Love and Strength

 

 

All life comes to an end, and it’s only a matter of years, days, minutes or seconds until your time is up. I would like to share with you, my last thoughts to the world if I was to die tomorrow. I would like first to start off with telling you I’m not dying but if I were this is what I would say.

I would say to Love one another. John 13:34 says “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” God tells us to love one another as he loves us.

Love is bigger than just four letters. Love is the thing that keeps people moving on from a tragic event. Love is full of stories and memories. We look to love as medications. Without love, we are broken and torn in bits and peace with sad things. I look to love as the thing that keeps me going.

Without this thing called, “love” the years, days, minutes and seconds have no purpose. If we choose not to love one anther, why do we live?

Time on Earth doesn’t come easy and loving some people is hard. That’s why I want to share with you, my last word, strength. Strength is the thing that keeps love together. I’m not talking about physical strength. I’m talking about the mental strength that keeps us from falling into the temptations of the world.

This world is full of sin and hatred and without strength, we couldn’t last a day. It’s important that we have strength when it comes to loving people. We must have the strength to get back up when our loved ones turn on us.

We can love because we have built strength in God and we know that there’s nothing we can’t do when he is by our sides. Deuteronomy 6:5 says “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” We must have the strength to live on Earth.

Friends, we have a clock, and if mine was to run out in 10 seconds from now, please know that love and strength are everything! There are lots of other great things. However with love and strength, you can do anything as long as you have God on your side.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

A cliche that we hear often on commercials, and see in magazine ads. Black Friday shoppers would argue that it is a crazy time of year as people shop and grab the most desired presents from the shelves- forgetting manners and being impatient to get their holiday shopping done and save some money.

The media has put a hype on the holidays that make us feel guilty if we aren’t buying diamonds or new cars or figuring out what the perfect gift is for our loved ones, but I still think that this time of year is the most wonderful time.

I just celebrated Thanksgiving with my family- not once, but twice. We always have our non-traditional meal the Sunday before Thanksgiving with a different theme every year. This year it was a Mexican meal. We celebrate with multiple dishes that create an elaborate buffet across my mom’s kitchen counter. And then, the evening is ended with a Rock Band finale by my brothers.

Then on the “real” Thanksgiving, we gather with friends in Cal City to go motorcycle riding and eat turkey all weekend. It is the beginning of the holidays for me- a time to be with family and friends and do all the things that I have done for the last 18 years, but never really appreciated.

Being away at college and eating cafeteria food makes you appreciate all that you took for granted before. It’s a time to reflect on the family that has always been there for you, but you never really took the time to enjoy them.

Holidays in our family have always been a big deal, and my parents go out of their way to make it special time. Whether it is Christmas, Easter, birthdays, or even St. Patricks Day with a full-blown corned beef and cabbage dinner. My favorite memories are the strings at Christmas time that my parents wove all throughout the house so that my 4 brothers and my self would follow to find our Christmas present.It was a giant spider web that seemed impossible to follow, but brought lots of laughter as we all would get entangled trying to follow our strings to their destination.

This year as I travel back to my small town roots and catch up with all my friends, I am also going to slow down to smell the aromas coming from my moms kitchen and appreciate the clean sheets and folded laundry on my bed, because unfortunately, holidays end too quickly and I will be back to reality and cafeteria food again.

What are you thankful for?

I can smell the turkey in the air and taste the mashed potatoes dripping with gravy. I can’t wait to go home for Thanksgiving and eat my Mom’s cooking and sleep in my comfy bed. I’m even looking forward to seeing all my nephews and nieces and play Rock Band with my brothers while my Mom asks us repeatedly to “turn it down!” Some things never change. But actually they do- and it’s me. I guess I never really appreciated my family or how spoiled I was until I went away to school and found I had to do things myself-like laundry-or I would eventually run out of clothes. My Mom used to do that and even put my clothes away. I never appreciated my clean sheets that appeared mysteriously on my bed. But now I think about it a lot, especially when I have to spend 3 hours in a laundromat when I would rather be hanging out with friends. Another thing I miss-food. Not just any food, but home cooked meals. I took for granted the hot meals that appeared every night on the table. (College food will never come close) And even though I didn’t like sitting down as a family sometimes, I actually miss those lively talks. Often my brothers and their wives and kids would join us and meals got loud-really loud, but it’s our family. In fact, we have a sign that hangs on our wall, “You call it chaos, We call it family.” That’s us- a crazy, chaotic family that I am especially thankful for this Thanksgiving season. I haven’t seen my family in over two months and though I hope that things haven’t changed with them, I hope they see a change with me. I left for school as probably the younger, spoiled brother, but I hope that they see I am returning as a college-kid who appreciates the family that I have and all that we get to do together (which also includes our annual motorcycle trip to the desert with friends we have known for over 15 years). It makes me wonder if I am the only freshman college student who is especially looking forward to going home for the holidays to say “thank you” in person to my parents. To thank them for 19 years of taking care of me and making my life pretty easy. What about you? What are you thankful for?

