What if this was my last time?
What if today was the last day I had at home?
What if this was the last opportunity for me to tell someone how much you appreciated them?
What if this was the last chance I had to thank someone in particular?
What if this were the last time I were to see that person?
What if I died tomorrow, and my live came to an abrupt end?
What if my world suddenly changed abruptly, and all I had ever known and loved was taken away?
What if those things I take for granted - music, the out of doors, friends, the internet / access to information, freedom, the ability to make plans for the future - what if this were the very last opportunity I had to enjoy all these things, and more?
What if that person died unexpectedly, and this was my last time to see them?
What if I were to become somehow injured, literally or metaphorically, and made unable to do those things I planned for myself?
What if this were my last opportunity to make things right with God?
What if this were my last time to make things right with a brother?
What if I never had a chance to speak to some person again, by force of circumstances?
What if this were my last occasion to read the word of God, to listen to a dispensation of truth, to be around likeminded people?
What if this were my last opportunity to make an earnest, heart searching, and trusting prayer before some upcoming personal calamity?
What if this were the last time I would be given that advice.. if this were the last time someone would attempt to direct me in a better direction?
Am I taking advantage of these opportunities?
Would I be ready?
Would you be ready?
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Favorite Things
"When the dog bites,
When the bee stings,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad..."
After spending the day feeling lazy, apathetic, sad, depressed, frustrated, discouraged, upset, pensive, etc. I went outside for something and got that wonderful sensation that comes from enjoying the still night air.. It's not fully dark, but the heat has gone away. A touch of humidity.. calm, peaceful.. cicadas, crickets in the trees and grass..
So I thought I would take a moment to write a quick list of a few of my favorite things, as follows:
(in order of coming to mind)
Still night air
The vibrance of spring
Friends who are better than me at "everything"
Spending time with such friends
Close friendships
Listening to beautiful music
Singing
Taking/developing portraits
Watching ants and other small creatures
Learning that I was wrong, coming to a better understanding
Watching children or animals at play
85mm f/1.8 (the lens it's self, as much as the pictures it takes)
Things that work for their intended purpose
Information - on anything
Independence
Simplicity
Cooperative analysis of a subject
Listening to those who get it explain Christianity
Community
Reading an interesting book
Working in solitude
Shade in summer
Warm food in winter
Hot showers
Smiles
Planning obsessively
A clean kitchen
Introspection
Feeling wanted/needed
Flexibility
Friendly people
Other people cooking for me (:D)
Internet (!!!)
iPhone
Mobility
The ability to process the world around me
Certainty
Electricity
A conceptual understanding of how things work
The ability to talk to people over long distances
Slip on footware
Efficiency
The ability to see, hear, feel, smell, taste
The transportation infrastructure (aka, roads, highways..)
Intellectual freedom
Fire
Cool water on a hot day
Sleeping in total darkness
Instant messaging/email
The ability to communicate
Creating something
I could keep writing, but ideas are beginning to come slower, and anyway, that's not a bad list.
It would be interesting to do this exercise again in a year and see how much has changed.
When the bee stings,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad..."
After spending the day feeling lazy, apathetic, sad, depressed, frustrated, discouraged, upset, pensive, etc. I went outside for something and got that wonderful sensation that comes from enjoying the still night air.. It's not fully dark, but the heat has gone away. A touch of humidity.. calm, peaceful.. cicadas, crickets in the trees and grass..
So I thought I would take a moment to write a quick list of a few of my favorite things, as follows:
(in order of coming to mind)
Still night air
The vibrance of spring
Friends who are better than me at "everything"
Spending time with such friends
Close friendships
Listening to beautiful music
Singing
Taking/developing portraits
Watching ants and other small creatures
Learning that I was wrong, coming to a better understanding
Watching children or animals at play
85mm f/1.8 (the lens it's self, as much as the pictures it takes)
Things that work for their intended purpose
Information - on anything
Independence
Simplicity
Cooperative analysis of a subject
Listening to those who get it explain Christianity
Community
Reading an interesting book
Working in solitude
Shade in summer
Warm food in winter
Hot showers
Smiles
Planning obsessively
A clean kitchen
Introspection
Feeling wanted/needed
Flexibility
Friendly people
Other people cooking for me (:D)
Internet (!!!)
iPhone
Mobility
The ability to process the world around me
Certainty
Electricity
A conceptual understanding of how things work
The ability to talk to people over long distances
Slip on footware
Efficiency
The ability to see, hear, feel, smell, taste
The transportation infrastructure (aka, roads, highways..)
