I've never really understood why those "Praise God!" moments happen when they do, but I had an interesting one this morning. I was running this morning at PT and anyone who runs distance knows that the best way to endure the pain of a run is to think about other things. So, as I always do, I thought about home, my mom, dad, and brother. I thought about what I would be doing right now if I wasn't in the Army. It is a great way to grasp your thoughts and let them go. Anyway, I was running, nothing big, just a couple of miles, and I was looking around the track at other things and I noticed an incredible orange moon hanging low on the horizon. In that moment I thought, "Thank you God." I also began to think about the scripture my mother had given me only the day before. Romans 5:1-5 has a lot of deep thoughts on suffering. This caused me to recollect my experience in being away from home for the last six months and how much it hurts not being with my family. In my suffering I have found the Lord in new ways that I never thought possible. It's amazing how pain can help us to find a love that cannot be found anywhere else. I feel so blessed today and I think back on how blessed my life has always been and it's at times like these when I realize that everything is going to be just fine.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
A Blessed Conversation
I am constantly amazed by the way God shows us just how on fire we can be for him. Someone asked me today about my life story, and in telling them I was able to find fire for God that comes and goes so easily. I was blessed with the opportunity to talk to someone about the blessing that is my life. If you are reading this, then I would like to thank you for that opportunity. My heart is always filled with joy when I can talk about the most important people in my life. I love you all very dearly. Thank you for everything that you have given me.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The Gift of Articulation
I remember that there was a time when I loved people so much, regardless of how they felt about me. I had made it my personal, spiritual goal to treat others with the same dignity and respect that I would hope to receive. It is amazing that the older I get, the more I understand the importance of expressing love for our neighbors and family. It equally amazes me that it is so much more difficult now to love people without judging their character flaws, and even just being mean to them. Every time that I criticize someone blatantly and out loud, I am filled almost immediately with remorse.
As we get older we are so set in our was that we respond to particular subjects or people. We are not expressing our thoughts with a narrow mind necessarily, but in stead we habitually say the things that hurt people the most simply because we are annoyed, or our day isn't going as planned. A sharp tongue is a wicked tool that should not be taken lightly.
There are always two sides to every thought. After we lash out at people, we have a decision to make. Do we apologize for our actions? Or do we spend our time wondering why we didn't, leaving that relationship strained or broken. The same mouths that we use to hurt people, we can also use for healing. An apology is a powerful thing, but the ultimate goal is to never have to give one.
If we only search for the flaws in others, then that is all we will ever see. If we dig in and truly control our lack of understanding, then we can easily find just how beautiful people are.
As we get older we are so set in our was that we respond to particular subjects or people. We are not expressing our thoughts with a narrow mind necessarily, but in stead we habitually say the things that hurt people the most simply because we are annoyed, or our day isn't going as planned. A sharp tongue is a wicked tool that should not be taken lightly.
There are always two sides to every thought. After we lash out at people, we have a decision to make. Do we apologize for our actions? Or do we spend our time wondering why we didn't, leaving that relationship strained or broken. The same mouths that we use to hurt people, we can also use for healing. An apology is a powerful thing, but the ultimate goal is to never have to give one.
If we only search for the flaws in others, then that is all we will ever see. If we dig in and truly control our lack of understanding, then we can easily find just how beautiful people are.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
A Fresh Start
It's been over a year since I last wrote in this blog. I remember when I started this online journal, I did it with the intention of writing in it every week for fifty-two weeks. We all see how that worked out. I'm writing in it again with a similar goal. This is going to be my way of expressing exactly what is happening with the thoughts in my head. This is a journal of complete honesty for anyone to read.
I was inspired to begin writing again because something happened a couple of weeks ago that changed my perspective of the power of journalism. You see, I met this girl who has become a valuable friend to me. This is how we met. I saw her one day on a break while I was at school and she looked as though her world was crashing down. Never in my life have I felt so compelled to talk to a complete stranger more than I did in that moment. So she was telling me about what was happening and how it seemed that no matter what she did, her situation would only be worse. I felt so completely broken hearted for her. So, as I went back to class I made the decision to writer her a letter.
I sat down in my chair and had a notebook and pen ready and I said a quick prayer. I asked God for the compassion and wisdom to lay down the words that she needs to see on paper. And so, I poured my heart and soul and God onto that Five-Star notebook. I finished the letter and then I came to the daunting realization that I had to give it to her. So, I decided to mail it to her anonymously, but there was only one issue, I didn't know her name. You know how you get really angry with someone, and you write one of those, "I love you, but you really have issues" letters, and shortly after writing it you just put it away and only think about sending it. I did that for two days, but I did something strange. I kept the letter in my pocket, as though it may come in handy.
Two days passed and I saw her again, even more broken hearted than in the previous forty-eight hours. So, I stopped her and found out that even more was going wrong in her life. So, I told her about the letter, and her response was completely unexpected to me. She wanted it. At that point it was as though the stars had aligned perfectly. I conveniently had my letter right there in my pocket. I gave it to her and thus a friendship was born.
Now, your probably thinking that all of this is too perfect to have actually happened. Whether you believe it or not, the point is that instead of writing letters of hate that we don't give to people because we love them, why don't we try writing letters of love to people that are hurting and broken. We have an opportunity to give the gift of sincere thoughts and put them on paper. You never know what kind of positive impact you could have on a lost soul.
That is why I'm writing in this blog again. I have a hope that someone stumbles across this blog by accident and something that is written her can have a profound effect on a life.
I was inspired to begin writing again because something happened a couple of weeks ago that changed my perspective of the power of journalism. You see, I met this girl who has become a valuable friend to me. This is how we met. I saw her one day on a break while I was at school and she looked as though her world was crashing down. Never in my life have I felt so compelled to talk to a complete stranger more than I did in that moment. So she was telling me about what was happening and how it seemed that no matter what she did, her situation would only be worse. I felt so completely broken hearted for her. So, as I went back to class I made the decision to writer her a letter.
I sat down in my chair and had a notebook and pen ready and I said a quick prayer. I asked God for the compassion and wisdom to lay down the words that she needs to see on paper. And so, I poured my heart and soul and God onto that Five-Star notebook. I finished the letter and then I came to the daunting realization that I had to give it to her. So, I decided to mail it to her anonymously, but there was only one issue, I didn't know her name. You know how you get really angry with someone, and you write one of those, "I love you, but you really have issues" letters, and shortly after writing it you just put it away and only think about sending it. I did that for two days, but I did something strange. I kept the letter in my pocket, as though it may come in handy.
Two days passed and I saw her again, even more broken hearted than in the previous forty-eight hours. So, I stopped her and found out that even more was going wrong in her life. So, I told her about the letter, and her response was completely unexpected to me. She wanted it. At that point it was as though the stars had aligned perfectly. I conveniently had my letter right there in my pocket. I gave it to her and thus a friendship was born.
Now, your probably thinking that all of this is too perfect to have actually happened. Whether you believe it or not, the point is that instead of writing letters of hate that we don't give to people because we love them, why don't we try writing letters of love to people that are hurting and broken. We have an opportunity to give the gift of sincere thoughts and put them on paper. You never know what kind of positive impact you could have on a lost soul.
That is why I'm writing in this blog again. I have a hope that someone stumbles across this blog by accident and something that is written her can have a profound effect on a life.
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