Different experiences obviously produce different emotions, and from that we learn in a different way. At this point of our lives, many of us have been around death and everything that comes with it at least once or twice. We know how it feels, and we all react according to our own emotions and beliefs.
It's the hardest part of life, just a glimpse of how precious life can be. Yet, there is a difference to the feeling you feel between a personal death, and a death you see on the news. Those are two completely different emotions. One is a strong feeling of personal sadness, the other is sadness for those surrounding them, which can, at times be just at strong considering the number of people affected. It's different.
I was put in the middle of this spectrum earlier this week. A friend of mine's sibling passed away suddenly, and myself and other friends went to see him at the wake. Now knowing the person who had died, I had never really done something like that before, other than being an altar server in elementary school at funerals. At that point I didn't really understand what went into this kind of thing.
When you are connected in some way, but not directly, it makes you think a little bit differently. I saw the face of my friend, different than ever before, and it tore me up inside. I saw the face of his mother, overwhelmed by the support. I saw the face of his father, still heartbroken. I saw my own friends, dopes just like myself, humbled by this experience. There were hugs that couldn't last long enough, handshakes that trembled yet still with a sense of firmness.
When a loved one dies, we have our own memories to live on during the hardest times. I had no memories of myself and the person who had passed, so these moments were what I lived by. My memories with my close friend started to filter through my brain, and the fact that his entire life would be different forever, and my relationship with him as well.
There is no right thing to say to anyone, as everyone reacts differently. Just being there though, is often more than enough.
And you know what, it's not fair. But it can't be changed. It's hard to appreciate people on a daily basis, even the people we love the most. At the end of the day though, it's not worth holding a grudge. You just never know. When it comes to family and close, trustworthy friends, it might be time to take a step back from the stupid little things and let it all go for the big picture. We are here just a brief moment in time, some of us a little longer, some of us a little shorter. What is the point of hating, complaining, nagging, and needing in the grand scheme of things?
After attending something like that, anyone that does not call their own family members and just saying "I love you" needs a reality check. Things don't always go our way. But that is one of the only things we can control, a simple phone call, or text message. I've thought about that wake everyday since I went on Monday, it's something I'll never forget.
It's not going to be easy for my friend, as we all know. It isn't easy for anyone. The only thing I can do, is be there for him, and live my own life without a regret, and never forget to keep the main thing the main thing in my mind.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
I'm Going to Church
Just yesterday, October 19th, was the Feast Day of St. Isaac Jogues, John de Brebeuf, and Companions. They were Jesuit priests who were the first North American martyrs to be recognized by the Catholic Church. They died because they defended God, and stood up for their faith even in the toughest of circumstances...a life or death situation.
So now, if there was a gun to your head, and you were asked if you believe in God, what would you say? It's a startling question, hence the Feast Day and the honoring of those who have indeed answered yes by making them known as martyrs. It's an amazing test of faith, and obviously, not everyone has to undergo that kind of test over the course of their lifetime.
But, we are tested to a lesser degree all the time. Something as little as going to church on Sunday can be considered one of those tests of faith. Are you willing to leave a riveting NFL game with your friends at 1 or 9 o clock if you're on the Ithaca College campus on the weekend? What would you say to them as you leave? If not on the IC Campus, how about a beautiful Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning? It's tough to leave, but it's really just an hour.
Some people are scared to express their faith to others, or even admit they are faith. For people my age, it is natural, as it can be weird to be different from the people around us. Some people accept it, some don't. A simple statement like, "I'm going to church," can turn into a 10 minute long debate, or 20 questions, where friends are asking all those tough questions about the Catholic Church and Jesus etc. A lot of those questions start with the word: Why?
Often, there is no explanation other than simply: That's what I believe. Nothing else really needs to be said after that. That is usually the right answer to every question about your faith. You believe it, and you're confident about that, and will defend it.
Now, it's not necessary for all of us to go off gallivanting about our faith, saying that our way is the only way. God doesn't want that. Some people choose to spread the Catholic faith to other countries by being a missionary or something like that, which is what some people are called to do. For us though, the only thing we really have to do is be sure of our faith, even in the toughest of atmospheres. That way, it spreads simply in our daily actions with others around us.
No one is forcing us to believe in God, only our own inner strength keeps our faith alive. So, be proud of it. Be proud of going to church when others decide not to. We get better in that hour. We don't necessarily have to be martyrs, but we can do our best to stay confident with our faith, and not be afraid to spread it to others on a daily basis.