Intellectual freedom
Fire
Cool water on a hot day
Sleeping in total darkness
Instant messaging/email
The ability to communicate
Creating something
I could keep writing, but ideas are beginning to come slower, and anyway, that's not a bad list.
It would be interesting to do this exercise again in a year and see how much has changed.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Time and Anticipation...
So, as I mentioned in my last post, while I've not been posting lately, I have had a few starts. The following is developed from a post I had started a month ago, and never finished.
It is amazing how time creeps up on a person. They say that time seems to move most slowly in youth, and more rapidly as one ages. In other words, as a young person, the expectation is for me to think there is plenty of time, on one hand, and to bemoan the fact that the future is so far away on the other. I honestly have felt like this many times in the past. At the moment, however, it feels as though time is slipping through my fingers so fast, all I need to do is turn around twice and all those valuable years of youth will be lost forever. ...and to what gain?
Perception of time is a strange thing. As recently as 3 months ago, I had a comfortable "6 months" for preparation, and whatever, before my trip, and the leaving of all I've come to know and love. ..and hate. After my cross country road trip in February, I came back with, instead of "6 months" left, having only 2 months. Well, two periods of two months...
My birthday, the 4th of May.
When I first began contemplation for this trip, rapidly approaching two years ago, the time forward had become so compressed that my 20th birthday, the finality of my teens, was practically the same date as my departure. Suddenly, upon returning from the road trip, the time between then and my birthday was equal to the time between my birthday and departure.
Wow.. the conclusion of my teen years, the most difficult, the most formative, the most educational, the most influential years, perhaps, of my life.. So near, so imminent, so unavoidable, so.. unexpected.
No, I knew it was coming.. but, so soon?
To me, the 20's isn't the "play years", the time to enjoy myself, before settling down and becoming an adult. Rather, in my mind, the 20's, the third decade of my existence, is an intimidating, rapidly moving period, in which one must lay the foundations and find the directions which will set the course for life. Perhaps this is an oversimplification. Nonetheless, in my mind, by the time I hit 30, my course must be pretty well set. And here I am, entering my 20's, with no formal education, or even a start on one, no real marketable job skills, only a shaky foundation spiritually.. I feel as though I'm already behind the game.
It's time to get moving.
And speaking of moving..
There was a time when the time gap between where I was and my birthday was equal to the gap between my birthday and departure. Well, that first 2 month period has disappeared as quickly as if it were nothing. ...a mere mirage. Everything I had hoped to accomplish.. well, almost everything I had hoped to accomplish by this point, remains yet to be done. (I've sold $600 worth of personal items, yet my room is still overwhelming).
Not only is the imminence of my trip rapidly approaching, so is the short sighted nature of my plans. A year ago, I "knew" what I would be doing in 4 years. Now, I don't even know what I'll be doing a year from today. But I'm not too worried.. I've got 6 months of relative solitude to think that one over.
It's amazing how the value of something is never fully realized until one has to do without.
Community.
There is a certain group of friends in my life who, for as long as they have existed as a group, have been the people I felt the most in common with, those who I would prefer to be with over all others. Yet, a year ago, even as recently as 6 months ago, I felt so distant from them, I virtually felt unable to communicate with these dear people. So much has changed in that time..
Now, just as I'm learning the mechanics of interaction, as I'm learning that I can, in fact, be quite a socialite at times, just as the connection is growing stronger at a rapid rate, I must leave. In some ways, I have more to lose by taking the trip now, than I did a year ago.
In a way, there's a sort of Jephthah's daughter feel about the matter. Having made a "vow", I must go on with the commitment, in spite of the fact that a part of me does not want to. Yet, before I go away, I have a last few months to spend with these friends, "in the mountains".. (well, my case, it's only for occasional visits, as opposed to actually living there..). The difference being that: 1) I was the one who made the promise, not someone else, 2) it was a commitment to myself, not so much to God, and 3) my going away is but for a short few months, and then I will have the opportunity to return - as opposed to my life coming to an end.
