The Flies of Life

Well.

I've learned a very important lesson. Do not, under ANY circumstance, assume that your kitten can ignore a fly. I'm sure you're all going, "huh??". It's a valuable lesson, though, mark my words.

Take last night, for instance. My dear probably-about-4-months-old kitten was "sleeping" (theoretically) in my room. It was dark, I was tired, we were both curled up in bed and I was positively thrilled at the fact that it was finally time for sleep. Sleep is good :)

But, lo and behold, a fly made its entrance. How? Couldn't tell ya. Seeing as we've had a three inch layer of ice on the ground and every other imaginable surface for the last few weeks, I had naively assumed that meant most living creatures were either hibernating or..well...not so living. Apparently I was wrong. How did the fly get in to MY room? Also no clue. In the summer, they're everywhere, but that's because I have my window open all the time...but I assure you, my window hasn't been open for months now.

The point, though, is that somehow, this tiny little fly got in. Keep in mind the size of a fly, OK? Tiny little beasts, really. In the grand scheme of things, they really don't take up that much room or space or thoughts.And yet, I found out that this one, tiny fly had unimaginable power. It's all because of this insect that I didn't get any sleep last night. My kitten, Littlest, apparently decided it was her new life's goal (aside from killing all the house plants and eating all the candles, that is) to catch this fly. Kitty on a mission, I'm tellin' ya. So, she spent THE ENTIRE NIGHT (no exaggeration. Really.) leaping, clawing, meowing, pouncing, jumping, hissing, and desperatly trying to catch this thing.

Not sleeping, which is, believe it or not, what you're supposed to do at night. No -- she was too distracted by this fly to do anything important like, say, sleep.

Needless to say, NONE of us got ANY sleep. The fly was busy buzzing around, finding new hiding places, and taunting the cat (I'm sure I heard it giggling at one point, saying, "Nah nah nah nah naaaah! I'm way up here and you're stuck down the-ere!"). The cat, of course, was consumed by her obsessive desire to catch this pest, and I was stuck listening to them both and praying that all the crashing sounds were nothing breakable. (As it is, I don't think anything major broke, but my room is rather messy at present, and it's kind of hard to tell what was knocked on the floor and what was already there...)

My point? From all of this, we can learn a lesson:

Sometimes the tiniest, most trivial things can distract us from what's really important. Just like Littlest, who allowed this tiny, inconsequential bug to so completely distract her that she missed out on something vital to her health -- sleep -- we, too, are guilty of this.

Ever allowed yourself to worry about something to the point where you tune out what a friend is saying? How about procrastinating? (THAT'S ME!!! But that's really a topic for another post)
Ever forget to pray because you were too busy?Ever skip church because something else felt more important?

See what I mean? It's a dangerous thing -- physically, emotionally, and spiritually -- to let things distract you so much. You will miss out on SO MUCH in life!

Especially around Christmas, there are SO MANY distractions that can get in the way of celebrating our Savior's birth. In the mad rush to buy presents, host parties, pack suitcases, send Christmas cards and hang lights, it's so easy to forget WHY we are celebrating.

So...why do we have distractions, then?Well, here's some food for thought -- what if God gives us distractions so we can learn to be more focused? Think about it -- every time you're faced with a distraction, you're also blessed with the opportunity to become a more focused, determined person. That's pretty cool! We humans have the amazing ability to learn and define our skils. It's pretty exciting! And when we are blessed with opportunities to do so, well, the possibilties are endless! (Cats are apparently the exception to this rule -- they don't seem particularly interested in becoming more focused. Phooey.)

Ok..well...how do we become more focused?

First, figure out what is most distracting you right now...allow your mind to wander for a moment. What does it settle on? A worry? Something you're excited about? An upcoming event? Something you're afraid of? That funny joke your best friend told you? That mean insult you accidentally overheard? Recognizing your distraction is the first step!

Next -- let it go. Scary thought, I know, but let go of all your distractions. Give it all up to God -- whether it is praise or frustration, worry or joy, pain or excitement -- He can handle it. Better yet, He can help you through it.

Then -- once you've cleared your mind and heart, focus on what IS really important. Maybe that's reading the Bible. Maybe it's spending more time in prayer. Maybe it's volunteering somewhere. Maybe it's telling your friends and family how much you care about them.

Whatever it is, make a conscious effort to focus on that.It's not easy to stay focused, and from time to time, everyone loses sight of the important things in life. It's essential, though, to step back every so often and think -- am I distracted? What's distracting me? How can I be more focused?

Hopefully you will be able to let go of all your little "flies" and focus more on the important stuff :)

I'm off on an adventure!!

Hi everyone,

Merry Christmas!!

I know. It's been silent lately. I'm sorry!! I leave tomorrow for my big mission trip to South America. I'm very excited...and a little nervous, too! But needless to say, I have been very busy these last few days, with trip-related and Christmas-related activities :)

I have a whole plethora of posts that I'm working on, but I don't think I'll have time to finish or get anything up before I leave....so sorry.

So leave me lots of great comments telling me how much you all miss me :) and look for lots of new posts when I get back in a little over a week :)

Step Out in Faith

I was reading an old issue of DevoZine magazine today, and it was talking about faith. Doing the unthinkable. And trusting God will be with you. In order to get the point across, it had a big picture of a shoe, and it said,

"Write the following on your shoe:

MAKE YOUR MARK ON THE WORLD -- STEP OUT IN FAITH

and whenever you are feeling unsure or inconsequential, look at your shoes!"


I really liked the thought of this. You can bet that as soon as I find my sneakers (they're currently MIA. Again) that I will be writing it!

But more importantly, it got me thinking. I've been struggling lately with a fear of doing something new for God. In a few weeks, I will be going on a mission trip. I was excited about it for a loooong time, but now the day is fast approaching -- and I'm scared. I'm scared that I won't know what to do, that I'll mess up, etc, etc.

And it's times like these when I need to be reminded that I'm doing this for GOD -- not for me, or my friends, but for GOD. God is commissioning me -- and if my heart is really in this, if I'm really doing this for His Glory -- He won't let me fail! God is calling me to go out there and do something I've never done before. To make my mark on the world.

And in order to do that, I've got to step out in faith.

It's a scary thing. I don't know what's going to happen and I don't know how it's going to turn out. I don't know if I'll end up changing the world or just doing some minute tasks that don't seem very important at all. I really don't know ANYTHING, except this -- I will step out in faith. I'll trust that God is in this.

Ever heard the story of Gideon? (I highly recommend the Veggietales version, "Gideon: Tuba Warrior". [Thank you Sancho] It's seriously one of my all-time favorite movies).

