Well it has been a long time hasn't it. My life is moving, and I'm trying to keep the pace, attempting to lengthen my stride, and run faster in the right direction daily.
Something came back to me when I saw this video: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Mystery-Couple-Pay-It-Forward-79179347.html?yhp=1
Check out the video. Does it seem like something strange, something that you've never done? This is an example of what I like to call a Random Act of Kindness (RAK). Doing something for someone else is an idea and action we always forget. Have you ever held a door for someone? Let a car go ahead of you? Let someone else go through the check out before you? Paid a complete stranger's bill?
Now I'm sure you've done one of those things, but why is it something that we only to once a day, once a week or once in a while when we just feel like it? RAKs should be what each of us strive to do. The couple in this situation paid the bill and just said "Tell them Merry Christmas." From this simple gesture people helped each other for five straight hours, paying for stranger's food. This is how life is meant to be lived "considering others better then yourself."
We are in the holiday season right now and presents are awesome. But the ipod will eventually break, the books will get dusty and the clothes will get torn up and thrown out. But doing something for someone else, as simple as paying their bill or just asking how their day was can go a long way. It isn't just that person who is effected by your kindness either, they will then go and be kind to someone else, and it continues to spread.
What if we all focused on being kind in random situations, how far would it spread?
Don't let this question go unanswered; go and do.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Deer Caught in the Headlights
It's dark tonight. I was just driving around a traffic circle almost home when I saw it. A deer. For some of you this may seem strange, but for those of us in upstate NY it is just as familiar as Stewarts and Lake George. This one was different. I'm sure you've heard the expression "Like a deer caught in the headlights" Though I've seen it before tonight stood out to me. Standing on a patch of grass twenty feet from the road the deer got a glimpse of my headlights and just froze. Maybe out of fear, or possibly because the bright light was so different from the dark cloud covered night. Whatever the reason it got my attention.
A few years ago tonight would have been normal. Finish work, head to a friend's house, then off to a party. Once we got there we would sit back, talk to some people, have a few drinks, then either sleep at the house or find a sober ride home. In this town these situations are my generations heart beat. Almost every night there is an open house, a place to be with kids you've known since elementary school. In the last few years the parties have turned into an adhoc highscool reunion.
I am about to enter my third year in college, and ever since I've been there these parties have been less appealing. My first winter break I remember driving friends to the party because I had made up my mind to stop drinking. But after a little while there I would start to feel drained. I could have had a great nights sleep and gone completely energized, but after about half an hour my tolerance for people would drop (I always love being around people, this was weird). That summer I would drop off my friends because I hated feeling drained.
Tonight I was at one of my closest friends houses, and he got a call from our other good friend. There was a party at a kid's house who I really haven't seen since highschool. I have always been friends with this person and thought it would be nice just to swing by. Familiarity is key when you are going to a party. If you don't know everyone, you can get by with knowing a few. Fortunately I not only knew the people I went with, but most of the people there, and have been to the house more times then I can count. All the reasons someone should be uncomfortable flew out the window. I said hi to my friends I haven't seen in a while, a few goofy hugs later I look around. There are the beer pong tables set up, a staple here, and a bong being passed around. A few years ago I would've been in line for both of these. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not the type of kid to freak out because people are drinking and smoking, I just know for me its not the way to go.
I walked around for a little while longer and said hi to a few more people before finding my close friend who I came with. He looked at me and just said "This really isn't your thing anymore." Apparently I was a deer caught in the headlights. Even though I thought I was good, was looking like I belonged, something my friend saw screamed "why am I here?" A few seconds later I said my goodbyes and walked out the door.
From being at school I have seen more and more that the people I want to help the most are those my own age. At my college I am part of a Christian ministry on campus commited to serving our campus community. Honestly, it's what gets me up in the morning. Seeing kids at a research universtiy believe in Jesus is amazing. Knowing that the people I know now will one day be nurses and doctors, serving because of there love for God makes me shake with anticipation. When someone comes to understand that most people will follow or disown God in four short years, you can't help but try and help them make an eternal decision.
But this is where my dilemma lies. If Mother Theresa had had a heart to help the poor and dying but never went to Calcutta, could she really help? If someone wants to heal earthquake victims but doesn't want to get off the couch, are they doing anything? If I want to show love to those my age but don't go to where they are, am I really helping? The answer should be no, but when I go to the parties I feel drained, and am helping no one. So to me the answer is unclear.
Or is it?