Time

What is time? Time is always controlling us, however, we wish to control time. People wish they could control time by the things that are happening to them in their lives. When were having a bad day we wish we could speed up time.  Same idea goes when having a good day, we want to slow time down and not miss any passing moment. In an overall picture, we want to control time.  Time is something humans want most of, yet we are terrible with controlling it.  The amount of time I’ve been writing this paper is taking away time for other things I could be doing. Each person has a set amount of time before they die. When you die you are known for what you accomplished in life during your time on earth. The thing that has people really wondering is, how much time do I have before I die. If everyone knew the set amount of time of each of their lives, time would feel more controllable. Time would be used differently knowing you last day was x amount of days away. I don’t want to make this idea about time sound depressing, however, we really will never get the point of controlling time. The only way we can control time is by time travel and stopping time entirely.

For me, my brothers time’s  have changed from playing video games with me and getting late night food, to spending time with their wife’s and working. As you get older people make decisions based on how much time they have in a day.

Wake up 8am

8-9am get ready for work

9-9:30 drive to work

9:30-5pm work

5:30pm drive home

5:30-6pm help prepare dinner

6-7pm dinner

7-10pm free time

10pm-8am sleep

If you look at a 24 hour day above you will see when planning your day out you really need to prioritise your time for the things you want to do. 24 hour days go by fast and you can only do so much. With people knowing this, we get the need to slow time for sleep and friends, speed time up for work, and go back for things we said and regret during our day.

Knowing this information, people need to really think of the things that mean the most to them when planning out your day. Because we might not have that time back in the future, so it’s important to really think about your day and how you use it.

Prayer in School

Sometimes a picture speaks a thousand words- and this one is no exception. Our schools have come a long way since their beginning when our country was founded and the doors were opened to the first students. In 1962, The Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer that  had to be recited. Then in 1963, The Supreme Court declared that school sponsored bible reading was unconstitutional.

So what do our schools look like now in the year 2015? 52 school shootings have occurred so far, leaving 30 people dead and 52 injured. Of the 52 shootings, 21 have been at colleges, 15 at high schools, 3 at middles schools, 10 at elementary schools, 2 at preschools and 1 on a school bus. Violence has escalated and we are not even allowed to gather as a group of students, in the classroom, to open our bible and look at what God has to say about the violence towards His creation. Our teachers, in the public school, can not lead us in a group prayer to begin the day.

The recent shooting in Roseburg Oregon brings to light another deranged shooter specifically targeting Christians. I wonder if prayer had not been taken from the schools- the outcome might look different. Instead of looking at the violence and imitating it, maybe the younger kids would look to the peace that the bible offers and emulate it.

I grew up in a community where once a year, a small group of Christians would gather at the flagpole to pray for our school campuses, the teachers, and the students. National prayer day was not unique to my community, but happened nationwide in September. Though we gathered early, before the school doors were even opened- it was a great time of fellowship and prayer as we acknowledged Whom was ultimately in charge of the campus and our lives- and for a brief moment, a group of teenagers, from all types of backgrounds and experiences, gathered together as one. We were unified for the good.
As I look at this picture, I am reminded that if we begin learning and praying at a young age, we probably won’t have to be reading the bible in a jail cell. Prayer has the ability to unleash so much good for God’s purposes, and we have as a country turned our back to that truth.

I have not failed. I have just found a 1,000 ways that don’t work… Thomas Edison

We can learn a lot from Thomas Edison. When he was inventing the light bulb, Edison never saw his attempts to create a light bulb as failures but rather as lessons to build on.