His story can be found in Judges 6-7. Here's a brief synopsis:

First, a little background info: The Israelites, after they'd (finally) made it to the Promised Land, were beginning to forget about all the wonderful things God had done and reverting back to their old, evil ways. They were giving in to temptations left and right, and God decided to teach them a lesson. He let the Midianites come in and take over the city for quite a few years. Seven, to be exact. And the Midianites made life miserable for the Israelites -- chasing them out of their homes and into caves, trampling and stealing their crops, taking their livestock, etc, etc. You get the idea. So after a while, the Israelites started crying out to God for help. God reminded them why they were being punished, but because He is God, He forgave them. God delievered the Israelites, and He did so through one little guy named Gideon...

One day, Gideon was doing his thing...cutting down wheat in his father's field, maybe whistling a song or two as he worked. Life was pretty good for Gideon, and he was pretty happy. Then, all fo the sudden, an angel appears. Gideon is, as you can probably imagine, pretty surprised by this! But get this -- he believes in the angel. Wow. I know I'd be just a little skeptical, but not Gideon! So anyway, he and the angel are talking and the angel starts telling Gideon that God is proud of him, and that he's found favor in God's eyes (WHOA!! THIS IS PRETTY AMAZING STUFF!). Well, here's where Gideon does get a little skeptical.

"What? That can't be. If God really did "favor" me and my people, then why is he letting these Midianites bully us? We're starting to feel a little abandoned down here...after all. He IS the God who led our ancestors out of Egypt. So why doesn't He do any marvelous works now and save us?"

"That's what I'm trying to tell you!" the angel replies. "God is sending you to drive away the Midianites."

Well, let me just tell you -- if I was Gideon, I would have burst into hysterical laugher right here. As it was, Gideon was a little...uh...flabbergasted.

"ME?!?! You must be NUTS! We're the weakest clan around!! I can't POSSIBLY drive out a huge, bullying army like THAT! All I do is cut wheat!!"

"God will be with you," the angel reminds him. "He will deliver you; He will guide you and be your strength."

Well, our friend Gideon is still (understandably), a little skeptical at this point. He decides that he needs a sign, so that he knows that God is really in this. And God gives it to him. So then Gideon decides he needs ANOTHER sign, and God, in His incredible patience, sends that sign to Gideon, too.

Finally, Gideon realizes that God is serious. Gideon praises God and sets about gathering and army. It's a small but might crew; not nearly compareable to the vast Midianite Army, but a decent size. And besides, Gideon reasons, I've got God on my side!!

Well, God says to Gideon, "You've got too many men! I want everyone to know that this is truly and Act of God; let there be no doubt, no chance that the world will think the power is in the army. Weed out your army."

Gideon's a little surprised, but he's learned by now to listen to God, so he cuts his army in half and continues training them. And then God says AGAIN, "You've still got too many people, Gideon!!" Well, Gideon's draw drops ...was God SERIOUS? I mean, really....he hardly had any folks as it was! So Gideon sent some more soldiers home, until he and a few friends (300, to be exact...more or less) were all that was left.

The hour of attack is finally drawing near, and Gideon was getting a little...giddy :) He was nervous, but God was still with him! God encouraged him, and Gideon found the strenght to carry out God's plan.

Even when every single odd was against him, Gideon believed that God would pull him through. He trusted that God would be with him, and that God would use him in His grand plan. Gideon stepped out in faith.

So did David, so did Jonah (after a little coaxing), so did Moses and a million other great Bible heroes...most noteably, so did Jesus... they all trusted that God would use them in His plan, that He would give them the strength and courage and whatever skills they needed to make their mark on the world.

Shades of Gray

When I was younger, I had this idea that there were three kinds of adults in the world: good adults, okay/average adults, and bad adults. The characteristics of each group were quite cut-and-dry:

--Good adults were people I looked up to. People who went to church, said please and thank you, had good values, smiled a lot, knew how to laugh, and didn't treat me like a baby.
--Okay/average adults were either adults that didn't strike me as obviously good or overtly bad, or adults I hadn't really been exposed to. I considered the majority of the world to be made up of "okay/average adults".
--Bad adults were, quite simply, crime committers. Thieves, abusers, murderers; the list went on...but Bad Adults, in my mind, made bad choices and that was that. I didn't want anything to do with Bad Adults.

My worldview also included the idea that all good adults -- all the people I looked up to, respected and admired -- liked each other. Since they were, after all, all "good", they would (for the most part) always agree with each other and feel the same way about most issues. I wasn't blind to the fact that there would be occasional disagreements, but always assumed that these people I admired so much would handle it in a civilized way and always reach a mutually pleasing compromise. Life was simple.

Looking back at my apparent naiveté makes a lot of people (including myself) laugh now. But it's true -- things were so simple back then. To me, the good people were all very good. I more or less believed that in every situation there was a good and a bad choice; the good people always made the good choice, the bad people made the bad ones.

These shades-of-gray opinions never existed when I was younger. My world was very clearly black and white; the shades of gray didn't start to develop until later. (And now, sometimes I feel like my world is entirely gray!)

And here's one thing that really stinks about growing up -- you find that black and white are totally gone, and in their place a million shades of gray. You find that people aren't who you expected them to be. They're not at all what you thought. You find that the people you most looked up to aren't the greatest role models after all. You find that nobody's perfect, superheroes don't exist, and your best friend is capable of breaking your heart.

And these are all hard things to deal with. Think about the time when you first came to a realization like this. The first time you were truly let down by someone you thought was perfect....it's hard to accept. It ruins your trust in that person and the whole world, even, because if you can't trust them...you really can't trust anyone.

Good people can make bad choices. Bad people can make good choices. So what are we left with? Well, there's really only one explanation for it all -- we're all sinners.

It's tempting to convince ourselves that "good" people and "bad" people exist, and that some people are "worse" then others, while some are just plain "better". We all do it -- we hear about murderers and decide, whether consciously or not, that our measly little sins -- say, spreading some rumors or going over the speed limit -- aren't nearly as bad.

In fact, in our minds, sin itself almost begins to take on various shades of gray -- we categorize our sins according to our own personal motives, values, and justifications. The darkest shades of gray are reserved for the worst crimes -- terrorists and child molesters and so forth. Then there's the lightest hues, like "white lies" or purposefully ignoring responsibilities, that don't seem nearly as bad.

But the fact is, while shades of gray might exist in our own minds, they don't exist with God. His views, unlike ours, are quite black-and-white. He can easily distinguish between right and wrong, and there is no middle ground.
With God, there is either sin (black) or there isn't (white). With God, you are either a sinner (us) or you're not (Jesus).

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." -- James 2:10

This means that all sins are bad -- equally bad. Every sin out there, no matter how harmless it seems to us, is still a sin; and that sin still seperates us from our Holy, perfect God. That means that every sinner out there (every single person!) is equally bad, and equally seperated from God.