I've realized, after writing this far, that a conclusion is now in order.. an unending soliloquy on time passing simply will not do..
I guess the important thing is to 1) enjoy the interaction, enjoy life as it is, as much as I can, and 2) KEEP WORKING ON THAT TO-DO LIST, STUPID! haha, but in seriousness, there are times when in Seriously wish I had learned to focus better already.. Where does all that time go, anyway?
Well, to make the best of tomorrow, I must get to bed tonight. So, for the sake of my upcoming travels, I must now bid, adieu!
It is amazing how time creeps up on a person. They say that time seems to move most slowly in youth, and more rapidly as one ages. In other words, as a young person, the expectation is for me to think there is plenty of time, on one hand, and to bemoan the fact that the future is so far away on the other. I honestly have felt like this many times in the past. At the moment, however, it feels as though time is slipping through my fingers so fast, all I need to do is turn around twice and all those valuable years of youth will be lost forever. ...and to what gain?
Perception of time is a strange thing. As recently as 3 months ago, I had a comfortable "6 months" for preparation, and whatever, before my trip, and the leaving of all I've come to know and love. ..and hate. After my cross country road trip in February, I came back with, instead of "6 months" left, having only 2 months. Well, two periods of two months...
My birthday, the 4th of May.
When I first began contemplation for this trip, rapidly approaching two years ago, the time forward had become so compressed that my 20th birthday, the finality of my teens, was practically the same date as my departure. Suddenly, upon returning from the road trip, the time between then and my birthday was equal to the time between my birthday and departure.
Wow.. the conclusion of my teen years, the most difficult, the most formative, the most educational, the most influential years, perhaps, of my life.. So near, so imminent, so unavoidable, so.. unexpected.
No, I knew it was coming.. but, so soon?
To me, the 20's isn't the "play years", the time to enjoy myself, before settling down and becoming an adult. Rather, in my mind, the 20's, the third decade of my existence, is an intimidating, rapidly moving period, in which one must lay the foundations and find the directions which will set the course for life. Perhaps this is an oversimplification. Nonetheless, in my mind, by the time I hit 30, my course must be pretty well set. And here I am, entering my 20's, with no formal education, or even a start on one, no real marketable job skills, only a shaky foundation spiritually.. I feel as though I'm already behind the game.
It's time to get moving.
And speaking of moving..
There was a time when the time gap between where I was and my birthday was equal to the gap between my birthday and departure. Well, that first 2 month period has disappeared as quickly as if it were nothing. ...a mere mirage. Everything I had hoped to accomplish.. well, almost everything I had hoped to accomplish by this point, remains yet to be done. (I've sold $600 worth of personal items, yet my room is still overwhelming).
Not only is the imminence of my trip rapidly approaching, so is the short sighted nature of my plans. A year ago, I "knew" what I would be doing in 4 years. Now, I don't even know what I'll be doing a year from today. But I'm not too worried.. I've got 6 months of relative solitude to think that one over.
It's amazing how the value of something is never fully realized until one has to do without.
Community.
There is a certain group of friends in my life who, for as long as they have existed as a group, have been the people I felt the most in common with, those who I would prefer to be with over all others. Yet, a year ago, even as recently as 6 months ago, I felt so distant from them, I virtually felt unable to communicate with these dear people. So much has changed in that time..
Now, just as I'm learning the mechanics of interaction, as I'm learning that I can, in fact, be quite a socialite at times, just as the connection is growing stronger at a rapid rate, I must leave. In some ways, I have more to lose by taking the trip now, than I did a year ago.
In a way, there's a sort of Jephthah's daughter feel about the matter. Having made a "vow", I must go on with the commitment, in spite of the fact that a part of me does not want to. Yet, before I go away, I have a last few months to spend with these friends, "in the mountains".. (well, my case, it's only for occasional visits, as opposed to actually living there..). The difference being that: 1) I was the one who made the promise, not someone else, 2) it was a commitment to myself, not so much to God, and 3) my going away is but for a short few months, and then I will have the opportunity to return - as opposed to my life coming to an end.