Ironically Edison was fired from his first two jobs for being “unproductive” and his teachers in school claimed that he was “too stupid to learn.” Fortunately for us, he didn’t listen to the criticism of the people in his life, but preserved with determination, even though it was something that seemed crazy to the outside world.

I have attempted many things in the past19 years. Some have gone well. Some I would just like to forget. Trying to start my own band, selling candy at my school.

Failure for me also comes in the form of not finishing what I have started. I have good intentions, but finishing a project to the end is not my strong suit. I am good with ideas. I am good with motivating people, but following through to the end becomes a challenge. I get half way there and realize that it isn’t as fun as I thought it would be- or it involves more work then I want to put out- or the end results isn’t going to work.

But if I look to Edison, I really haven’t failed at all. Rather I have found 1,000 ways that don’t work. Whether it is changing my major in college the first semester because I found I don’t like math I need to pursue and end engineering degree.

As I began to weed out what is Not working- and I am not putting myself in a pre-conceived box of what my college experience is supposed to look like, I am enjoying the journey that is ahead of me. I am enjoying, for the first time m, the learning without worrying about what the end result NEEDS to be. I am understanding that and “F” on an exam doesn’t define me or my future.

I love to rise motorcycles. I remember the first time I fell off when I was probably 5 years old. I was frightened more then I was hurt and if my Dad understood something that I am beginning to understand myself- when you fall down (or fail), you need to brush yourself off and get back up and continue the journey- otherwise you will wallow in the fear of failure.

So today, as I look to a degree in International Business- I might change my mind tomorrow. And the point is – I have not failed, but I have just discovered another career that doesn’t work for me.

“All mortals tend to turn into the thing they are pretending to be.”

When I read this quote, one thing comes to my mind, and that is pretending to be someone your not. Screwtape says this quote, however, I feel like it doesn’t apply to everything. People strive to be unique in different ways. I believe that we as human are not pretending to be someone we are not, but rather someone who God made us, to be. If we look at famous people, leaders, and wise people they didn’t pretend to be that person. They did not get to the place where they are today by becoming or acting to be someone else. In my life, I have looked to mentors and elders for advice. When I was little, I remember I wanted to be a Pilot, I always wanted to fly airplanes. When I became older, I realized my dream of flying airplanes wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wasn’t going to pretend to be someone I’m not.  I think people sometimes try and be something there not to get the higher paying job. Eventually, they find out that they can’t pretend to do something if they weren’t meant to be that person. That’s why when Screwtape says “All mortals tend to turn into the thing they are pretending to be.” for me it’s not true. I can try to pretend to be something but in the end I won’t be that thing because I wasn’t meant to be that person.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION. PLEASE BE PATIENT

I like to travel. My Dad and I recently took a motorcycle trip. Were we traveled through a lot of different states on back roads. Once in awhile we would come to roads that were under construction. Often we would wait a couple of minutes, but if there was a lot of construction going on, we would wait a long time for the flag man to finally wave us past. To be honest, it got annoying sometimes because I was in a hurry to get some FOOD, or I was HOT, or just BORED waiting.

Then one day I saw a sign: “Under construction. Please be patient.”

I’m not really sure when it hit me, but the other day I was thinking that I am under construction. I know it might sound strange, but especially in these first few weeks of college, I have changed a lot. I have changed my mind about my major and I have gone out of my comfort zone to meet new people. I have tried new (and not necessarily the best) college foods, gone out to karaoke, and even gone to some line dancing clubs. In fact I’m thinking that when I go home for the holidays some of my old friends might not even recognize me-I’ve been under construction.

I think that’s how God created us.

Sometimes we are called the clay and God is the Potter. He is molding us to become more like Him. I took a pottery class in school and it was fun to shape and reshape my cup until I got it just the way I wanted. After I put it in the kiln and added some paint- my Mom proudly displayed my work of art on her shelf, even if it wasn’t the best looking one!!

But honestly, I am able to relate my life more to a construction zone. Maybe it’s a guy thing. Maybe it’s the dirt and big machinery that is involved. The loud noises and dust clouds that kick up when a tractor is tearing up the road or filing in potholes. I have always been fascinated with the process.