"At all times preach the gospel, when necessary, use words"
A few years ago tonight would have been normal. Finish work, head to a friend's house, then off to a party. Once we got there we would sit back, talk to some people, have a few drinks, then either sleep at the house or find a sober ride home. In this town these situations are my generations heart beat. Almost every night there is an open house, a place to be with kids you've known since elementary school. In the last few years the parties have turned into an adhoc highscool reunion.
I am about to enter my third year in college, and ever since I've been there these parties have been less appealing. My first winter break I remember driving friends to the party because I had made up my mind to stop drinking. But after a little while there I would start to feel drained. I could have had a great nights sleep and gone completely energized, but after about half an hour my tolerance for people would drop (I always love being around people, this was weird). That summer I would drop off my friends because I hated feeling drained.
Tonight I was at one of my closest friends houses, and he got a call from our other good friend. There was a party at a kid's house who I really haven't seen since highschool. I have always been friends with this person and thought it would be nice just to swing by. Familiarity is key when you are going to a party. If you don't know everyone, you can get by with knowing a few. Fortunately I not only knew the people I went with, but most of the people there, and have been to the house more times then I can count. All the reasons someone should be uncomfortable flew out the window. I said hi to my friends I haven't seen in a while, a few goofy hugs later I look around. There are the beer pong tables set up, a staple here, and a bong being passed around. A few years ago I would've been in line for both of these. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not the type of kid to freak out because people are drinking and smoking, I just know for me its not the way to go.
I walked around for a little while longer and said hi to a few more people before finding my close friend who I came with. He looked at me and just said "This really isn't your thing anymore." Apparently I was a deer caught in the headlights. Even though I thought I was good, was looking like I belonged, something my friend saw screamed "why am I here?" A few seconds later I said my goodbyes and walked out the door.
From being at school I have seen more and more that the people I want to help the most are those my own age. At my college I am part of a Christian ministry on campus commited to serving our campus community. Honestly, it's what gets me up in the morning. Seeing kids at a research universtiy believe in Jesus is amazing. Knowing that the people I know now will one day be nurses and doctors, serving because of there love for God makes me shake with anticipation. When someone comes to understand that most people will follow or disown God in four short years, you can't help but try and help them make an eternal decision.
But this is where my dilemma lies. If Mother Theresa had had a heart to help the poor and dying but never went to Calcutta, could she really help? If someone wants to heal earthquake victims but doesn't want to get off the couch, are they doing anything? If I want to show love to those my age but don't go to where they are, am I really helping? The answer should be no, but when I go to the parties I feel drained, and am helping no one. So to me the answer is unclear.
Or is it?
"At all times preach the gospel, when necessary, use words"
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Burnt Out
Exhausted is an understatement...
At the end of the day I find myself laying on my bed turning on the T.V. and refusing to move. Now I could be reading (I've heard it is good for you), I could be spending more time with family, or I could even post more things on this blog. But all of these things get replaced with sitting and starring at a piece of glass encased in plastic with flashing colors. You may be asking why this happens.
Like many other people I am home for summer vacation from college. Well I don't think you could really call it a vacation... Like many people I come home between semesters. When I am home I have a full time job house painting (It might sound boring and easy, but making a house look good while being in upwards of 80 degree weather is difficult). After being in the sun all day working, I either go to my boss's house to watch the kids, or come home to sit in front of a computer and study a different language. After this I may go see some friends or they might come here. On top of this daily list of things to do I am in the process of trying to plan for next year for a club I am part of. There are also the trips to Long Island to help this. Along with all of this I have been asked to help paint the house of my church's future pastor as well as help plan events for church. And last but not least there is a boat that I want to get fixed and running before I go back to school.
I'm not writing this to have you feel bad for me, to ask if I'm O.K. The reason I am taking time out from running around is because I think we can all relate to this. Whether we have a job and it seems overwhelming, or maybe you have a bunch of things asking for your time, and there is always the possibility that you are idle, spending a lot of time in front of that plastic encased multicolored glass screen. Whatever it is on some level you know that there is something more to living then merely taking breaths. Let me explain...
The company I paint for is one of the best in this area. I am not writing this to make you think I am some amazing painter, I mean come on, it's only my second summer doing it. But I write this because the guys I work with are usually double my age, and have been doing this for as long as I've been living. These men come to work. Nearly all I can think of have some sort of substance abuse problem. After work they go to the beer store, go home and watch that glass screen. In simple terms they are burnt out.
