Actions Speak Louder

I have been burdened recently with the things going on around the world.  My heart hurts because as I watched the news today about the earthquake and the tsunami warnings I couldn't help but find myself in quick sand.  What I mean by this is that I was aware of the catastrophe but couldn't stop myself from being sucked back down into my selfish comfortable surroundings.  My mom mentioned something that I completely agree with as we were looking at cars and bridges being ompletely destroyed- that we have become almost numb to these images due to movies/video games/ tv and etc.  It doesn't even phase us sometimes when we see a house torn apart or bodies laying everywhere because we see it all the time on the big screen.  Life is so fragile and it is remarkable how quickly it is taken.  Looking at the images make me almost angry because I cannot be anywhere near there or do anything sitting in my chair at the restaraunt.  I can't run to the crying kid or move the rubble from the fallen structure because "it doesn't effect me." Those words are poison.  It should affect us all- It should make us sob with remorse for all those families who lost their loved ones.  It should make us want to be the most helpful we can be whether it include money, experience, provisions, or anything.  We are all made in God's image and THAT is why it should affect us.

I was recently reading a status on facebook the other day that said something along the lines of "Why should we be helping Haiti?  Lets fix our own country first."  At first I was angry because I didn't understand why someone could be upset about helping Haiti but then I realized that our own nation is also suffering just not in the same way necessarily.  We all are aware- atleast I think we all have an inkling of knowledge about how screwed up alot of people are whether they like to admit it or not.  We all know what goes on in those places that our parents don't want us to go to and we deny their existence.  We make sure to not involve ourselves in other people's affairs because that JUST might mess up whatever we had going right now.  I am completely apart of this and am not ashamed to admit my passiveness.  I can talk all I want about helping but nothing will never come of it unless I take action.  We can never be truly passionate about a cause until we take action towards it because only then are we truly making an effort to help.  Everyday is another day wasted unless we take the initiative ourselves and strive past this huge wave of apathy that is so quickly crashing on our entire generation.  When it is all said and done who have you helped? When you turn around at the end of your life will there be any kind of legacy left? Or will you like so many others be slowly forgotten because without you everything goes on just as it did before.

Wintery Day with the Canon Zoom=]

Don't you know

They're talkin' about a revolution

It sounds like whisper

Don't you know

They're talkin' about a revolution

It sounds like whisper

While they're standing in the welfare lines

Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation

Wasting time in the unemployment lines

Sitting around waiting for a promotion

Poor people gonna rise up

And get their share

Poor people gonna rise up

And take what's theirs

Don't you know

You better run...

Oh I said you better

Run

run

   run... 

-Tracy Chapman

I wonder what we would all be like if we only ate food as it was naturally provided?

Sick as a DOG

I have been laying around my house for the past 3 days sick as a dog and even as I say that phrase I am wondering why we use it?  Poor dogs, they probably wonder too. Anyways, to pass the time away I should probably be reading or working on homework but instead have been indulging in LOST the television series and realized just how much I think I would enjoy being stranded on an island. Well, only if Jack Shepherd, John Locke, Kate, Sayid, Charlie and Sawyer were there too.  It would be so wonderful to look around and have to start from scratch everything you were handed on a silver platter back home.  I love the phrase that was repeated in season 1 "Everyone gets a fresh start here on the island."  Every time I heard it I was almost jealous because I think everyone wants a fresh start or maybe it's more the feeling of newness and being able to be who you want to be rather than who people still remember you as, which may not be a bad thing but still the idea of something new is extremely appetizing.  It is a never ending process, the wanting of the new and getting rid of the old.  Because there will always be something newer. In our world today it is so easy to get caught in the trap of never being satisfied.  I see it so often and definitely find myself being pulled in that direction as well.  We are hungry for the best because commercials, stores, celebrities and people everywhere have been telling us that they can satisfy that craving and make you content.  Isn't that what we all want?  Contentment?  To finally sit back and be able to look out at our perfect surroundings and just say "Ahhh this is it."  What I am getting at is that we will never find that here on earth.  How can I prove this statement? Simply by asking you to reveal yourself if you are completely content and have been for more than a day or even a couple hours.  I am not saying that it is impossible to be happy but simply stating that true contentment that lasts and is completely satisfying is unable to be reached.  We can try and try and try but the fact of the matter is that unless you realize you cannot be satisfied here on earth you will never understand why that new TV or new outfit just doesn't seem to get the job done.  It is only when you say "enough" that you can stop searching and start breathing in the closest thing to being satisfied here that we can get and that is the creation all around us.  The air, the trees, the sun and ocean everything around us is a picture of our whole and perfect maker who is the only way...