This becomes a scary thought for us, though! Suddenly our pride takes a hit....

What?? We're now in the same group as all those bad guys? All the terrible, guilty parties? We are like them??

Yes.

And God loves us?!?!

Yes.

And so...by the transitive property of God's love....well, just look: We know that the terrible people in the world are sinners. We know taht WE are sinners, just like them. We know that God loves us. So the only logical conclusion is that God loves the terrible people in the world, just like He loves us.

That's not to say that He approves of or is proud of bad choices, not at all! But He loves people who make bad choices regardless. There is not one person on earth who is "too far gone" for God. No matter what evil or heinous act you have committed, He still loves you and wants you to be His child. He is ready with grace and forgiveness; ready to welcome you back...but you've got to admit your sin and let God take control.

We are not perfect. We will ALL mess up!! We will make bad choices -- and God will love us anyway. He'll forgive us -- again -- and let us start over. He doesn't love us because we are "good" people -- He loves us because we are His people.

There's one fact of life I CAN accept -- no shades of gray involved :)

The Universe Unfolds

My awesome Pastor sent me the most amazing prayer yesterday, called "Go Placidly Amid the Noise..." . I love it. (I guarantee that more posts about or inspired by this prayer will follow!) It's from the archives of the new World Prayers site. There are so many great, profound, and contemplative lines in it! I highly recommend you all read it...

But today I'd like to draw your attention to two lines in particular:

"And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

Now, I don't know about all of you, but I like to know what is going on. I'm a busybody -- I'm nosy and curious and I like to konw exactly what's happening, what's going to happen, when, why, how...etc, etc. If plans are made, I want to know what they are!! I'm not one to be kept waiting, and I don't like just waiting and watching and seeing what will happen. I'd much rather know ahead of time, because I like to know what to expect and try to plan ahead!

And I think, even if you are the most laid back person on all the earth, at some point in time and to some degree, everyone feels the same way. I think it must be part of human nature; this unsuppressable need to know everything that's going on and know what's happening.

We desperately want to know the future. Think about it -- why else would psychics, Ouija boards, and fortune cookies be so popular? We are a society that is obsessed with knowing what the future holds and what our role is in it!

Why is that? Why is it that we can't seem to sit still and wait it out?

Is it a trust issue? Maybe it's hard for us to trust God and believe that His plan is the right plan. I know it's hard for me! There are times when I really struggle with that. I get so caught up in my OWN plans and ideas about the future that I forget to trust God. It's hard to put total faith in God's plan and trust completely that it will work out the way we want...because we so desperately want to believe that WE know best.

And that's where pride comes in.
One of my favorite lines is from a song called "On My Own", it says:

"I have learned that pride comes before the fall."

It's so true. We all too often allow our selfish human pride to get in the way of so much! Think about it: If we weren't so consumed by our pride, we would be able to realize that God DOES know best -- and we DON'T! (Sorry...this is starting to sound like the In Control?? post!)

Listen to what the Bible says on this very topic:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." -- Jeremiah 29:11

God knows what He's doing. He already knows what's going to happen in our lives. And by following Him, He will give us a future with hope.

"A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." --Proverbs 16:9

And this brings us right back to the idea of our plans vs. God's plans. Imperfection vs. perfection. Ignorance vs. omniscience.... you get the idea.

That doesn't mean it's easy, though! Following God's plan often means forsaking your own plans. And at the time, that can seem the like the scariest, stupidest, most painful, most awful thing to do. And yet, God promises,

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way should go; I will guide you with My eye." --Psalm 32:8

We won't always know where are lives are heading...in fact, we very rarely will. We won't know what God has planned for us, or what He has in store for us. But regardless, we DO know that it will be thoughts of "hope". We know that God's plan for us WILL be the best way.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." --Proverbs 3:5


For more on this subject, I invite you to check out God's Plan for Your Life, which is a great site (written in easily-readable conversation style) that explores how the 1o Commandments help us figure out God's plan for our lives.

Truth Forum Discussion: Stereotypes

Hello all,
It's been a looooong day and I really don't have the time or energy for a full post tonight...

However, in lieu of my usual ramblings, I'd like to invite you all to check out a fantastic discussion at the Truth Forum about stereotypes. Check out the great articles and points of view that have been presented and see what you think. Feel free to share your own thoughts via comment or even join the Forum!

Things Left Unsaid

I seem to be in a song lyrics phase lately...

I have realized that there are some incredible songs out there. Songs that make you cry, laugh, think, wonder, wish, roll your eyes and everything in between...songs that evoke every possible emotion and maybe even a few feelings you didn't know you had...and it just boggles my mind.
I love music. I love listening to the radio. But it never ceases to amaze me how incredible a song can be. The music and the melody are, of course, important and fantastic parts of the song. There are some songs I like simply because I like the way they sound.

However, most of my favorite songs are because of the lyrics...powerful lyrics. I wish I could write songs like that!! I marvel at the way that some people can take words and weave them around and create a masterpiece that leads the listener on a journey; leads them through memories or thoughts or ideas or...it's amazing. And in so few words, too, songwriters can create a world of their own or an emotion or tell a story!

I heard one such song on the radio on my way home from work today. I can't seem to stop thinking about it!
Here are the lyrics:

"Things Left Unsaid", by Disciple

It's just a matter of time a few days ago
I saw you, you were fine
Remembering what you said
About the book you read
The one I got you
The Beginning of the End
Oh how we'd talk
For hours upon end
What I would give
Just to do it again
But you're lying there
In this hospital bed
Won't you open your eyes
And let's talk once again

(CHORUS)
If you fly away tonight
I want to tell you that I love you
I hope that you can hear me
I hope that you can feel me
If you fly away tonight
I want to tell you that I'm sorry
That I never told you
When we were face to face

Well I've been here all night
And I'm watching you
Breathe in and breathe out
Is it really you
Or just a machine
That's giving you life
And it's making it seem
That there could be hope
I could say to your face
If it weren't for you
That there would be no grace
That's covered my life
You took the time
To speak into my mind
And my heart
Words of life

(Chorus)

So goodbye for now
But I'll see you again
Some way, somehow
When it's my time to go
to the other side
I'll hold you again
And melt at your smile
Now all I have
Are the ones that I'm with
And you taught me not
To take for granted
The time that we have
To show that we care
Speak into their minds
And their hearts
While they're here
And say I love you

(Chorus)

I don't know how you can hear this song...or even just read the lyrics...and not be moved to tears. This song so powerfully puts into words that tricky feeling of regret. You can feel the longing and the pain and the sadness emanating from the song...it gives me goosebumps!

