The Great Debate
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Evil Mark: Hey, did you see? You have a chance to be 12 again, but know all that you know now
Good Mark: Wait, what?
Mark: Huh?
EM: That is what it says, you can be transformed into a 12 year old body and live life the way that you always wanted
M: Really? That’s, umm…
GM: Don’t do it!
EM: Why the hell not? He could do all the things that he should have done, erase all the mistakes that he made and make something of himself
GM: But he is something now
M: Yeah, wait…um…thanks?
EM: You know what I mean. He would know how to handle all the crap that came along
GM: You mean life?
EM: What?
GM: All that crap that came along defines who we are today.
EM: Whatever, he could be someone totally different. He could be even better than he could have ever dreamed of
GM: You really think so?
EM: Sure, why not. And along the way he can get even with all the people that hurt him, that made his life as screwed up as it became.
GM: There it is
EM: There what is?! I’m just saying that this is his chance for redemption
GM: You mean revenge?
EM: Whatever. It would be good for him
M: Guys, I’m right here
EM: We’ll get to you in a minute. All those coulda-woulda-shoulda moments, could be handled differently
GM: Why?
EM: What do you mean why? So that he could do better
GM: I like him the way he is
M: Umm….thanks
EM: Yeah, yeah. He’s a nice guy and all, but you have to admit, he made a lot of mistakes in his life
GM: Who hasn’t?
EM: You’re missing the point.
GM: No, actually you are missing the point. We are all defined by our thoughts and actions. He had to go through all the mistakes, all the heartache, all the hurt, all the loneliness, all the irresponsibility, all the self-righteous….
M: OK
GM: immature behavior, all the self-centered, center of the world thinking, all the…
M: I think he gets it
GM: self imposed inadequate thinking
M: STOP already…..!!
GM: To be the person that he is today. Doing it over is not just going to change him, it will change all of the people around him that love him and care about him. In fact some of them might not even exist if he does this
M: Huh?
GM: Everything that you have done, good or bad, has shaped who you are now. There is a plan for you
EM: Oh here we go
GM: There IS a plan for you, and it is not YOUR plan. You have meaning in all that you are, all that you think, all that you feel. Do you really think that going back and trying to do it all over again is a good thing?
EM: YES!!
M: Well, I have thought about it in the past, what I would do differently if I had the chance.
GM: Did you think it through to what you would lose if you did?
M: Not really I guess
GM: Do you like where you are now? Do you feel good about the direction that you are headed?
M: Yes, been a long time since I felt like I had a purpose, a direction
EM: You can find another purpose and an even better direction.
GM: It’s your call Mark.
EM: Don’t blow it man, this is a golden opportunity….
M: Opportunity for what? To try to change the way I think? Or Feel? What if I make even worse mistakes? I would still be me
EM: But you would be You and still have all this knowledge of the last 37 years.
M: But all that knowledge got me where I am today, and I like where I am so why would I go back and change it?
EM: Umm..
GM: Hah, evil Mark is speechless
EM: Shut up!
M: I’m gonna pass on becoming a 12 year old again, but thanks anyway for the offer