So now, if there was a gun to your head, and you were asked if you believe in God, what would you say? It's a startling question, hence the Feast Day and the honoring of those who have indeed answered yes by making them known as martyrs. It's an amazing test of faith, and obviously, not everyone has to undergo that kind of test over the course of their lifetime.
But, we are tested to a lesser degree all the time. Something as little as going to church on Sunday can be considered one of those tests of faith. Are you willing to leave a riveting NFL game with your friends at 1 or 9 o clock if you're on the Ithaca College campus on the weekend? What would you say to them as you leave? If not on the IC Campus, how about a beautiful Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning? It's tough to leave, but it's really just an hour.
Some people are scared to express their faith to others, or even admit they are faith. For people my age, it is natural, as it can be weird to be different from the people around us. Some people accept it, some don't. A simple statement like, "I'm going to church," can turn into a 10 minute long debate, or 20 questions, where friends are asking all those tough questions about the Catholic Church and Jesus etc. A lot of those questions start with the word: Why?
Often, there is no explanation other than simply: That's what I believe. Nothing else really needs to be said after that. That is usually the right answer to every question about your faith. You believe it, and you're confident about that, and will defend it.
Now, it's not necessary for all of us to go off gallivanting about our faith, saying that our way is the only way. God doesn't want that. Some people choose to spread the Catholic faith to other countries by being a missionary or something like that, which is what some people are called to do. For us though, the only thing we really have to do is be sure of our faith, even in the toughest of atmospheres. That way, it spreads simply in our daily actions with others around us.
No one is forcing us to believe in God, only our own inner strength keeps our faith alive. So, be proud of it. Be proud of going to church when others decide not to. We get better in that hour. We don't necessarily have to be martyrs, but we can do our best to stay confident with our faith, and not be afraid to spread it to others on a daily basis.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The Man in the Mirror
As I sit here in my comfortable chair, in a room just around 72 degrees, typing away at almost the latest in technology, it's easy to feel comfortable and relaxed in this atmosphere. It's easy to take it for granted, and even complain or whine about the things I don't have.
Let's take ourselves to another place. A cold, dark one. A tight, enclosed space with 33 other people. No technology to speak of. Close your eyes and see it. Now see it for 69 days in a row. That's what the caved in miners in the San Jose mine in Chile had to deal with. Three months is an entire summer, think about how long that is, and all that you accomplished in that period of time. I completed an entire lifting program through that time, took an online course, and grew closer to my family. Those miners had none of that. Day after day, they had to sit and simply think.
We can often be the victim of our own thoughts, as over thinking anything can lead to flip flopping and possibly going down the wrong road, if our thoughts aren't corrected. Yet, these miners in Chili had nothing to do, but think. It's difficult for even myself to turn my mind off before I go to bed at night, but I don't know how I could handle that for 3 months in a row.
As of now, 17 miners have been rescued since yesterday, as finally these souls have seen a natural light. As near-death experiences often do, some of saved men claim that they are changed people forever.
One man, Mario Sepulveda, said in a CNN.com article, "I was with God, and I was with the devil. They fought, and God won," he said. Sepulveda also said he grabbed God's hand and never doubted that he would be rescued.
Cartoons always seem to show the whole angel and devil on the shoulders routine. But that statement infuses that cartoon into the real world. Now it would be pretty fascinating to see that fight between good and evil actually happen in front of our own eyes, but then you stop and think, when have I seen that in my life? Who won?
Did you take, or grab, God's hand, when it came to trusting Him to get you out of a sticky situation? It's pretty simple to take the easy way out, or the path of least resistance, which usually is the decision that will hurt the most people. Yet, Sepulveda had the strength to take the high road, whatever that might have meant down there, and work through the problem, and above all, have the faith that he would be saved. That's powerful stuff.
Something else that sticks out is the "changed man" idea. It bothers me, at times, that it takes a great tragedy, or near death experience, to really change people. I give them all the credit in the world for feeling like they need to change their lives, and maybe they did need that wake up call. But, for those who haven't had that near death experience in life, let's not wait to change. Yes, mistakes happen, but it's not right to repeat the same ones over and over again. We need to learn from others mistakes as well, so we as a people don't make the same ones.