Haven't we all felt this way? I'm sure at some point -- probably, if you're like me, many times -- in our lives we've all felt an overwhelming sense of regret, or as though we're too late. We've wished we'd done something or said something while we had the time. We've all put things off, thinking we had forever, only to be cruelly informed that that was our last chance -- and we wasted it. We've all taken things for granted and later regretted it.

Going back to the song "Things Left Unsaid"...we can learn a few things from it.

First of all, we can learn to seize the opportunities we have and not waste a day, a moment, a chance, an opportunity...because we may never get another like it. At a camp I attended last summer, I took a class about this very topic. Since then, I've been very intentional about telling people that I love them, giving hugs, giving compliments, and letting friends know that I truly enjoy them and treasure them. What if it's my last chance? Would they know what I think about them, how I feel about them?

But, even more important then this -- realize that death is NOT the end!! Take note of a very important line in that song: "So goodbye for now, But I'll see you again". It's easy to get so caught up in our pain and regret that we feel like the end has arrived. But it's vital to remember that death is NOT the end, that our goodbyes are only temporary!

Jesus triumphed over death for our sake. Because of Him, death is no longer the enemy. Death is not the end of anything; simply the beginning of our eternal life. Does that mean our life here on earth doesn't matter? No -- exactly the opposite! We as Christians need to tell the world of this good news -- that death is NOT the end, that Jesus DID die for US and for our salvation, so that we can live forever with Him in Heaven.

In fact, we are commanded to do this very thing:

"He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." -- Mark 16:15-16

And we need to do it NOW, and at every given opportunity -- before it's too late.

Christmas with a capital "C"!

OK -- plain and simple:
CHRISTmas is about CHRIST.
Thus the reason it's called "Christmas". Not "Presentmas", not "Decorateyourtreemas", not even "Snowyholidaymas", but "CHRISTMAS".

We celebrate the day that Christ was born. We celebrate the day that the Savior of the world became human and entered our earth to save us. We celebrate the fact that because of this baby, we have been saved from a fate of punishment and suffering and that, because of His unbelievable love and sacrifice, we've been blessed with the gift of eternal life in Heaven!

And if that's not a reason to celebrate, then I don't know what is!!

Around this time of year, there is always a lot of discussion about whether you say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas". I think it's so sad that people get so caught up in the words that are being said, instead of the meaning behind the words. I refuse to be drawn into a bitter argument about the right phrase to say -- it's Christmas. The time of celebrating love, not making enemies and arguments!!

During this wonderful, joyous season, please just remember the REASON for the SEASON: Christ. You know, the one they named the holiday after :)

And while you're at it, read these lyrics by an awesome group called Go Fish. They really sum it up nicely.

"IT’S CALLED CHRISTMAS WITH A CAPITAL C "

It’s called Christmas!

Well I went to the coffee shop to get myself a mocha,
The lady at the counter said "Happy holidays";
I said, "Thanks lady, I am pretty happy,
But there’s only one holiday that makes me feel that way."

It’s called Christmas, what more can I say?
It’s about the birth of Christ
and you can’t take that away.
You can call it something else,
but that’s not what it will be.
It’s called Christmas with a capital "C."

God's got a law and we pretty much destroyed it.
We’re gonna get judged, there’s no way to avoid it.
But Jesus came down to take the punishment for me.
He did it for you too, so maybe you can see . . .

Why It’s called Christmas, what more can I say?
It’s about the birth of Christ
and you can’t take that away.
You can call it something else,
but that’s not what it will be.
It’s called Christmas with a capital "C."

It’s called Christmas!
It’s called Christmas!
It’s called Christmas!
It’s called Christmas!

It’s called Christmas, what more can I say?
It’s about the birth of Christ
and you can’t take that away.
You can call it something else,
but that’s not what it will be.
It’s called Christmas with a capital "C."


This song can be found on their album, Snow.


Also, I invite you to check out the video of this song, which is pretty great :)


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!

In Control??

As you've all probably noticed, I like to put quotes in my lovely little sidebar over on the right ------>
I look for quotes about dreams, leadership, nonconformity...things that inspire me, things that, I think, say a lot about who I am and what I value. So I was checking out some quotes tonight, and I was looking at a section about leadership and taking responsibility. In my reading, I came across a poem by William Ernest Henley, which ends with these lines:

I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

Now, I've read a lot of poems. But I don't think I've ever read two lines that scared me more then these did. Why? Just think about it for a minute...

First of all, I need to note here that I believe we are all sinners...but let me pause right here. A sinner is someone who commits something wrong; in other words, someone who is guilty of wrong thoughts, actions, or words. I believe that we can try as hard as we possibly can and still, we will sin. Every day. And there's no way around that -- but that's where God's grace and forgiveness comes in (but that's another topic for another post...) Now, I know some you that are reading this probably don't agree with that statement -- the we are all sinners by nature, no matter how hard we try.

Well, then I have to ask you flat out: Are you perfect? (Please be totally honest. You're not allowed to say, "Yes, except when..." or "Most of the time". It's all-or-nothing -- a yes or no question.) If you answered "yes", congratulations -- you are THE first perfect human being to EVER exist! Give yourself a pat on the back! But if you answered "no", keep reading...

The fact of the matter is, whether we care to admit it or not, we have ALL sinned (and continue to sin!)-- over and over and over again! And, whether we like it or not, there is NOTHING we can do about this. We can resolve to do better. We can try harder next time. But we will NEVER EVER EVER achieve perfection (I know. I have a really hard time accepting this too). Despite all the best efforts in the world, we will still succomb to temptation, make mistakes, and take the wrong path.

Are you start to get depressed? I am!! But I promise, there's a point...

Well, are you beginning to see why I find those two seemingly harmless lines of poetry so scary? Here, read them again:

I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Now, if "I" is an imperfect, sinning human being, and "I" is also the master of his fate and the captain of his soul...well, you see the problem.

We can't possibly make the right choice all the time...or even most of the time! There's no conceiveable way that we, as humans (and therefore, sinners) can always know what is best, always choose the right path, always make the right decision, and always turn away from temptation. Therefore, if WE are controlling are fates and souls, and WE make mistakes...!

"For all have sinnned and fall short of the glory of God" -- Romans 3:23

Your soul is forever. I don't know about you, but "forever" is not something that I want to make a mistake on!

And, when you think about it...if we are mastering and captaining (I'm not sure if those are words, but go with it) our soul, our fate...that's a HUGE amount of responsibility!!! I don't know about you all, but I get nervous when I have the responsibility of, say, taking care of class pets (frogs) for a weekend or walking my neighbor's dogs... and that's only for a few hours or days, at most. This is for FOREVER...for ETERNITY...for longer then we can possibly fathom!!