About a month ago I was speaking to a friend who is currently helping to plant a church. He was telling me about earlier in his life. In the part he was speaking of he had just became a believer and was excited to do everything. Simply: He wanted to feed all the hungry, cure AIDs, help every orphan and end modern day slavery... all by lunchtime. As he put it he was "All light, no heat." Part of being a Christian is to help those in need, to be a light in dark places. The problem with doing too many things is that you are doing too many things. Let me rephrase, if you are "all light, no heat," you are like a flashlight in a cold house. You help people to see things that may be wrong but you are unable to truly help them. You may be able to point out a wall ahead, or a dangerous edge, but you have no capacity to make others warm, to help them get up and move. On the other hand, a fire is able to give light to a room while at the same time helping people to get up and cover a sharp edge. By being light and heat you help others by showing possible barriers while also giving them the motivation to break them down.
I know lately I've been "All light, no heat." I've been so concerned with trying to work, help my church, help my friends and be there for my family I've been unable to truly help anyone because the heat I have was being spread across a huge area. One of my main concerns when I am home is trying to show my friends that life is meant to be lived with and thru Christ. To me, this can never be done by just talking. Since a few years ago I have been challenged to have my life illustrate the Gospel. In this way my friends are able to see that my faith is not something which I speak, instead it is my life. Sounds good right? What if I am trying to illustrate the Gospel, but I'm not opening my Bible to gain Spiritual food. From first hand experience I've been getting burnt out, becoming a flashlight which doesn't do anyone much good.
When I had been home from school about a week I emailed another one of my friends who is also currently working on planting this church. I asked him to pray for me in regards to my friends. He emailed me back with a verse, 2 Corinthians 2:15- "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
Ever walked into a bakery right before they close? Everything was baked hours ago but you can still smell the bread. It is like that with believers, wherever we go the very fragrance of God lingers. It is such an amazing thing that we tend to overlook. But when we look to God's Word we see what we were truly meant to be, light and heat.
Today was a crazy long day. I got home and could feel myself being aggravated with everything. Instead of going on facebook or turning on that infamous box, I opened my Bible and just began to read. Three chapters in I could feel myself becoming more peaceful. In line with this whole fire thing, it was like someone threw on a fresh log, and the intensity of the flame grew. It was weird in that awesome kind of way.
Be light, be a fire. Let this light and heat linger as the aroma of Christ. It is impossible for a burnt out fire to give off light and heat, and it is impossible for a burnt out person to truly live for Jesus.
Die with Him, Live for Him.
At the end of the day I find myself laying on my bed turning on the T.V. and refusing to move. Now I could be reading (I've heard it is good for you), I could be spending more time with family, or I could even post more things on this blog. But all of these things get replaced with sitting and starring at a piece of glass encased in plastic with flashing colors. You may be asking why this happens.
Like many other people I am home for summer vacation from college. Well I don't think you could really call it a vacation... Like many people I come home between semesters. When I am home I have a full time job house painting (It might sound boring and easy, but making a house look good while being in upwards of 80 degree weather is difficult). After being in the sun all day working, I either go to my boss's house to watch the kids, or come home to sit in front of a computer and study a different language. After this I may go see some friends or they might come here. On top of this daily list of things to do I am in the process of trying to plan for next year for a club I am part of. There are also the trips to Long Island to help this. Along with all of this I have been asked to help paint the house of my church's future pastor as well as help plan events for church. And last but not least there is a boat that I want to get fixed and running before I go back to school.
I'm not writing this to have you feel bad for me, to ask if I'm O.K. The reason I am taking time out from running around is because I think we can all relate to this. Whether we have a job and it seems overwhelming, or maybe you have a bunch of things asking for your time, and there is always the possibility that you are idle, spending a lot of time in front of that plastic encased multicolored glass screen. Whatever it is on some level you know that there is something more to living then merely taking breaths. Let me explain...
The company I paint for is one of the best in this area. I am not writing this to make you think I am some amazing painter, I mean come on, it's only my second summer doing it. But I write this because the guys I work with are usually double my age, and have been doing this for as long as I've been living. These men come to work. Nearly all I can think of have some sort of substance abuse problem. After work they go to the beer store, go home and watch that glass screen. In simple terms they are burnt out.