I've realized, after writing this far, that a conclusion is now in order.. an unending soliloquy on time passing simply will not do..
I guess the important thing is to 1) enjoy the interaction, enjoy life as it is, as much as I can, and 2) KEEP WORKING ON THAT TO-DO LIST, STUPID! haha, but in seriousness, there are times when in Seriously wish I had learned to focus better already.. Where does all that time go, anyway?
Well, to make the best of tomorrow, I must get to bed tonight. So, for the sake of my upcoming travels, I must now bid, adieu!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Am I a Christian? Really?
First off, apologies to those who have been missing my writing the last few months. I have nothing honestly to say, except that I haven't felt like writing. (Or at least, haven't been inclined to finish anything.. having thousands of words of unfinished posts set aside.. ideas which, though captivating for me a moment, came out forced, incomplete..)
But, more to the point of our story..
Lately, the last few weeks/months, (two separate blocks of time), I've come to realize something I instinctively knew all along, but was afraid of admitting to.. of acknowledging in its full starkness. I am not a Christian. By the Biblical definition, I am no more a Christian than Christ was a sinner.
Yes, I just said that.
In fact, it gets worse. Not only do I not fit the Biblical definition of a Christian, the only thing that really sets me apart from the sinful world at large is that I have access to that truth which has the power to set one free. So? What this means is that I have a greater responsibility to be a true light to the world. As an informed and intelligent person (if you want, you may claim this title as well.. but read the following first), I am held to a higher standard. That is to say, I am more guilty for the same actions than another person might be, as I can make no plea of ignorance - unless ignorant by indolence.
And, as a person who sometimes impresses others as a fine Christian young man, as one who knows how to distinguish between right and wrong, as a person who is upright in everything (at least, I can make this appearance, at times), I am already a hypocrite, and at risk of deceiving others. And what could be worse than to take the name of Christ as a justification for sin - that is to say, I sin, because of Christ? What could be worse than projecting a wrong view of Him.. of deceiving others into thinking that this sad, unfulfilled, and desperate life I live is that "life more abundant" that Christ offers..
Wait.. so.. that's what you say.. but what is your justification for that view? How do you know?
Again, I've instinctively known this all my life. The conscience exists in a man for this very reason. Even though I knew this was the truth, however, it never felt real. I knew I was a sinner, but did not feel like a bad person. And if one is not truly evil, what need have they of salvation?
A few things have happened to change this perception: I began praying that God help me realize my condition.. I began to notice a deep, heart felt expression of remorse and gratitude in others far better than myself, which I simply could not experience.. (I, being the empathetic, somewhat emotional person with a good imagination, as it is..). Spending more time with those I respect for their faith and commitment drives this realization stronger, increases its importance in my mind, and gives me hope at the same time. I've pursued an understanding of the concept of righteousness by faith; a concept so far outside of myself, that I find the entire thought baffling - but I have come to understand enough to realize that it is not the life I am living, yet is precisely that which I desire.
Most powerful, however, is the time I've spent familiarizing myself with the book of 1 John, as part of a memorization effort with a group of friends.
Here are a "few" select passages that have jumped out at me:
1 John 1:
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 2:
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 3:
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Explanation:
First, God is perfect. He is light, and there is no sin in him. (1 John 1:5). He cannot sin, and neither can anyone who is living in Him. (2:5; 3:6, 9)
Second, if I fail to recognize my sinful tendency, I am deceiving myself, and still living in sin. (1:8, 10).
Third, if I claim that I am nonetheless living in Christ, (and even if I don't), and yet do not keep his word/commandments (2:4, 5; 3:4), have a disregard for my fellow man (2:9, 11; 3:10, 16, 17), have too high of a regard for the things of the world (2:15, 16), or am generally continuing in sin in some form (1:6), I am clearly not living in Christ, but, in transgressing the law (3:4), am of the devil (3:8).
Summarized, a Christian should live as Christ did (2:6), as anything less is of the devil, and counts no more toward righteousness than a handful of Mexican pesos could be counted towards the US national debt.