So, instead of one huge tragic situation that changes us, why not use little ones every week to reevaluate our life? That way the change isn't so drastic so that we lose a little piece of ourselves. Come to church every Sunday, ready to evaluate the week beforehand. The good and bad decisions. The good and bad events. That's the only way to spark real change, and create real goodness. It's a constant state of transition, as we are never completely perfect. But God, and even loved ones, see that effort to indeed be the difference, that might not only change our own lives, but those around us as well.
When it comes to tough situations, we have to know we need God, but that all becomes easier if we tune-up our lives on a constant basis, instead of waiting for a disaster.
As the men get carried up in these next few days, think of their situation, and their thoughts, and how we would react. Michael Jackson sang about "The Man in the Mirror." The question is, do we like our own reaction? If not, you might have explaining to do, not only to God, but yourself as well.
Hopefully, by the end of it all, you can say, "I was, and still am with God."
Let's take ourselves to another place. A cold, dark one. A tight, enclosed space with 33 other people. No technology to speak of. Close your eyes and see it. Now see it for 69 days in a row. That's what the caved in miners in the San Jose mine in Chile had to deal with. Three months is an entire summer, think about how long that is, and all that you accomplished in that period of time. I completed an entire lifting program through that time, took an online course, and grew closer to my family. Those miners had none of that. Day after day, they had to sit and simply think.
We can often be the victim of our own thoughts, as over thinking anything can lead to flip flopping and possibly going down the wrong road, if our thoughts aren't corrected. Yet, these miners in Chili had nothing to do, but think. It's difficult for even myself to turn my mind off before I go to bed at night, but I don't know how I could handle that for 3 months in a row.
As of now, 17 miners have been rescued since yesterday, as finally these souls have seen a natural light. As near-death experiences often do, some of saved men claim that they are changed people forever.
One man, Mario Sepulveda, said in a CNN.com article, "I was with God, and I was with the devil. They fought, and God won," he said. Sepulveda also said he grabbed God's hand and never doubted that he would be rescued.
Cartoons always seem to show the whole angel and devil on the shoulders routine. But that statement infuses that cartoon into the real world. Now it would be pretty fascinating to see that fight between good and evil actually happen in front of our own eyes, but then you stop and think, when have I seen that in my life? Who won?
Did you take, or grab, God's hand, when it came to trusting Him to get you out of a sticky situation? It's pretty simple to take the easy way out, or the path of least resistance, which usually is the decision that will hurt the most people. Yet, Sepulveda had the strength to take the high road, whatever that might have meant down there, and work through the problem, and above all, have the faith that he would be saved. That's powerful stuff.
Something else that sticks out is the "changed man" idea. It bothers me, at times, that it takes a great tragedy, or near death experience, to really change people. I give them all the credit in the world for feeling like they need to change their lives, and maybe they did need that wake up call. But, for those who haven't had that near death experience in life, let's not wait to change. Yes, mistakes happen, but it's not right to repeat the same ones over and over again. We need to learn from others mistakes as well, so we as a people don't make the same ones.
So, instead of one huge tragic situation that changes us, why not use little ones every week to reevaluate our life? That way the change isn't so drastic so that we lose a little piece of ourselves. Come to church every Sunday, ready to evaluate the week beforehand. The good and bad decisions. The good and bad events. That's the only way to spark real change, and create real goodness. It's a constant state of transition, as we are never completely perfect. But God, and even loved ones, see that effort to indeed be the difference, that might not only change our own lives, but those around us as well.
When it comes to tough situations, we have to know we need God, but that all becomes easier if we tune-up our lives on a constant basis, instead of waiting for a disaster.
As the men get carried up in these next few days, think of their situation, and their thoughts, and how we would react. Michael Jackson sang about "The Man in the Mirror." The question is, do we like our own reaction? If not, you might have explaining to do, not only to God, but yourself as well.
Hopefully, by the end of it all, you can say, "I was, and still am with God."
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
You Gotta Have Faith
This week's readings concern faith. And well, there isn't much to say about faith. You basically either have it, or you don't. Sure, we all have doubts, but faith is what saves us from those doubts. It's one of those things that can really change you life though. A trust that we are all part of God's plan, and the piece of mind that He is always with us should keep us cool in even the most dire of situations. No matter what the problem is, faith helps us through it.
There's an emptiness without it, with no real cornerstone to rely on when things get rough, or even when things get great. Faith keeps us grounded, not allowing us to get ridiculously high or low depending on the situation. Ultimately, that keeps us in control of our lives, and able to make wise decisions.
