I visit and write in these forums my views, my thoughts and my beliefs. If someone sees them worthy and adds them to their own I'm proud, I'm joyous and I'm thankful. But when I write and am ignored or have my words rephrased by someone else or worse still when my words are attributed to another no matter their qualifications then I'm saddened because then I'm nothing, I have no meaning, no value to speak of. For whatever reason it has been done it has been done to me and truly I don't understand why.
True I don't have the academic qualifications that others here have, but then I was lead to believe it wasn't necessary.
It's a bit of sadness creeping in that I feel I need to resort to this soliloquy in order to get things off my chest.

I am considered to be a part of my parents but I've moved on from there.
My mentors assume they have shaped who I am however I've formed my own opinions.
The books I have read have enlightened me no end but I'm a self-made man.
The world has moved on since I was young, so many things have happened that have rearranged the way I look at everything. Some of the information I took on from my days of learning no longer appears relevant.
In my younger days I was quick to judge and couldn't stand fools for very long. Now I look for friendship wherever I go.
Yet I have a clearer view of the world and the way things ought to be. I can now afford to look at events and give advise according to my experience. And young people no longer look at me as the fool at the pulpit rather a man of wisdom. No doubt it may be a fools wisdom fuelled by a biased point of view.
Without thinking or desiring I have become an elder in my congregation!