About a month ago I was speaking to a friend who is currently helping to plant a church. He was telling me about earlier in his life. In the part he was speaking of he had just became a believer and was excited to do everything. Simply: He wanted to feed all the hungry, cure AIDs, help every orphan and end modern day slavery... all by lunchtime. As he put it he was "All light, no heat." Part of being a Christian is to help those in need, to be a light in dark places. The problem with doing too many things is that you are doing too many things. Let me rephrase, if you are "all light, no heat," you are like a flashlight in a cold house. You help people to see things that may be wrong but you are unable to truly help them. You may be able to point out a wall ahead, or a dangerous edge, but you have no capacity to make others warm, to help them get up and move. On the other hand, a fire is able to give light to a room while at the same time helping people to get up and cover a sharp edge. By being light and heat you help others by showing possible barriers while also giving them the motivation to break them down.
I know lately I've been "All light, no heat." I've been so concerned with trying to work, help my church, help my friends and be there for my family I've been unable to truly help anyone because the heat I have was being spread across a huge area. One of my main concerns when I am home is trying to show my friends that life is meant to be lived with and thru Christ. To me, this can never be done by just talking. Since a few years ago I have been challenged to have my life illustrate the Gospel. In this way my friends are able to see that my faith is not something which I speak, instead it is my life. Sounds good right? What if I am trying to illustrate the Gospel, but I'm not opening my Bible to gain Spiritual food. From first hand experience I've been getting burnt out, becoming a flashlight which doesn't do anyone much good.
When I had been home from school about a week I emailed another one of my friends who is also currently working on planting this church. I asked him to pray for me in regards to my friends. He emailed me back with a verse, 2 Corinthians 2:15- "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
Ever walked into a bakery right before they close? Everything was baked hours ago but you can still smell the bread. It is like that with believers, wherever we go the very fragrance of God lingers. It is such an amazing thing that we tend to overlook. But when we look to God's Word we see what we were truly meant to be, light and heat.
Today was a crazy long day. I got home and could feel myself being aggravated with everything. Instead of going on facebook or turning on that infamous box, I opened my Bible and just began to read. Three chapters in I could feel myself becoming more peaceful. In line with this whole fire thing, it was like someone threw on a fresh log, and the intensity of the flame grew. It was weird in that awesome kind of way.
Be light, be a fire. Let this light and heat linger as the aroma of Christ. It is impossible for a burnt out fire to give off light and heat, and it is impossible for a burnt out person to truly live for Jesus.
Die with Him, Live for Him.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Happy Birthday Matt.
For many writing is the release of pain, source of gain, for me it is my prevention of the insane
I have learned through mentors of old
From the experiences of the wise
That true expression is not found from the restating of old men in ancient books
Instead the paper wet with ink, held by the hand is the pathway to sparks set off by gray matter
Congratulations on a four oh, but if your learning is limited to the memorization and regurgitation of books,
The expression of life has slipped through the sparks
When I was brought up the words of Whitman were not poetry
The lives of those who came years before me
The scribblings on a page of pain, of gain, the release from becoming insane
Poetry to me, is an expression of life
Whether it be stories of a thrown butter knife
The sights of a pained existence,
For these eyes and ears the illustration of a life constantly transformed
Is the reason why I write
We have seen a family torn, but flames can't kill us
Though we've had our share of burns and cuts (some by swords on palms of hands)
Brothers that have gone through much
Ever asked why?
I have
What I've decided is whether it be through life, speech or ink bleeding from this pen
These scars we carry tell a story
Your story, your poetry, has shown me that life is about expression,
I long to see what our next stanzas will contain...
I have learned through mentors of old
From the experiences of the wise
That true expression is not found from the restating of old men in ancient books
Instead the paper wet with ink, held by the hand is the pathway to sparks set off by gray matter
Congratulations on a four oh, but if your learning is limited to the memorization and regurgitation of books,
The expression of life has slipped through the sparks
When I was brought up the words of Whitman were not poetry
The lives of those who came years before me
The scribblings on a page of pain, of gain, the release from becoming insane
Poetry to me, is an expression of life
Whether it be stories of a thrown butter knife
The sights of a pained existence,
For these eyes and ears the illustration of a life constantly transformed
Is the reason why I write
We have seen a family torn, but flames can't kill us
Though we've had our share of burns and cuts (some by swords on palms of hands)
Brothers that have gone through much
Ever asked why?
I have
What I've decided is whether it be through life, speech or ink bleeding from this pen
These scars we carry tell a story
Your story, your poetry, has shown me that life is about expression,
I long to see what our next stanzas will contain...
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