Now as I am a little older, I need to remind myself that I am a construction zone. You are a construction zone- and God will not be finished with us until the day we die. He is straightening our paths or widening our viewpoints or making room for more people to travel next to us. Anyway you look at it, we need to be reminded to be more patient. Because really, life is about the journey not the destination-whatever it is I’m being impatient for will still be there.

Writing Is More Than Words

“Writing hard and clear about what hurts.” Ernest Hemingway

Sometimes it is hard for me to put words to the things that hurt me. I get caught up in the emotion of the situation and my words come out all wrong. I tend to argue when I want to get my point across and a lot of times my words don’t make sense.

Writing is easier, especially when I am hurt. Writing gives me a chance to put my feelings down on paper and take them back with the click of a button (sometimes I wish I could do that with my words- but once I have said them, I can’t take them back).

I think my words are much more clear on paper. And if I really think about what I am hurt over- it is hard work to put feelings on paper. And then, my words are recorded to be looked at over and over and over.

Hemingway reminds me that I need to write down what hurts because a lot of times when I look at those feelings on paper, I am able to give them to God without having to get angry with the person who has hurt me.

“Writing is the painting of the voice.” Voltaire

When I think of painting I think of colors. Lots of them. I like colors. I dream in color. I dress in colorful clothes. I like to eat colorful foods like red strawberries. Yellow bananas or green peas. Im not as fond of orange squash or purple eggplants, but when I look at food- I see color and it makes my imagination wander.

I think it is the same with writing. We can write just facts and get right to the point or we can use colorful words and descriptions to make our writing more interesting. Let me give you an example.

Yesterday I rode my motorcycle in the desert.

My “voice ” is pretty black and white. I gave you the facts. Is it very interesting? How about if I add some painted color to my sentence.

Yesterday, as the bright, yellow sun rose from behind the mountain. I began an adventure on my shiny, red Honda. My bike kicked up a cloud of dust that covered not only the few cactus lying on the side of the trail, but some shy turtles that were just emerging from their comfortable shells.

I think Voltaire was right in his statement- “writing IS the painting of the voice” and I like colorful paintings- don’t you?

SOMETHING EMBARRASSING!!

SoOOO before I let you in on this very embarrassing moment, we need to stop right now, and I need to tell you that I’m a very loving outgoing guy. Describing myself on this blog feels like I’m making a description of myself for a dating website or something. THATS NOT WHAT I’M DOING… I’m simply giving you the background to why I did what I did.

So imagine a guy (POSSIBLY ME) Sitting with his friends hanging out. Guy one sees this girl chilling with her friends across the way (SMALL DOG PARK). Guy one says to his friends that this girl is totally checking him out. (AGAIN POSSIBLY ME). So Guy one is hoping to get a number because USUALLY IF A GIRL IS LOOKING AT YOU, MORE THAN TWO TIMES SHE OBVIOUSLY DIGS YOU. Sooo now to the embarrassing moment… Guy one tells his three homies that he’s got to get this girls number, but before he does this, he waves (YES SHE WAVES BACK :D). So guy one goes to make a move but is soon to find out the truth of how this girl feels about him. Let’s stop right now and say this was the first time guy one got shut down. Her wave to guy one was not for him. It was really to a random dude as guy one tells the story. To make matters worse, it was to Guy 3, Guy one’s homie. It’s that awkward moment when you think you’re in but really your so far from it. There’s nothing worse than getting shut down in front of your friends and seeing her give her number to your one of your best friends.

SOOO, if you’re wondering if guy one was ME HAHA, it was. And this was just one stupid, embarrassing moment that happened to me. With embarrassing moments sometimes comes unexpected things like me dating this girl I got rejected by. That’s another story, though, but one thing I can say is God has some crazy amazing twists that he can throw at you, so I encourage you to be ready.

What happened ten years to 1 second ago is in the past. The past is full of embarrassing moments, and we must choose to move forward. Me getting turned down in front of my friends was bad at that moment, but our lives are filled with moments. We must look past the bad and see the good.

This story above was one embarrassing moment and being a freshman in college, I’m sure I’ll have more to come. If you have an embarrassing moment, you should think about sharing it. Just think about it, it’s in the past, a moment in time that does not matter anymore.