So here is my point: if we as sinners (imperfect, mistake-making humans) consider ourselves to be in control of our souls, where is that going to lead us? Quite frankly, we are going to run ourselves into a wall. Do you honestly and truly trust yourself to control where you will spend eternity? That's quite a risk. Do you honestly believe that you know enough about how to live, what choices to make and what's best for you and the rest of the world to take on that ENORMOUS responsibility???

Well, I can tell you right now -- I DON'T! I know for a fact that I can't handle that. I don't want to. I don't even want to think about controlling my soul or being the master of my fate -- YIKES!!

Thank goodness for us -- there is another option!!

Put quite simply: There is God. God is omniscient. He knows EVERYTHING, and even better, He has a plan for you and me and the rest of the galaxy. He's willing to take the blame for our sins -- in fact, He already has. He's willing to take us as we are -- the sinning, whining, imperfect beings we are. He's willing to take on the entire responsibility of directing our lives, mastering our fates and yes, our souls too. He's willing to lift that heavy burden of the responsibility of eternity from our shoulders and take the entire thing -- if only we'll let Him.

Why is it that we fight God on this? I can't figure it out. This is something I've been thinking about alot lately. Why do I, when I know quite well that I DO NOT know everyhing (sometimes I wonder if I know anything, actually....) and yet from time to time, I get these rebellious flare-ups and I try to insist that I know better then God. Me...that I know better then the One who created the universe and everything in it, including me...ha! And after times like these, I can imagine God sitting up in Heaven, sighing and shaking His head and laughing at my appalling and crazy behavior...It really must be pretty funny, watching us humans try to control our lives and our destinys, but really just making a huge mess of things in the process!

I know I'm sounding redundant here, but this is an important point...I think it warrants repetition :)

In the end, is it worth it? No. Sure, it's fun for a short time; me pretending I'm in control and that I really have a clue what I'm doing...but I always end up learning my lesson and rededicating my life God. I always come to the same conclusion -- that I'm just plain incapable of handling my life. So why even try? It makes much more sense to dedicate it to the One who made me and gave me my life then for me to go about ruining it out of pride and stubbornness...!

It all boils down to this: God knows what He's doing, and we, being the sinners that we are, cannot be trusted with the control of our souls. We can try to wrench control away from God, but it will always get us in trouble. So we need to simply relinquish that control -- which can be the hardest thing in the world to do, especially if you're a control freak like me -- and accept that He is God and He knows what He's doing and where He's taking us.

And it's amazing how simple life becomes after that. It is truly amazing how relieving it is to know that you DON'T have this massive, eternal burden -- that you just have to listen and follow and trust. :)

Words and Meanings

Happy Birthday, C. S. Lewis!!

Today, (November 29, 2007) one of my favorite authors would have been 109! In celebration of his birthday, I googled some C.S. Lewis quotes. Here's one of my favorites:

"Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite."

I love this quote because it applies directly to me :) I am forever using humongous, gargantuan words in place of teeny tiny normal (and rather dull, I must admit) ones, because I, being the crazy homeschooler that I am, loooove vocabulary :) However, Mr. Lewis is entirely right. But really, this whole phenomenon of stripping words of their true value is something that really bothers me. When we use strong words in situations when we don't really need them, their meaning becomes less and less intense. And slowly, throughout time, we begin to get desensitized to the true meaning of some amazing words.

Take love, for example. We have so over used love that it has lost so much of its meaning. "I LOVE chocolate!" or "Have you watched American Idol this week?! I love that show!" are exclamations we hear all that time. But what does "love" mean? Well, that could be a rather long, off-topic post, so let's check dictionary.com:

Love (v): to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for someone

So, as much as you might enjoy, savor or appreciate chocolate, or your favorite TV show, chances are, you probably don't feel "profoundly tender, passionate affection" for either of these things. (If you do, well, then you really need to get out more!!)

Love is a powerful thing. Love is what, more then anything else, characterizes our relationship with God. Through love for us, He sent His Son. Through love for us, Jesus took our place and died. Through love, we are forgiven -- over and over again. Through love, we have a place in heaven -- a place we do not and can not ever deserve. We cannot afford to lose the meaning of love, because it defines so much of what we believe in. Never forget John 3:16:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that we may not perish, but have eternal life.

That's a pretty powerful love, if you ask me!! Something far more powerful then that which could descibe chocolate or TV :)

Now, please know that I'm not saying you should strike the word love from your vocabularly in order to preserve its meaning. All I ask is that you really consider what love means. We can see love whenever we look at God; we can learn about love whenever we read the Bible; we can experience love through our relationships with Him. Bear all this in mind -- because this is the true meaning of love.

With that being said, just remember to think about the meaning of the words you're using.

So, once again, Happy Birthday C. S. Lewis!

And, just a thought: even if you've all read "The Chronicles of Narnia", I highly recommend you read the series...or at least, the first two books...again. They just get better every time! Also, The Screwtape Letters is one of my all time favorite books -- a must-read!

"We're busy, busy, frightfully busy..."

Well...Thanksgiving is over! The long weekends, holiday breaks, and vacations are over, and life is starting up again at top speed! Suddenly, my days of staying up late, sleeping in, reading cozily for hours and ignoring my to-do list are over, and have now been replaced by deadlines, school projects, committments, work and volunteering, chores, resposibilities, etc, etc, etc... And, I'm thrilled, frankly! I get too bored when things are slow and relaxing; I much prefer the crazy hubbub of my life. I like to be busy busy busy; indeed, I THRIVE on being busy!!

However, there is, as much as I hate to admit it, such a thing as being *gasp* TOO busy. Can you believe that??? But we live in a society that encourages busy-ness, packed schedules, full calendars, and running a million miles a minute in order to do everything. Sometimes, when this is the message we're receiving from every single angle, it's hard to hear God's voice through it all:

"As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me." -- John 9:4a

My best friend said it perfectly: "Our society loves over-achievers. Nobody goes around saying, "hey! I didn't do a single thing yesterday. Isn't that great?" But everyone will tell you they can drive down the road while talking on the cell phone and making a grocery list at the same time... it's an addiction. You start to thrive on chaos and rushing and you begin to need to fill every second with three things or you are "not doing enough." There is a poster I have from a long time ago with two cardinals sitting on a snowy tree branch in a snow storm. Underneath it says, "What is life if, full of care, we have no time to sit and stare?" And it's true. God didn't make all of these amazing things so we could fly right by them with no time to appreciate them."

This goes back to what I said about snow, but it's worth repeating. God created this amazing world, and He gave us copious time to appreciate it and marvel at it.

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" -- Psalm 118:24

So why do we insist on filling that time with things that can't -- and won't -- make us truly happy? How can we praise God for all He's given us if we don't even notice all the blessings we have?