Instead of dragging on and on about faith, today I'll cut the blog short, because my faith is different than yours. It's simply time to step up and make it stronger by growing that trust, coming to church more often, or just praying instead of freaking out.
So think about it, the only one who can change your faith is you.
There's an emptiness without it, with no real cornerstone to rely on when things get rough, or even when things get great. Faith keeps us grounded, not allowing us to get ridiculously high or low depending on the situation. Ultimately, that keeps us in control of our lives, and able to make wise decisions.
Instead of dragging on and on about faith, today I'll cut the blog short, because my faith is different than yours. It's simply time to step up and make it stronger by growing that trust, coming to church more often, or just praying instead of freaking out.
So think about it, the only one who can change your faith is you.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
A Heaven On Earth
As most of those giving homilies this weekend probably said, this week's Gospel is a tough one to handle. It involves a story Jesus told, where he talks about a rich man being sent to the netherworld after his death because of riches, while a poor man with sores was carried by angles to Abraham's side. Kind of makes you think doesn't it...
We are all used to the saying that the last will be first in heaven and the first will be last in heaven. Read that one again. Tough stuff to sink in. But it's not like we can go out and just live on the streets in the sheer hope that we are the last so that we make it to heaven. That's not giving an effort, which God wants us to do. You can work and have money and shelter, even Jesus had that, but He helped people along the way too. He spread His gifts and shared them with everyone, both rich and poor. That's what God wants us to do, to get to that next level.
Then the question arises, what does heaven look like exactly? We know, usually with God, it's never that cut and dry. I can't answer that question, Father Carsten can't answer that question, I don't think the Pope can even answer that question. It's not like some ocean side resort we can just go to for vacation. The fact that it's that much unknown intrigues me even more, all I really want is a glimpse. Yet, this is why we must learn patience. We have a whole life to live here on earth before any of that happens.
I've always thought about how I miss the old days, the young days, before school really even existed in my brain, playing on some giant slide or playground with my sisters. Whether you have that kind of memory or not, everything seemed easier back then, didn't it?
Well, that's over, or is it? And it's hard not to want that time back. But then you realize, sooner or later, it's actually coming. Except this time, you'll see it through different eyes. Either you or someone close to you will most likely get married and have children someday, and that's when you relive those days, playing with the kids, while spending time with those you once did the same with. Everything overlaps. To me, that's the secret to getting that kind of happiness back, other than the happy times in your everyday life. You get all the perks of being an adult, but get that kind of youthful wonder of life as well. The college age crowd isn't there yet for the most part, my crowd, it's the in between time. But, we cannot just wish for those future days, then we'll miss this precious time now. Every day is actually a huge chunk of our time on earth, especially compared with something as eternal as heaven.
So why not have some heaven on earth now, and enjoy ourselves as much as possible. Life's too short not to. Sure, we have work and problems and all that other stuff to deal with, but there isn't enough time to let it drag us down. If we live the right way, the way God wants us to, we can have all that extra time in eternity. We don't know quite what heaven is going to look like, but we do know that God wants us to give our gifts as much as possible while here on earth. That will truly determine what our heaven will be.
All that is guaranteed to us is this minute on this day on this year. The next moment can be taken away any second, so take this time now, and do everything you can to make it worth not only your own time, but those around you too.
That's where true happiness lies, in those moments we cherish, whether we are a toddler or a grandparent. And don't forget, there's no age limit for playing on the swings.
We are all used to the saying that the last will be first in heaven and the first will be last in heaven. Read that one again. Tough stuff to sink in. But it's not like we can go out and just live on the streets in the sheer hope that we are the last so that we make it to heaven. That's not giving an effort, which God wants us to do. You can work and have money and shelter, even Jesus had that, but He helped people along the way too. He spread His gifts and shared them with everyone, both rich and poor. That's what God wants us to do, to get to that next level.
Then the question arises, what does heaven look like exactly? We know, usually with God, it's never that cut and dry. I can't answer that question, Father Carsten can't answer that question, I don't think the Pope can even answer that question. It's not like some ocean side resort we can just go to for vacation. The fact that it's that much unknown intrigues me even more, all I really want is a glimpse. Yet, this is why we must learn patience. We have a whole life to live here on earth before any of that happens.
I've always thought about how I miss the old days, the young days, before school really even existed in my brain, playing on some giant slide or playground with my sisters. Whether you have that kind of memory or not, everything seemed easier back then, didn't it?
