A Thought to Chew On

"Everyone has pebbles in their mocassins."

"...but the greatest of these is love."

"Love without courage and wisdom is sentimentality, as with the ordinary church member. Courage without love and wisdom is foolhardiness, as with the ordinary soldier. Wisdom without love and courage is cowardice, as with the ordinary intellectual. But the one who has love, courage, and wisdom moves the world."

-Ammon Hennacy, Catholic activist
1893 - 1970

Clean House

High school.
A time of fitting in and discovering oneself.
Raging hormones and school dances.
Senior pranks and memorable moments.

Lately, I've been going through a lot of my old high school papers. Partly because they're invading my house and partly because I don't need 9th grade tests, cnidarian fact sheets, and pre-calculus math problems anymore. Instead, I've graduated to participating in friendships, job searching, and pondering about my future life. All of which seem quite foreign yet very near. How is that the phrase "time flies" holds true to so many aspects of our lives? Why can I willingly release the balloon of old research papers and cannot begin to fathom letting go of the memories? Memories that went into writing notes or making a Beowulf rap? Memories of friends and that life changing event, "graduation" seem so far away yet when I unlock that door to reveal these past successes, I remember the smiles and joyful embraces.

But sometimes, when I unlock these doors, I am reminded of memories that were hurtful and destructive. Broken friendships gone sour, moments of silent suffering, and difficult circumstances.

Yet, through all of these memories, I am reminded that God was there with me. He was the one guiding me and pulling me through that inner tube of mixed emotions and beauty. He was the one constantly chasing after me to transform and create a new person.

So, whatever became of all those papers? All eight bags have been shredded and will be out on the curb Monday.

I Am Thankful

this new year i vow to:

- take time to smell the roses
- birdwatch
- paint and draw
- go for a bike ride
- try something new
- love others
- smile
- be content with what i have
- i will give thanks daily
- i will place the needs of others before mine and ask, "what may i do to help?"
- i will give without expecting anything in return
- i will give from the heart and not from the flesh

enjoy life. enjoy the sun. go sit outside. grab a coat, a chair and breathe in the fresh air. appreciate nature. god did. he looked at it all and saw that it was good. thankfulness comes from an awareness and acceptance of what a person has been given and where they have come from. to be thankful means to truly be content. to be content means to truly be thankful.

A Gift for Everyday

Does Christmas have a feeling?
If so, it doesn't "feel" like Christmas to me.
At least not in the way that it felt when I was a child. I remember feeling really excited about all the gifts that were waiting for me under the tree on Christmas morning. As I got older, I started realizing that not everyone celebrated Christmas like I did.

Religion, ethnicity, and money all play a signifcant role in how a family celebrates the holidays. Sometimes, we just need to go without to see how fortunate we are to have.

Sitting on my couch looking at my Christmas tree, I now understand that Christmas isn't about the quantity or quality of a gift, but rather, the gift that one gives. Gifts don't have to be material; they don't need to come all wrapped up in shiny reindeer paper adorned with a nice gold bow. The best gifts are those that you can give everyday such as a smile, a helping hand, friendship, a listening ear, gifts whose value is not measured by a price tag but by a person's genuine interest in the individual. Lasting gifts may not be easy to give but may be the exact perscription that a friend needs. Humbly giving to a neighbor in need reaches across the socioeconomic status that the media often defines as a "wealthy," a "middle class," or a "poor" individual.

Allowing your hand to willingly reach out and hold the hand of another is the exact love that Jesus was talking about. It is this kind of self-less love that brings about action, causes forgiveness, and promotes peace in our families, coummunities, government, wars, etc.

What if everyone reached out to one person a day?

Would our world be a better place?

Would your world be a better place?

Would those you touch either physically, spiritually, emotionally, academically, etc. reach out and touch another person, thus creating a lasting domino effect?

Would there be any changes in your life or the lives of others that you invest in? What would those changes be?

Could you see yourself adovcating for the lives of others, putting other's needs before yours, and loving regardless of the circumstances?

Would you be able to accept the fact that Jesus loves you everyday, not just on Christmas? That it is Jesus who watches over you, "knows when you are sleeping, knows when you're awake, knows when you have been bad or good"? It's not the man in the red suit that brings you toys once a year. It's the human, the Spirit, the God that holds his life in your hands. Every breath, every movement, every action is known by God even before you fulfill it.

Have you accepted the reality for today that God loves you just because?
Where in your life are you allowing God to "love" you?
If you have, where in our life are you not allowing God to "love" you?
If you haven't, why not? Where could you give of yourself to help a friend in need today?

Psalm 56

Be merciful to me, O God, for me hotly pursue me;

all day long they press their attack.

My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride.

When I am afraid,

I will trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

What can mortal man do to me?

All day long they twist my words;

th

Simply Beauty, Simply Love

Beauty knows no limits.
For what is beauty without God?
He is the essence of beauty and the perfect example of true love.
A love that never fails, but always lasts.
A love that doesn't hibernate with the winter, or fall off the trees, or sprout new leaves.
No, his love is one that weathers all storms.
His love has substance.
I can't even begin to put into words the amount of love that he has for you and I.
Though we will never have God all figured out, just know this: it's ok.
For he still loves you and I just the same.

Simply Love

A friend once told me to close my eyes and imagine an entire room filled with water. Every chair, every wall, every pore on my face consumed by water. A God who loves me as close as my breath, a God who is near to me as my human heart.

A God who loves me just because.

What does such as love feel like? Look like? Act like? Is it indescribable, does it have hands and feet, or does it have the characteristics of both? A love that is so incomprehensible that words cannot fully describe it.

When I think of such a love I am reminded of a marriage.

"A man should have to seek [Him] first to find her." Maya Angelou

Likewise, we should seek God first before we get swayed by a false love that does not exist, by a love that lacks a body, soul, and mind. God will fill this void that every one of us experiences at some point in our lives. He is the only one that can truly satisfy this longing, this natural desire for more.

For life is more than the next big thing. The next big term paper, the next snazzy car, the next cheap relationship. God is the solid foundation that will last. He is the ONLY ONE who provides lasting forgiveness. Material items perish standing next to eternal life. A life full of happiness and committed love.

A life where God loves you just because.

This life can happen right now.
What will you do?

It's All About Perspective

how do you see people through the eyes of Christ?

Secrets From a Fortune Cookie

I believe that God can speak to us in a variety of ways. Here are some of the things he said.

*Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

*In the midst of every difficulty lies opportunity.

*You will live the life that makes all others not envious, but proud of you.

*Learn to listen, not hear.

*Your smile makes everyone realize that the world is a lovely and beautiful place.