Look at the song "Spending Time" by Stellar Kart:

Just so happens that my schedule is empty
But still there's no room for You
The time has come and gone
Things have come along that take me away from you

Don't take this the wrong way
You're so perfect
And everything tells me
You're so worth it

Spending time with You
Not a moment goes by that You're not by my side
Spending time with You
You're all that I want life is so hard to do

When we first met I remember
I'd do anything for You
But as the years go by
I let my attentions slide
And I'm pulling away from You

Don't take this the wrong way
You're so perfect
And everything tells me
You're so worth it

Spending time with You
Not a moment goes by that You're not by my side
Spending time with You
You're all that I want life is so hard to do

And, as if the act alone of filling up our time, to the point where there's no room for God, wasn't damaging enough to our relationship with Him....the things themselves that we busy ourselves with can bring us EVEN FURTHER from God.

My all-time favorite music group, Casting Crowns, also sums it up well in their song "American Dream":

All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy
But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul
But he's moving on full steam
He's chasing the American dream
And he's gonna give his family the finer things

Not this time son, I've no time to waste
Maybe tomorrow we'll have time to play
And then he slips into his new BMW
And drives farther and farther and farther away

So He works all day and tries to sleep at night
He says things will get better;
Better in time
And he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin' crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands

His American Dream is beginning to seem
More and more like a nightmare
With every passing day
"Daddy, can you come to my game?"
"Oh Baby, please don't work late."
Another wasted weekend
And they are slipping away

Cause he works all day and lies awake at night
He tells them things will get better
It'll just take a little more time
So he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin' crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands

He used to say, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins"
But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end?
I'll take a shack on the rock
Over a castle in the sand

Now he works all day and cries alone at night
It's not getting any better
Looks like he's running out of time
Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands
And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands

All they really wanted was You
All they really wanted was You
All they really wanted was You

When the world is telling us to "Go, go, go", to "Do it all and work hard and fill your time with everything", we need to take a moment and thing about what we're filling our time with. And our motives. What are our goals? Why do we do the things we do? What are we gaining out of all of our busy-ness?

I deal with this every single day in my own life. Do I really need to do that research project right now? Or is it more important for me to spend some time in prayer? My friend just called and she really needs to talk -- do I listen, or cut the conversation short so I can go finish my monsterous to-do list? I have other committments on Sunday morning -- but, in the long run, are they more important then going to church?

And more importantly -- are all the things we are filling out time with bringing us closer to God, or taking us farther away from Him? We've got to look at our priorities -- are we furthering God's kingdom with all that we do? Or are we putting it on hold?
It's OK to be busy. Just make sure you're busy for the right reasons, doing the right things.

One final song, and I promise, it's short :) look at this song from VeggieTales. It's aptly named, the "Busy, Busy Song":

I'm busy, busy, dreadfully busy
You've no idea what I have to do.
Busy, busy, shockingly busy
Much, much too busy for you.

We're busy, busy, dreadfully busy
You've no idea what we have to do.
Busy, busy, shockingly busy
Much, much too busy for you.

'Cause we're busy, busy, frightfully busy
More than a bumblebee, more than an ant.
Busy, busy, horribly busy
We'd love to help, but we can't!

Is this the message that we want to be sending to the world?!?! I don't think so! Make room in your schedule for God today. Spend some time in prayer, read a passage from the Bible, or just listen to what He's telling you. You'll find that all those things you thought you had to do suddenly become less important, when you realize what is truly important.

This Generation

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young,
but set an example for the believers
in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
--1 Timothy 4:12

This is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE Bible verses EVER!!

This world is, whether we like to admit it or not, fond of the saying, "Children should be seen and not heard". (We're not allowed to vote, for one thing....) And, there are so many people out there who have told me that "someday" I'll make a difference. That I'll be someone extraordinary...when I grow up. That I have "bright future ahead" of me.

Well, I'm an incredibly impatient person. I don't want to wait until "someday" or "when I grow up" or "the future" to make a difference -- I want to do so NOW!! And that's where this Bible verse comes in. Paul isn't echoing the age old seen-at-not-heard attitude towards kids and teens. He's challenging it. He's saying, "Don't wait! You can live for God NOW!" Paul is, in affect, saying that we as teens are an important part of society; capable of great things, and that we shouldn't have to wait until we get older!

And Paul is absolutely right. We don't have to wait until we're 21 or 35 or 47 or however old we think we have to be to truly make a difference. We can start making a difference RIGHT NOW! We can write letters to congresspeople, make speeches, protest what we don't believe in, raise funds, go on mission trips; the possibilities are endless!

So...why wait??? We are capable of changing this world right now, just as we are. We can show the world that we as teens know what we're doing. We can live for God, spread His Word, and be living proof of what we believe in. "Set an example for the believers..."...That is Paul calling us to lead by example. We can set an example for everyone of every age by heeding His call and following His direction in our lives. God will use you; have no doubt about that -- He just needs to know You're ready and willing.

I was recently talking to an older woman at our church. She was telling me that "my generation is just messing everything up. It's going to be YOUR generation that comes in and saves this world from all the evil." Well, sure...that would be nice. But if we stand up and start being leaders RIGHT NOW, maybe by the time we inherit the earth, there won't be any evil left to save the world from. It's worth a try.

In our Sunday School class last week, my amazing youth leader posed the question: "Does your church treat the youth as though they are the leaders of tomorrow...or the leaders of today?" It was a great question, and it applies to all areas of life. Do you see yourself as a "leader of tomorrow" or a "leader of today"?

Are you ready to change the world? God's ready for you -- just tell Him, and listen to where He leads you!

Happy **** Birthday???

I walked into CVS today with a mission -- I had three birthday cards to buy, for friends’ upcoming birthdays. I made a beeline for the colossal aisle dedicated to cards, and was happy to find that a significant portion of it was dedicated solely to birthday cards. I figured with all these choices, I could easily find “the perfect card”. (Now, I don’t particularly LIKE birthday-card-shopping, because I can never find, in my opinion, “the perfect card”. But like I said -- there were SO MANY choices here!)

Hours later (OK, not quite, but you get the point), I still had nothing. But you would be amazed at some of the things I found. Apparently, birthday cards NOT containing curse words are in the minority. It’s awful! Now, call me naïve, but I’ve always assumed that cursing is something we should AVOID, not sanction by using profanity in birthday cards! Have we, as a society, become so used to and therefore immune to the effects of cursing that we don’t even notice the fact that foul language has permeated nearly every part of our lives? TV shows and commercials use cursing all the time. Even many PG movies contain a curse word or two; I’ve even stumbled across a few G movies that have questionable language!! Books, music, talk show hosts, websites; every form of media possible -- and now, even in birthday cards. It finally got to the point where I‘d found a card that said, “Happy **** 13th Birthday”. Did you see that? 13th birthday -- this card wasn’t even geared toward adults! At that point, I’d had enough and I left the store.

