by consistently doing what I feel is wrong.


"Whatever is seared is burnt and is not the same as it was before, and so it is with the conscience."   --- Jack Wellman


I've worn a mask only 1 place: my dearly-loved cafe. Amy bakes things on Saturdays and we pick up our pre-orders. My desire to fight for this cafe's survival is so strong, I slip on a mask at the door, then 2 minutes later rip it off outside.

But I cancelled a dentist appt. because of the mask thing and about 5 other hoops they wanted us to jump through.
I've not visited one supermarket since covid-19.
Tom went to Goodwill alone on Saturday. He'd made the mistake of giving away his 'fat pants' after he lost weight and well, now.... (Don't tell him I mentioned that. heh.) And altho' I need spring and summer clothes? I'll wait or buy online. Tom had to not just wear a mask there, but have his temperature taken.  You, as a stranger, do not want to try taking my temperature. Er hem.

Go consistently doing what makes your conscience a bit sick and--

Suddenly you're watching movies that used to disgust you, 
Using language that would horrify your mother,
You're constantly complaining,
Living lazy in a sloppy house,
And snapping at your poor ol' spouse
Or worse--

Not for one moment have I pretended our Country's changes are fine with me. But I'm thankful for 2 things, especially. 1.) I'll never take freedom for granted again and 2.) I've become a much stronger person who'd rather obey God than man.

I'll not sear my conscience. I'll no longer do anything I feel is wrong just because powers-that-be tell me I must.

If that means I stay home forever, so be it.

And yes, many of you must wear masks at your jobs. I totally get that and am fine with it! (If I had a real job, I'd either wear one or use the opportunity to quit. Again, that's just me.) Please note I said I'll not do anything I feel is wrong for myself. I'll not sear my own conscience.

If I must take Sam The Cat to the vet and wear a mask? I'll do it because I'll run out of his life-saving pills if I don't. But I won't like it.

Many doctors say wearing masks is not only foolish, but unhealthy. I feel the same.

So I'm currently seeking a freer lifestyle where I don't wear a mask until the insanity is over (but then, yeah, it'll just be something else. That's our world today, especially in an election year).

But to keep doing what I feel is wrong for me? That's the kind of thing that will get me this: one morning I'll get out of bed, walk over to a mirror, then feel horrified by the stranger I see there.

And I can't risk that.

  And again, I'm not just talking masks here! What have you been told to do lately that your heart rebels against, but does anyway? What is making your soul uncomfortable?

"But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men."   --- Acts 5:29





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Oh, and here's a link to a short film version of George Orwell's 1984. Scary, but familiar stuff.

And speaking of George, I had to smile at this:

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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15