Well, that's over, or is it? And it's hard not to want that time back. But then you realize, sooner or later, it's actually coming. Except this time, you'll see it through different eyes. Either you or someone close to you will most likely get married and have children someday, and that's when you relive those days, playing with the kids, while spending time with those you once did the same with. Everything overlaps. To me, that's the secret to getting that kind of happiness back, other than the happy times in your everyday life. You get all the perks of being an adult, but get that kind of youthful wonder of life as well. The college age crowd isn't there yet for the most part, my crowd, it's the in between time. But, we cannot just wish for those future days, then we'll miss this precious time now. Every day is actually a huge chunk of our time on earth, especially compared with something as eternal as heaven.
So why not have some heaven on earth now, and enjoy ourselves as much as possible. Life's too short not to. Sure, we have work and problems and all that other stuff to deal with, but there isn't enough time to let it drag us down. If we live the right way, the way God wants us to, we can have all that extra time in eternity. We don't know quite what heaven is going to look like, but we do know that God wants us to give our gifts as much as possible while here on earth. That will truly determine what our heaven will be.
All that is guaranteed to us is this minute on this day on this year. The next moment can be taken away any second, so take this time now, and do everything you can to make it worth not only your own time, but those around you too.
That's where true happiness lies, in those moments we cherish, whether we are a toddler or a grandparent. And don't forget, there's no age limit for playing on the swings.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Take a Deep Breath
You study for a test every day the week before you take it...but your grade doesn't reflect that.
You practice your trumpet solo until your lips literally turn blue...but you miss that high C the day of the performance.
You run sprints and lift weights every single day for three months...but you still can't pass your conditioning test for the sport that you play.
You try really really hard to impress that guy/girl you have your eye on...but he/she still isn't impressed.
Tough, right? It's failure. A depressing start to a blog, but as Rocky Balboa said in his most recent Rocky movie..."life ain't all sunshine and rainbows." I may have mentioned that speech in the past, but here's a link to copy and paste to your browser to watch it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXKkIdBYXYM
Anyways, my question is, how do we deal with failure? It's not easy, for anybody, especially when the work and preparation is put in to its fullest extent. But, then again, it's a part of life.
Some people might give up, actually a lot of people give up if they don't think they are good enough at something. When has that ever been okay though? God each gave us gifts as individuals, maybe we aren't trusting that when we give up. Maybe failing to do something is a sign that we ought to use our skills a little bit differently. Keep playing the trumpet, but work up to that high C, so it's more consistent, maybe even approach practicing a bit differently.
The conditioning test won't be the end all and be all. If the work was done, there is a greater force at hand. Keep doing the extra hard work, but maybe use a mental approach as well, and be the best mentally on the entire squad.
The idea is to be the best at what your good at that you can be. We all can't be professional athletes, or get 4.0 after 4.0 after 4.0 every semester in school. But we can be the best at our own major, or at improvising a jazz solo.
The thing we cannot do is get down and depressed, so that it affects the rest of our lives. We need to all take a deep breath. Even the best of us can fail, and it's not all wrong to show emotion from that. We might think we need to be and show everyone that we are strong emotionally, or even others might think that because of our position in society. This article about football players battling depression can serve as a example that anyone can be affected by failure.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/09/21/depression/index.html?eref=sihp
But, with faith, we can get past it all. And even use it as motivation for the next time a challenge comes our way. I'm sure you've noticed that an underlying theme in my life is the fact that I'll do my work and put my best out there, and let God take care of the rest. It gives me confidence, and limits the stress I feel on an everyday basis.
Criticism comes from all angles, but like failure, that's a constant in our lives. It's often hard to accept, but by taking it for what it's worth, either constructive or nonconstructive, we can get better. That all comes from trusting both God and ourselves...our own words, actions and emotions.
Failure is a breeding ground for depression. It's a simple matter of how we approach it that makes or breaks our everyday life. It can be a good thing, no matter how hard we work, especially if we have the confidence that God has a plan for us, and knows what is best for us.
So, don't give up, but try again, and again, and again. There is no rule that says we have to stop trying. When we finally have success, it feels that much better. And kudos to those who get it on the first try. Whether it's the first try or the 21st, our confidence should stay the same, and simply do what's within our control to get what we can done.
When we know God is with us, and our preparation is put in, all we need to do is go out there and enjoy it, let loose, and have fun.