I wish I could say that maybe it’s just this particular store; that not all birthday cards are that bad, but the truth is, this is the fourth store I’ve been in that is packed with inappropriate cards. Personally, I find it absolutely revolting.

“…bless and do not curse.” -- Romans 12:14

I absolutely, positively CAN NOT STAND profanity. And there are so many reasons why…I think that use of curse words makes you look like you are an uneducated individual who is unable to come up with a more fitting and appropriate word to describe whatever situation you’re currently in. I think in some cases, cursing is just a bad habit (in which case -- break the habit!!). But, I also think cursing is often used simply as a way to “fit in”. Whether we intend to or not, our society sends the message that using curse words makes you special, important, even “cool”. We need to do our best to fight that image, and declare to the world the profanity is simply unacceptable.

The first step in doing this is obvious: Don’t allow yourself to indulge in the temptation to use curse words. But this alone is not enough. Edmund Burke once said, “All that is require for evil to triumph is for a good man to stand by and do nothing”. Are you standing by and doing nothing? Or are you ready to stand up for what you believe in? You must also make it clear to your friends that you will not listen to inappropriate language.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” --Romans 12:21

Don’t kid yourself, and pretend that cursing isn’t that big of a deal, or that God doesn’t really mind, or that if you only do it once in a while, it doesn’t matter. The fact is: it matters. God states it pretty clearly in Leviticus: “Do not misuse my name. I am the LORD your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name.”

There are so many GOOD things we can do with our speech -- God didn’t give it to us so we can curse! God clearly states what he expects of us in Ephesians:

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen…Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” --Ephesians 4:29; 5:4

I never did find those original three birthday cards, but that's OK -- God had a plan there, too. I ended up calling each of my friends to really wish them a Happy Birthday, and the resulting conversations were wonderful!!

Speaking of birthdays, today happens to be my brother's birthday....Happy Birthday, J! Love ya!

Lessons from Littlest

My cat, Littlest, is pretty creative. She sleeps with me most nights, and finds a new way to wake me up each morning. Now, you'd think I'd be thrilled to have such a cute, sweet, fuzzy, cuddly, creative personal alarm clock, right? Theoretically, I would. Except that she doesn't wake me up when I want to be awoken...she wakes me up whenever she feels I should feed her her breakfast, which can be anytime after 3am. One night, she accomplished this by knocking over my guitar case...the resulting CRASH was enough to wake me up, even in the total darkness which only comes at, well, 3am! Another night she sat at my (closed) bedroom door, meowing, repeatedly, waiting for me to open the door. Had it been a little later...or a little bit lighter...I might have opened the door a lot sooner. As it was, it was about 4:30, and I was rather slow getting out of bed. Then there was the first morning she slept with me, when I awoke to her hissing at her reflection in my mirror...Today she let me sleep in until almost 6am, which was nice! But today's method of waking involved her attacking my toes...clawing, pouncing, chewing....ouch. I'm going to have THOSE scars for awhile...She can be sweet, though, when she wants to be. One day she woke me up by licking my nose!

But honestly, the thing I really love about Littlest is that she is so happy and excited about EVERYTHING! She loves to play, and it's so great to watch her apparent joy and excitement when she plays...even when she plays with the same toys, over and over, she's still totally thrilled. The exact same ball of red yarn...she plays with it every day, sometimes for hours at a time! Or something as simple as a little ping-pong ball...she loves batting it around and chasing after it. Littlest doesn't need brand new, exciting toys to play with to make her happy -- she is completely content with what she's got. She doesn't lose interest in things after a day or so; instead, every morning she wakes up and plays with her toys with the same enthusiasm as the day before. I guess you could even say she's thankful for what she's got!

Littlest teaches us an excellent lesson about materialism. Especially around this time of year, we as a society are consumed with the need to make wishlists -- I want this, I want that, more more more more more more!!!!!! Every store does their very best to convince you you just can't live without this item...same with TV commericials -- "Think how easy your life will be if you just buy this product!" We've become people obsessed with owning things and stuff and gadgets and gizmos, because we are, in a sense, convinced that will make us happy. Does it?

Did you ever get exactly what you wanted for Christmas, that one thing that you knew you just had to have? Sure, it was probably exciting for a day or two; maybe a little longer. But was that it? Did that one thing make you so happy that you were totally content with your life, or did you still want more, more more, bigger and better things, etc, etc, etc? Years later, did that original item, the one you thought would mean the world to you, still make you happy?

Check out what the Bible says about materialism:
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." -- 1 Tim. 6:6-11

Nothing destroys the attitude of thankfulness like materialism. If we are always consumed by a need for more, how can we be grateful for what we've got? Indeed, by convincing ourselves that we need this new item or that new toy, it's almost like saying that everything we have already isn't good enough.

A ping-pong ball and a ball of red yarn -- Littlest is, in her own way, thankful for these two simple toys. They make her happy; they bring her joy, over and over again! She doesn't need new, improved, special, amazing toys -- she's thrilled with what she's got.

So, as we all celebrate Thankgiving this year, just keep in mind all the little things to be thankful for. Sure, we're all grateful for our family and friends and food and our houses, and that's important, obviously! But find little things to be grateful for, too -- clean socks, tissues, an umbrella when it's pouring down rain....

And as we go into Christmas, keep it up -- keep looking for the little things to be thankful for. If we can find joy in the little things that we've already got, we won't be consumed by the need for more. If we're content with what we already have, we won't ruin the Christmas season with materialism and "stuff". And when you're not obsessed with getting, it really frees up your mind to concentrate on what Christmas is really about -- Jesus. The ultimate gift of love. Now THERE'S something that can make you truly happy!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Becoming

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."
-- e. e. cummings

I just recently stumbled upon this quote by e. e. cummings, one of my all time favorite poets. Think about it for a moment...

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."

Courage. It takes courage to grow up...I never thought about it that way before. "Growing up" has always been something inevitable; something that has to happen, something that I have no control over. But think of it this way -- "It takes courage to grow up..."... e. e. is acknowledging that, yes, growing up is a scary thing! It's uncertain and challenging and confusing and crazy and scary and wonderful and exciting all at once -- and it sure does take a good dose of courage to manage it!

Look at the second part of this quote: "...and become who you REALLY ARE." Well. How many of us teens are still trying to figure out who we "really are"? *raises hand* That's the scariest part of growing up, if you ask me: being thrown into a world of adulthood, and expected to navigate your way around all by yourself. To know what you believe, why you believe it, how to act and how you feel about any given thing. To realize what you want, what you need, what you like and what you don't. To find a purpose for your life, a goal for the future and a way to realize those dreams...sheesh. And in the world we live in today, we are expected to grow up, and to grow up quickly! Anyone else getting exhausted just thinking about it?!? I guess that's where the "courage" part comes in. "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."... Not who you are now, or who you were in the past, but "who you really are."

