It was a year of great significance for me—spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. I learned a lot about myself and the human race. Humanity became clearer to me —specifically, the ontological problem we all share—a challenge we've faced since the beginning of time, but it has become much clearer. An understanding of my fallen nature became much clearer, and I believe God granted me the revelations I experienced because I have asked for clarity for years now.

Lately, I've been thinking that many of us, for generations now, have been living in a state of “crisis of belief.” I challenged myself to genuinely believe in what I am about to share with you, and I feel my life would be in a much better place if I truly did. As I read these words to myself, I constantly ask whether I genuinely believe what I just read. This is my way of personally addressing my crisis of faith and encouraging you to do the same.

The journey started with exploring the greats who came before me, and I soon discovered artists like Ansel Adams. He was the famous North American photographer known for his black and white images of the wild west. Then there was the Frenchman Cartier-Bresson, Alfred Stieglitz, Freeman Patterson, writer and photographer Vivian Maier, the street photographer, and a very notable photographer named Sebastião Salgado, the acclaimed Brazilian documentary photographer who traveled the globe for his projects and books during his lifetime. 

Regardless of how you see it, socialism has been the underlying cause of our challenges since Marx's time, insidiously permeating the very fabric of Western society. Now is the time to pull back the veil and confront the reality we’ve been facing.

I have memories of my childhood walking home from Catholic school, always needing to stay alert for the Protestant bullies who would wait to attack us on our way home in the afternoons. Being the oldest in the family, I was the apparent target. As a good kid, I didn’t understand the behavior directed at me. Was it because I looked odd in my school uniform, or was it due to being a Catholic kid in the minority facing racist behavior? I didn’t know why they wanted to be so cruel to me!

Before I conclude this “cosmological” problem, I want to express my belief that the historical aspect will present challenges for several reasons. Generally, we do not have access to many ancient manuscripts. The primary issue is that institutions like the Catholic Church hold the materials necessary to understand the history of the Western world specifically.

When I read this passage a decade ago, it became clear that I had a long way to go before I truly understood. And why was “it” hidden in Christ? That is for later. My thesis statement is that for any of us to grasp our existence and what it truly means to be human, we must align ourselves with Christ and start there to get it right, or we risk being just another “lost” barbarian making tracks on planet Earth, ultimately dying without ever comprehending it at all.

Our knowledge comes from various sources—books that spark our imagination, powerful sermons that inspire us, class lectures that expand our horizons, and mainstream news programs that inform us. However, it's crucial to recognize that much of what we hear aligns with the agendas of those in power, shaping our perception of reality.

In this common familial dynamic, the scapegoat takes on the responsibility for the character flaws of other members somewhat unconsciously. This enables the narcissistic family to project a façade of functionality and relational harmony to external observers. However, beneath this veneer lies emotional turmoil and the façade of pride that dictate their identities, resulting in persistent personal destruction. The scapegoated individual is a proxy for the family's transgressions, encapsulating their collective issues.

Despite our departure from the garden due to disobedience, God's love for us has never wavered. His efforts to engage with us and show us how much we mean to Him are a constant and unwavering presence in our lives, a source of security and cherished love.