In a brutally honest self examination of heart, it is very clear to me that my own heart is not only not pure and holy, but is as truly guilty as anyone else the world over, if not more so.
And yet I know that God has the power, and the desire to reach me even now. I have not lost hope. To the contrary, I am more hopeful than ever. To quote from a favorite book of mine:
"Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one that can implant in the heart enmity against sin. Every desire for truth and purity, every conviction of our own sinfulness, is an evidence that His Spirit is moving upon our hearts." - Steps to Christ, p. 26.3
But, more to the point of our story..
Lately, the last few weeks/months, (two separate blocks of time), I've come to realize something I instinctively knew all along, but was afraid of admitting to.. of acknowledging in its full starkness. I am not a Christian. By the Biblical definition, I am no more a Christian than Christ was a sinner.
Yes, I just said that.
In fact, it gets worse. Not only do I not fit the Biblical definition of a Christian, the only thing that really sets me apart from the sinful world at large is that I have access to that truth which has the power to set one free. So? What this means is that I have a greater responsibility to be a true light to the world. As an informed and intelligent person (if you want, you may claim this title as well.. but read the following first), I am held to a higher standard. That is to say, I am more guilty for the same actions than another person might be, as I can make no plea of ignorance - unless ignorant by indolence.
And, as a person who sometimes impresses others as a fine Christian young man, as one who knows how to distinguish between right and wrong, as a person who is upright in everything (at least, I can make this appearance, at times), I am already a hypocrite, and at risk of deceiving others. And what could be worse than to take the name of Christ as a justification for sin - that is to say, I sin, because of Christ? What could be worse than projecting a wrong view of Him.. of deceiving others into thinking that this sad, unfulfilled, and desperate life I live is that "life more abundant" that Christ offers..
Wait.. so.. that's what you say.. but what is your justification for that view? How do you know?
Again, I've instinctively known this all my life. The conscience exists in a man for this very reason. Even though I knew this was the truth, however, it never felt real. I knew I was a sinner, but did not feel like a bad person. And if one is not truly evil, what need have they of salvation?
A few things have happened to change this perception: I began praying that God help me realize my condition.. I began to notice a deep, heart felt expression of remorse and gratitude in others far better than myself, which I simply could not experience.. (I, being the empathetic, somewhat emotional person with a good imagination, as it is..). Spending more time with those I respect for their faith and commitment drives this realization stronger, increases its importance in my mind, and gives me hope at the same time. I've pursued an understanding of the concept of righteousness by faith; a concept so far outside of myself, that I find the entire thought baffling - but I have come to understand enough to realize that it is not the life I am living, yet is precisely that which I desire.
Most powerful, however, is the time I've spent familiarizing myself with the book of 1 John, as part of a memorization effort with a group of friends.
Here are a "few" select passages that have jumped out at me:
1 John 1:
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 2:
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 3:
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Explanation:
First, God is perfect. He is light, and there is no sin in him. (1 John 1:5). He cannot sin, and neither can anyone who is living in Him. (2:5; 3:6, 9)
Second, if I fail to recognize my sinful tendency, I am deceiving myself, and still living in sin. (1:8, 10).
Third, if I claim that I am nonetheless living in Christ, (and even if I don't), and yet do not keep his word/commandments (2:4, 5; 3:4), have a disregard for my fellow man (2:9, 11; 3:10, 16, 17), have too high of a regard for the things of the world (2:15, 16), or am generally continuing in sin in some form (1:6), I am clearly not living in Christ, but, in transgressing the law (3:4), am of the devil (3:8).
Summarized, a Christian should live as Christ did (2:6), as anything less is of the devil, and counts no more toward righteousness than a handful of Mexican pesos could be counted towards the US national debt.
In a brutally honest self examination of heart, it is very clear to me that my own heart is not only not pure and holy, but is as truly guilty as anyone else the world over, if not more so.
And yet I know that God has the power, and the desire to reach me even now. I have not lost hope. To the contrary, I am more hopeful than ever. To quote from a favorite book of mine:
"Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one that can implant in the heart enmity against sin. Every desire for truth and purity, every conviction of our own sinfulness, is an evidence that His Spirit is moving upon our hearts." - Steps to Christ, p. 26.3
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