Well. I don't know about the rest of you, but do you ever feel like that courage is failing you sometimes? Or that you don't have any courage to begin with? *raises hand again*

Check out Deuteronomy 31:6 :
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Wow...how's that for reassurance?? As we all go through this scary time of our lives, when we are faced with all kinds of decisions and choices, and as we begin to learn and grow and become "who we really are", isn't it comforting to know that God is always with us? He will grant us the courage we need in those moments of uncertainty and doubt, because He will "never leave nor forsake" us!!

Best Books to Read: Classics!

Ever been to the "young adult" section of a library or bookstore? I try to avoid it at all costs. Given, there are a few contemporary authors I love -- Lois Lowry, Stephanie Meyer and J.K. Rowling. But for the most part, I find today's authors to be shallow, whiny, and unskilled. Inevitably, most of the books will center around the same few themes (with a few minor variations in a pathetic attempt to be "different"). Usually, you've got the whiny teenage "love" affairs (more on my take on teenage "love" and dating in another post) -- "My boy/girl friend left/cheated on me, how on earth will I ever survive?!?!". Or, you've got the stereotypical, "I hate the world and the world hates me" point of view. This bothers me quite a bit -- no wonder teens have such a negative stereotype in our world today! We're always portrayed as angry, shallow beings, and books like this just encourage that view. If you do manage to find a book not relating to these kinds of themes, it will more likely then not be filled with immorality of all sorts -- cheating, lying, stealing, drugs, sex, you name it; all because somehow, young adult authors have gotten the idea that this is what appeals to teens!

Obviously, nobody asked me.


Because of all this, when I walk into a library or bookstore, I always gravitate towards the "Classics" section. I feel much more at home among the rows of the works of Shakespeare, Poe, and George Orwell then I ever would among the contemporary young adult "novels".

Now, admittedly, many of us have read these books in school. But I strongly encourage you to read them again, on your own time, for no reason other then exploring them and enjoying them. I've found that often when reading a book for an assignment, I race through it in order to complete it on time and often miss the meaning, and the "magic" (yeah...I know...that sounded corny. But it's true!).

And so, here is a list -- though most definitely not a complete list, because there are millions of great classics out there! -- but a list nonetheless of 10 great classics that everyone should read -- or re-read, as the case may be:

• Animal Farm, by George Orwell
• 1984, by George Orwell
• War of the Worlds, by Orson Wells
• Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
• To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
• The Lord of the Rings Triology, by J. R. R. Tolkien
• A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare
• Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare
• And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie
• Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

Attitudes on snow

It snowed here the other day. You know, snow is really a remarkable thing...it's amazing how many different reactions there are to it, and how many things influence those reactions. Personally, I find it sad that so many people are annoyed at the thought of snow. So many people see it as a chore or a curse, which is such a travesty!

Take age, for example: It's funny. Declare, "It's snowing!" to a roomful of five-year-olds, and you will be greeted by cheers and "Hoorays!"; grins and giggles; immediate plans to build snow forts and snow people, and whispered prayers for "a humongous storm!". But mention the word around a group of adults, and you'll experience a very different reaction. Most likely, there will be groans and eye-rolling; someone will comment about last minute items that need to be picked up at the grocery store and the fact that the plows never come soon enough and oh, great; now I have to spend tomorrow morning shoveling my driveway when I'd much rather be doing....you get the idea. And don't even think about mentioning snow to my grandmother -- you'll be in for a two-hour rant about how hard it is to clean off her car and how awful ice is and why can't we just have a perpetual summer, anyway? While there are some exceptions, obviously, for the most part, our reaction to snow changes with age. That depresses me. I mean, just look how those five year old reacted -- total, utter joy at this fun and unexpected blessing. They didn't think about the extra work snow causes, how cold and wet they'll get playing outside and how much longer it will take to get dressed, thanks to all the extra layers, coats, hats, boots, gloves, etc... they were just happy. We can learn a lot from them! I honestly think it's a devastating thing when our childlike joy turns to griping and groaning.

Although, the time of year affects our views on snow, too. If a meteorologist mentions "snow" on October 1st, most people are shocked. A few months later, say around December 24th, and you'll probably find half the country praying for snow; in hopes of having a fairy-tale "White Christmas". But by the time February roles around, most people are sick of snow; mention
"snow" in April and you might very well be shunned.

And when you think about it, snow is a pretty special substance....it really does deserve to be celebrated; looked at with awe and wonder, not complained about! It's really the only type of weather that is more less confined to one season -- winter. We don't get this stuff all the time, folks...we should enjoy it while we can! It's such an incredible thing! There is absolutely nothing like walking through fresh snow and hearing that wonderful "crunching" sound. And, admit it -- who doesn't love catching a snowflake on their tongue once and a while? And have you ever noticed how quiet and peaceful everything seems when it's covered with snow...the proverbial "blanket" covers and muffles everything. And then there's snowflakes themselves; I could go on forever about how much I love the individuality of snowflakes or the way they sparkle, but I'm sure it's all be said before.

What I love about snow is that it wields such power over our emotions. Snow has the power to completely stop us in our tracks, and just gaze at it's indescribable beauty. Snow has the power to just make us smile and sigh happily. Snow makes us think of all kinds of good things -- hot chocolate, warm fires, Christmastime and memories from other winters. And regardless of how annoying it can be and how much a sudden snowstorm might mess up our plans, when snow melts away, it does leave behind a somewhat depressing feeling, doesn't it? I think everyone sighs sadly at some point, as they notice the inches of fluff turning to nothingness and leaving the mud and cinders behind...and pine trees just looked better when capped with snow....

So next time you see snow, are you going to sigh in digust or sigh in wonder at God's beauty? Will you notice the glorious sparkle of the tiny flakes or just the fact that you have to shovel your sidewalk? Will you listen to your crunching footsteps or just think about how cold your toes are? Will you smell the snow, or just wrinkle your nose at it?

I just love snow :)

Here we go again...!

Greetings, all!

Well...as many of you know, I used to have a blog. I used it as my online journal; mostly a place to rant and rave and tell the world of every solitary thing going on in my life. But, lo and behold, as life got busier, blogging sank lower and lower on the priority list...*sigh* But I have to admit, in the year or so since I've posted on my old blog, I have missed it...So, when my friend Anidori more or less demanded I get a blog, I thought, "Well...it couldn't hurt to try...!"

So here begins a renewed attempt at blogging. The posts will be sporadic and random; about whatever thoughts are consuming my head at the moment. Who knows what will end up here...maybe some poems, maybe some stories, maybe some musing, maybe some quotes, maybe some arguments; most likely, a good mix of all of the above.

Enjoy!