...not a bad ending after the Jonny raincloud beginning...
You practice your trumpet solo until your lips literally turn blue...but you miss that high C the day of the performance.
You run sprints and lift weights every single day for three months...but you still can't pass your conditioning test for the sport that you play.
You try really really hard to impress that guy/girl you have your eye on...but he/she still isn't impressed.
Tough, right? It's failure. A depressing start to a blog, but as Rocky Balboa said in his most recent Rocky movie..."life ain't all sunshine and rainbows." I may have mentioned that speech in the past, but here's a link to copy and paste to your browser to watch it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXKkIdBYXYM
Anyways, my question is, how do we deal with failure? It's not easy, for anybody, especially when the work and preparation is put in to its fullest extent. But, then again, it's a part of life.
Some people might give up, actually a lot of people give up if they don't think they are good enough at something. When has that ever been okay though? God each gave us gifts as individuals, maybe we aren't trusting that when we give up. Maybe failing to do something is a sign that we ought to use our skills a little bit differently. Keep playing the trumpet, but work up to that high C, so it's more consistent, maybe even approach practicing a bit differently.
The conditioning test won't be the end all and be all. If the work was done, there is a greater force at hand. Keep doing the extra hard work, but maybe use a mental approach as well, and be the best mentally on the entire squad.
The idea is to be the best at what your good at that you can be. We all can't be professional athletes, or get 4.0 after 4.0 after 4.0 every semester in school. But we can be the best at our own major, or at improvising a jazz solo.
The thing we cannot do is get down and depressed, so that it affects the rest of our lives. We need to all take a deep breath. Even the best of us can fail, and it's not all wrong to show emotion from that. We might think we need to be and show everyone that we are strong emotionally, or even others might think that because of our position in society. This article about football players battling depression can serve as a example that anyone can be affected by failure.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/09/21/depression/index.html?eref=sihp
But, with faith, we can get past it all. And even use it as motivation for the next time a challenge comes our way. I'm sure you've noticed that an underlying theme in my life is the fact that I'll do my work and put my best out there, and let God take care of the rest. It gives me confidence, and limits the stress I feel on an everyday basis.
Criticism comes from all angles, but like failure, that's a constant in our lives. It's often hard to accept, but by taking it for what it's worth, either constructive or nonconstructive, we can get better. That all comes from trusting both God and ourselves...our own words, actions and emotions.
Failure is a breeding ground for depression. It's a simple matter of how we approach it that makes or breaks our everyday life. It can be a good thing, no matter how hard we work, especially if we have the confidence that God has a plan for us, and knows what is best for us.
So, don't give up, but try again, and again, and again. There is no rule that says we have to stop trying. When we finally have success, it feels that much better. And kudos to those who get it on the first try. Whether it's the first try or the 21st, our confidence should stay the same, and simply do what's within our control to get what we can done.
When we know God is with us, and our preparation is put in, all we need to do is go out there and enjoy it, let loose, and have fun.
...not a bad ending after the Jonny raincloud beginning...
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Guess Who's Back
Everything Jesus did when He was on earth, He did for a reason. The parables or stories He told weren't just random anecdotes to pass the time, they each had a greater meaning. The Bible is structured in a similar fashion, there is always something behind what is said.
We get to the story of the Prodigal Son, which took place in Luke's version of the Gospel this past weekend.
We all know the story...two sons are given their inheritance, one stays home and works, the other goes out and has himself a good ol' time blowing it all on this and that, that song comes back home with nothing, but is greeted like a king from the father, making the other brother jealous, but the father simply says his son has returned, and is thankful...
My guess would be that Jesus is not telling us to go out and party away all of our brains, money, education, friends, and family, leaving us cold and alone. The lesson is more in the way that brother was received by the father. You see, forgiveness is a constant with God, and it's shown again here.
Are we just as forgiving? It's hard to be. We are told that once a person abandons us, and wants something that we don't want, we should treat them like an outcast, especially if they come back. This past summer, NBA star LeBron James decided his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, wasn't good enough, and he bolted to play with two more stars in Miami as a member of the Heat. In his first game in Cleveland playing against his old team, I'm pretty sure they won't have a party, as boos and jeers will rain down from every fan in the seats.
It's obviously not easy to forgive once you've been betrayed, especially if everyone's mindset is the same. Now I'm not saying to treat Lebron like the son and kill the fatted calf in celebration, but maybe everyone should simply respect his wishes...it is his life after all.
