Thought Nibblets

I've got to admit, I kind of long to go back to the old xanga. I can't see who's stalking me on this one. No fun. Comment so I'll feel popular please.

I'm getting pretty rusty with my writing skills. Everything I write is long-winding and overly verbose like my literary mortal friend and enemy: Charles Dickens. Everytime I write on this thing to give some small update or token of advice I always end up praying and never finishing my posts. So I'm determined to write a full one and then I can pray.

I go to a great deal of events and organize many of them with top level executives from prestigious firms talking about life and the financial world but every single person's underlying message is: Do what you love to do because you're going to have to do this for the rest of your life. How true that is. But my superb skills in soundless sleeping and eating really won't put rice on the table. Taking risks is hard. Frankly, because you have something to lose and I don't like to lose.

Living with a childlike mindset...
I remember I would do cartwheels and somersaults without thinking twice but now if you were to ask me to do a cartwheel I would think about the possibility of a spinal cord injury and all the homework and events I had to do that I couldn't afford to have a spine injury. There are so many strong statements in the Bible, "He is with us", "God our Provider", "He saves", he takes up our yoke, he comforts and protects us but we don't have that childlike confidence anymore. So what if you look like an idiot if you answer a question wrong in class? At least you asked. The little criticizing self demeaning voice in your head blows the severity and embarrassment of these occurrences far out of proportion. In reality, no one really cares and if they do they always forget eventually. Be confident in what you do. Know that the Lord provides when you walk with him.

If there's anything I learned this year it's doing what you love. It really comes out in the quality of your work. Many people say I'm over-involved. And I can't disagree. To give you an idea, I can't finish naming and explaining all the clubs and extracurricular activities I'm involved with in under 20 minutes. These things are kind of like tasting food. Are you just shoveling food in your mouth or are you savoring every bite? The savoring is what you remember.

Stop trying to feign being busy to look important (as if you're going somewhere in life). Make friends and make them feel loved. This takes work that won't be seen on your resume. But it's a quality of life decision because at the end of the day you're not having a burger with your resume.

Love one another. Jesus asked for something so very hard. To wake up everyday and think of others before yourself-- it's hard work. Words like sacrifice, love, compassion come into play. Sometimes you just want a break, "Hey God, none of this love stuff for today I'm tired and I'm not in the mood for it". But God says we should derive our strength from him. Always set aside time in the day to speak to God, an item I should really follow. Some people call it "quiet time" or "devotional time" but I've never like the connotations that comes with those words, early morning, devout, religious, legalism, showoff Christian. Many times, it's just a time to be restored by God.