The trend these days of older friends of mine tends to be for them to give me advice on how to not screw up my life. These friends generally are between the ages of 22 and 30, and one way or another, our conversations always lead to how they wish they could go back to when they were in college and experience the "cliches" every college kid is supposed to go through. This thought always leads into them telling me how I should see the world while I'm in college, while I'm still able. Because once I get out of college and get a job, I'll be stuck there forever, cemented to the city in which my chosen profession resides.
It took me a while to understand why nearly everyone I know in this age range has at one time or another advised me on living more extremely and taking advantage of the unlimited freedom I possess in college. At first I questioned my way of living; am I too simplistic? Do I give off this vibe of bottled up excitement that seems to be wasted upon settling for not doing anything with my life?
After much self-speculation, I decided that wasn't it, for I live a pretty fulfilling life as it is. And I have concrete goals I intend to achieve prior to graduating; in fact, I've got them listed in a pretty little "to-do list" on my wall, which is rapidly depleting.
I then realized that each of these friends felt obligated to share with me all they've learned in hopes that I wouldn't make the same mistakes they did. It bothers them to no end, being in the real world, unsuccessful in accomplishing everything they'd dreamed of doing. So by warning me, they're reassuring themselves more so than legitly giving me advice. They want the comfort of knowing they may have saved someone from suffering the same sad fate they did.
So I decided, it's okay for friends to tell me to live life to the fullest. It can't hurt to have everyone rooting for you to succeed, after all.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
12 years old after 18 years on Earth
Lately I've been thinking. A lot actually, about how my greatest desire is to be an excellent writer, but anytime I write something other than an English paper, my writing takes on the voice of a twelve year old with a rather extensive vocabulary. Each time, I start writing with the intentions of sounding intelligent and making a valid argument or leaving the reader with something to ponder, and each time when I finish and reflect, I hear my little sister saying everything. Granted, she wouldn't understand half of what she's saying, but you get the gist.
I want to know how to go beyond this awful age I seem to be stuck at in all aspects of my life, looks included. (I had a middle aged woman tell me tonight, upon meeting me, I could easily be twelve.) I read all this great literature in English and am inspired by it, but I've yet to be satisfied with the maturity level of any of the writing I've produced.
So what must I do to take it to the next level?? How did all of these great writers get to be so successful?
Such questions plague my thoughts. The most logical answer I can muster is asking my English teacher for suggestions, but I'm pretty sure he already thinks I'm an idiot, so that's out of the question.
Odd thought for the day: mix Gardetto's and Chex Mix together, and you have the perfect ensemble of pretzels and salty goodness.
I want to know how to go beyond this awful age I seem to be stuck at in all aspects of my life, looks included. (I had a middle aged woman tell me tonight, upon meeting me, I could easily be twelve.) I read all this great literature in English and am inspired by it, but I've yet to be satisfied with the maturity level of any of the writing I've produced.
So what must I do to take it to the next level?? How did all of these great writers get to be so successful?
Such questions plague my thoughts. The most logical answer I can muster is asking my English teacher for suggestions, but I'm pretty sure he already thinks I'm an idiot, so that's out of the question.
Odd thought for the day: mix Gardetto's and Chex Mix together, and you have the perfect ensemble of pretzels and salty goodness.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Love is Here
The past few days God has been reminding me of and expanding on a huge aspect of my faith that I'd long forgotten, due to the pressures of the church I'd grown up in. 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."
The greatest of these is love. Paul captured the essence of Jesus' teachings in this statement. In all of Jesus' time on the earth, every second was spent loving God's people. His love for everyone was the greatest emphasis in his works. His ability to love even the worst of men shocked the world, and was intended to persuade his followers into lives of unconditional loving.
Today, we are called to be disciples of Christ. We are to go into all the nations and tell the world what Jesus has done for us, continuing his works. But I feel like society today gets caught up in the technicalities of religion and brushes off the most important part of the faith. Sadly, our modern day southern baptist churches tend to lean toward nothing more than a bunch of modern day Pharisees. We put so much emphasis on following the rules and doing good works that we neglect our real duties as followers of Christ: to grow in a relationship with God and to show his love to the world. I don't know about you, but it's been real easy for me to forget the "real" of Christianity and just focus on following the commandments laid out in the Bible. But when we do that, we harbor resentment and judgment in our hearts towards those who do not follow all the rules or say all the right things. Because we are so focused on the technicalities, we scorn those who are still lost, rather than being love so that they may understand and be found. Such hypocrisy! It's no wonder so many Americans are turned off by churches these days; we judge them before they have a chance to find God and be changed.
Jesus associated with the least of men, the tax collectors, thieves, and the greatest of sinners. He didn't discriminate, so what right do we have to stay comfortably within our small circle of "church friends" and ostracize the lost of the world? If we make love, sincerity, humility, and compassion the center of our lives, then being obedient will naturally follow.
The realization of how simple it can be to live for God and to be his light to the world gave new hope for my faith. My challenge for the world: be love.
And Matthew 22:37-39: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
The greatest of these is love. Paul captured the essence of Jesus' teachings in this statement. In all of Jesus' time on the earth, every second was spent loving God's people. His love for everyone was the greatest emphasis in his works. His ability to love even the worst of men shocked the world, and was intended to persuade his followers into lives of unconditional loving.
Today, we are called to be disciples of Christ. We are to go into all the nations and tell the world what Jesus has done for us, continuing his works. But I feel like society today gets caught up in the technicalities of religion and brushes off the most important part of the faith. Sadly, our modern day southern baptist churches tend to lean toward nothing more than a bunch of modern day Pharisees. We put so much emphasis on following the rules and doing good works that we neglect our real duties as followers of Christ: to grow in a relationship with God and to show his love to the world. I don't know about you, but it's been real easy for me to forget the "real" of Christianity and just focus on following the commandments laid out in the Bible. But when we do that, we harbor resentment and judgment in our hearts towards those who do not follow all the rules or say all the right things. Because we are so focused on the technicalities, we scorn those who are still lost, rather than being love so that they may understand and be found. Such hypocrisy! It's no wonder so many Americans are turned off by churches these days; we judge them before they have a chance to find God and be changed.
Jesus associated with the least of men, the tax collectors, thieves, and the greatest of sinners. He didn't discriminate, so what right do we have to stay comfortably within our small circle of "church friends" and ostracize the lost of the world? If we make love, sincerity, humility, and compassion the center of our lives, then being obedient will naturally follow.
The realization of how simple it can be to live for God and to be his light to the world gave new hope for my faith. My challenge for the world: be love.
And Matthew 22:37-39: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
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