So let's apply that to our own lives. It's ok to be emotional, don't get me wrong. My mom yells at me all the time to show some more emotion, and you gotta listen to you mother, it is what it is.
Think about it...it's ok to be mad when a friend decides to leave you out of their plans for the night. It can be offensive. But, how you then react to that shows your true makeup. Will you overreact, causing a dramatic evening for everyone involved? That's not the way to do it. Just as they need to live their lives, you need to live yours. You need only yourself to make yourself happiest. So relax and do that in a different way, that doesn't involve that friend. Maybe next time you'll be included, maybe you won't, but don't let it make or break your day or night.
When it comes to being responsible for someone else, the father was probably hurt when his son ran off, but he needed to press on with his life. That was his son's decision. No matter what you do, either as a parent, sibling, or friend, it's always their decision, and as hard as you might try to sway that, you cannot get into that inner core of their conscience. Once again, just like God is with you, he is with our loved ones too. We can only control our own lives, so we need to worry about that first and foremost, and not let our loved ones decisions bring us down. We need to be there, but at a certain point, it's up to them, and the father knew that. He was just happy to have him back at the end of the story, and we need to greet anyone who does that to us the same way. No judging, no drama, just forgiveness and love.
I might have rambled a little bit, and I apologize for not having a "Dark Knight" Batman/Morgan Freeman reference. But, we need to trust each other and in God, that mistakes happen, and that people betray one another, and leave one another, and that the only thing we can control is our own individual actions.
Trust, and maybe our blood pressure will collectively go down just a little.
So, enjoy the day, because you can.
We get to the story of the Prodigal Son, which took place in Luke's version of the Gospel this past weekend.
We all know the story...two sons are given their inheritance, one stays home and works, the other goes out and has himself a good ol' time blowing it all on this and that, that song comes back home with nothing, but is greeted like a king from the father, making the other brother jealous, but the father simply says his son has returned, and is thankful...
My guess would be that Jesus is not telling us to go out and party away all of our brains, money, education, friends, and family, leaving us cold and alone. The lesson is more in the way that brother was received by the father. You see, forgiveness is a constant with God, and it's shown again here.
Are we just as forgiving? It's hard to be. We are told that once a person abandons us, and wants something that we don't want, we should treat them like an outcast, especially if they come back. This past summer, NBA star LeBron James decided his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, wasn't good enough, and he bolted to play with two more stars in Miami as a member of the Heat. In his first game in Cleveland playing against his old team, I'm pretty sure they won't have a party, as boos and jeers will rain down from every fan in the seats.
It's obviously not easy to forgive once you've been betrayed, especially if everyone's mindset is the same. Now I'm not saying to treat Lebron like the son and kill the fatted calf in celebration, but maybe everyone should simply respect his wishes...it is his life after all.
So let's apply that to our own lives. It's ok to be emotional, don't get me wrong. My mom yells at me all the time to show some more emotion, and you gotta listen to you mother, it is what it is.
Think about it...it's ok to be mad when a friend decides to leave you out of their plans for the night. It can be offensive. But, how you then react to that shows your true makeup. Will you overreact, causing a dramatic evening for everyone involved? That's not the way to do it. Just as they need to live their lives, you need to live yours. You need only yourself to make yourself happiest. So relax and do that in a different way, that doesn't involve that friend. Maybe next time you'll be included, maybe you won't, but don't let it make or break your day or night.
When it comes to being responsible for someone else, the father was probably hurt when his son ran off, but he needed to press on with his life. That was his son's decision. No matter what you do, either as a parent, sibling, or friend, it's always their decision, and as hard as you might try to sway that, you cannot get into that inner core of their conscience. Once again, just like God is with you, he is with our loved ones too. We can only control our own lives, so we need to worry about that first and foremost, and not let our loved ones decisions bring us down. We need to be there, but at a certain point, it's up to them, and the father knew that. He was just happy to have him back at the end of the story, and we need to greet anyone who does that to us the same way. No judging, no drama, just forgiveness and love.
I might have rambled a little bit, and I apologize for not having a "Dark Knight" Batman/Morgan Freeman reference. But, we need to trust each other and in God, that mistakes happen, and that people betray one another, and leave one another, and that the only thing we can control is our own individual actions.
Trust, and maybe our blood pressure will collectively go down just a little.
So, enjoy the day, because you can.
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