Accroches-Toi A Ton Reve

Let's talk committment.  Stay put guys, not that kind of committment.

If you're reading this, I assume that you have some dreams and some desires that guide you in life.  And I'd like to say to you that you should stick to your freaking guns*.

*So long as the dreams and desires are constructive to a healthy life.

I wonder how many great things could have been, but weren't, because someone flaked out and decided that their dreams came second to a chance to have a crappy internship at the bottom of a corporate ladder, but with promise to climb?  How about, how many people have missed out on their dream because their family didn't approve?  Or how many people's dreams fall through because of a relationship still in the early stages of wildfire romance?

You've got a dream, and you need to follow it.  Even though letting your dream die may let other people down, you'll ultimately be letting yourself down the most.  Because perhaps in 10 years, you'll see yourself locked into a situation you can't escape, and that dream that was once very real and within your grasp, decided only by when you chose to reach for it, is now gone.  It gets logged in the mental book you unshelve to read to yourself at night as your reminisce of the glory days. 

The thing about 'glory days' is that people rarely actually encounter them.  There is nothing glorious about the freedom and vigor of youth; or should I say, all people who are free, vigorous, and youthful are glorious, and thus the glory becomes the norm.  Once you decide to hand all of that over for a suit, tie, respectable sedan, and a nameplate on a desk, you realize just how glorious normal youthful enthusiasm is.  Youth and dreams are glorious, but once you have opted out of them, they don't become glory days.  You just become passed by.



This old man sees a picture of the town football team, because he's one of those creepy old guys with no grandkids on the team, but goes to every game anyway...and he remembers his dreams to be champion in the NFL.  Shut up, old man.  You gave up on your dream, and your dream didnt leave you with some sort of romantic, bittersweet farewell smooch.  Granted, you seem to be doing very well for yourself with that sweater and plush chair and fireplace and all...but still.  You gave up.



My friends have some awesome dreams. 

Blog shout-out time! 

One of my friends, Chelsea, who follows me (follow her!) wants to open a coffee shop because it encourages slowing down, something she says we don't do enough in life.  I wanted to put a picture here, but I spent ten minutes looking for a suitable relaxing coffee house photo and couldnt find a single befitting photo.  Goes to show you, she's right.  People don't chill out enough.  A good, accurate dream.

I have been overcome by an extreme case of laziness.  I have more friends, and they have dreams.  But I think you get the idea.  I have another post on the idea of following dreams.  Read it, and then do it.

He's Leaving Home, Bye-Bye

Since going to college, I have been experiencing an interesting feeling when I come home.

I'm still welcome here, but at the same time, I don't feel welcome.

In terms of my family, I feel welcome, but I don't feel very welcome by God.  Like He doesn't want me to be there, like my job is to be somewhere else.

I can't really tack a label on the feeling I get when I come home, but it's as if the town of Chesterton, Indiana just has nothing to offer me anymore, and I don't have a great deal to offer it right now.  I feel as though I'm not supposed to be here, and it isn't really home anymore, in terms of feeling at peace when I'm here.

I'd imagine this is kind of how Columbus felt while he frustratedly tried to find someone to fund his expedition to the New World.  He knew what was out there, calling for him, but at that moment he was stuck in the familiar.  I'm ready to go find what it is I'm looking for, and I'll be sure to know the map and not mistake North America for India. 

Why Christians Should Not Rejoice At The Death of Osama bin Laden

I am attempting to overpower the voice of many, many Christians celebrating the death of bin Laden.  I will fail.

Here's the bottom line:  bin Laden was indoctrinated to believe what he believed from the very start.  Just the same, we've been indoctrinated to love villifying the leaders of our enemies, and rejoicing in their deaths. Yes, he did things that damaged many people, but he was not an evil man.  Evil men do things to see people suffer because they want to see suffering, they want to feel power, they want to be the richest, and will do what they have to do to see it happen.  How many people have died at the hands of Christians in years past?  it happens everywhere.  They weren't evil either, they were just misguided in their beliefs.

When people say 'The world is now a better place, that bastard is going to burn in hell', I disagree.  The hatred that man had for those who didn't believe in his beliefs was great indeed...but the little hatred of millions of people is more powerful, in a different way.  This hatred we have all gladly reaccepted into our hearts will fuel our attitudes and actions when it comes to the next clash of Islam and Christian ideology.  Our hatred will push us to fight, fight, fight, ultimately killing more than the few dozen thousand (just an estimation, I have no clue) people bin Laden killed.

The Daily News I believe has said 'ROT IN HELL!" on their cover page.  A news reporter said he is going to be burning in hell for a long time.  Funny, because I thought Hell was an inhumane concept reserved for the most barbaric of religious fanatics, not forward-thinking and global-minded Americans of the new generation?  Oh wait, Hell exists when we hate someone alot, I forgot.

I'll leave you with these verses.

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?  -  Ezekiel 18:23

This is interesting because it is Old Testament, and OT typically has a harsher depiction of God.  Even then, He is clear.  He does not rejoice.

"You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, My decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with The Father, who sent Me." (John 8:15-16)
 

We are so quick to judge as if our opinions matter.  It's His call, and in the meantime, I think God wants us to focus on love.  I'll show you what I mean.

 

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22: 34-40

 

When Jesus makes big statements like that..."ALL the law hang on these two commandments", we should pay attention more.  Or how about this?

 

"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. - John 12:47

 

Or how about the collection of these stories?

 

-Saving the adulteress in John chapter 7

- Healing the ear of a man who helped arrest Him in Luke chapter 22

- Eating with sinners in Matt 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5

- "forgive them father, they know not what they do" as He is dying at their hands in Luke 23:34

- General story of the whole gospel where he spends all of his time amongst cheaters, liars, adulterers, and more.

 

Am I glad that some things that cause pain won't happen anymore?  Yes, even though others will stand up to carry Osama's share of the work.  Am I glad that a man has died?  No, as a Christian, that is not my job.