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Exactly what is happiness? Can you define it or does the word carry a different meaning for each person? This has been a topic in my English class recently and one that I find myself stressing out about because my whole life has always been set around trying to make other people happy or comfortable. I have been slowing learning, however, that while it is impossible to make EVERYONE happy at one time, it is also miserable attempting!  I have come to the conclusion that there is no need to try and please all because in the end never will all be pleased and if you are stressed about it then you will also never be pleased yourself. It is time to grow up and come to this realization.
   As I grow older situations change and I look at problems with new eyes.  Rather than throwing a temper tantrum or ignoring problems I am learning to face things head on and tackle them while they remain an issue.  I think it is so important to accept the challenge of maturity and swallow our pride when necessary.  It is also important to know when to say "I' sorry/wrong" and accept responsibility.  So often do people throw up defenses when they think they are being attacked and while those walls are up there is no room for forgiveness or resolution.
  Another thing I have noticed that eats away peoples happiness is when one has too long to "think" about things.  Granted, it is most important to think and ponder over issues but too often do people OVER think situations into a complete mess.  People are turning into such savages and think that everyone is out to get everyone else.  So many people today look so far into situations and come to the most bizarre conclusions that really all they needed to do was see the situation for what is was and accept the truth and get over it.  The issue that coincides with the previous is when people think too little about a problem.  They will immediately attack without considering other angles and shut out any other possibilities.  This causes huge problems especially when one is narrow minded to seeing other points of view.  Lastly, people may think too simply and get taken advantage of. They may not look at the situation for what it is and assume it was simply an accident or that the person really didn't mean what they did/say. Who are you in these situations? We need to stop taking advantage/moping around/being angry or whatever the case and seek true peace because how are you to be enjoyed when you don't even enjoy yourself?

The fruit of Silence is Prayer.
The fruit of Prayer is Faith.
The fruit of Faith is Love.
The fruit of Love is Service.
The fruit of Service is Peace.
-Mother Teresa


Enjoy yourself.  Stop worrying. Be Peaceful. Love.



Why am I rambling about these things that happen when problems stir? I have NO idea but I just type as my mind goes from idea to idea and hope it helps or triggers something in someone else! If not then that's okay too because it has helped me release through typing- =)

Invictus

So I saw the movie "Invictus" tonight and first off, I love Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman.  The two of them did such an amazing job!  Basically, Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela as he takes his position as president of South Africa and pushes the captain of the rugby team, known as the Springboks, Francios Pienaar, to win the 1995 rugby world cup not only for his team, but for the entire country.  This movie portrays the amazing perseverance of Nelson Mandela's determination and hope for peace between the whites and blacks of his country.  I give this movie two thumbs up and recommend it to everyone!

I Can't Get No.. Satisfaction

This is a piece I did or "doodled" on Addictions.  I was working on an acrylic when I realized that I enjoyed doodling on cardboard much more.  So, I thought of the things that people get addicted to and mixed them all together.  Some are weird =) >>>>


What has been in my mind today is idea of other people stealing our joy.  I have caught myself either really annoyed with someone or frustrated by a comment to the point that my whole entire mood will change and I know this may be just human and natural but it shouldn't happen.  We should not give other people the satisfaction of taking our joy away just because they are having a crappy day and want to drag you down into it.  Don't let them be the master of what you feel.  I also look around at people striving to have approval whether it be boys or even other friends.  It breaks my heart to watch someone smiling over something they enjoy and then will turn away from it immediately if their "friend" doesn't.  Why would you allow someone to change what you enjoy just because they don't share the same feel about it?  People should be themselves and stop trying to change little parts of them to become like someone they "idolize."  I use that term lightly because it's strong but I don't know how else to put the way I see high school girls looking at other girls trying to change their appearance or even speech to act like their "idol."  We live in such a small little bubble and what people do not realize is that those "idols" are going to be thrown into the world just as far as the rest and will turn out a disappointment in the real world because what you may have thought was cool at your high school might not fit in at your college and then what are you going to do?  Your whole idea of what to do with yourself is shattered and you will have to find a new someone or something to be like.  This is why I think it is so important for us to push aside those wants of fitting in and accept people for who they are without trying to have the best of everyones personality because if you look elsewhere to find your identity you'll crash and burn.  Why?  Because no one is perfect and without Christ as the example for what we want to be like we will never be satisfied.  Ever. Ever. Ever.