thoughts inspired by the movie Remember Mi

I’m thinking about proximities. Proximities seem to have a strong correlation to calamity. It has become cliché to inquire about the explanation of “bad things” happening to “good people”. To me this notion is somewhat explicable. Good people are classified as so, usually because they have solid support systems, behave from moral ideals, and maintain a responsible character. Though they may not deserve crisis situations, they have means to stand again after being knocked down. What is more perplexing to me is the justification of bad things happening to hurting people. To a college student like myself who is settled comfortably into a life of modest hardship in comparison to the world, there is a perceived disproportionate allocation of calamity to elected populations. These crisis situations effecting masses can be seen in developing and third world nations, entire populations that live under an umbrella of poverty. I serve a just God. My thoughts, no matter how convoluted or disheveled they become always point back to the prevalence of God’s hand at work in our world. Though he is aware and sometimes even allows disaster to enter our lives, I think the unfortunate situations become more about our response then anything else. I am so thankful that the Lord uses these trials to show his glory, because if something were to be birthed from such difficulty, what could be a more appropriate provision of hope? I feel an imbalance to my perspectives now in the way that I’m thinking, but once my ideas become diluted I think they could support a lens through which to observe societies. There are too many tangled thoughts chillin in my head right now. They are unsupported and incomplete. They really don’t even matter. What matters is the end goal of realizing what is significant in the short life we have been given, and how we choose to impact others. I realize that a lot of what I attempted to relay may seem nonsensical, and I am thankful that someone made it through this! (HI MOM) Thinking is good, but loving is better. 

Watch Video. Read Blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0O2LMqnHGg

Was this an eye opening or poignant video for you to watch? I kind of hope not. I can.t help but to feel compassion, hurt, and love for the people of the world who are hungry and struggling to survive, but what is more important than my emotional response is what i do about it. I have a problem with people who use monetary conversions to attempt to educate westerners about poverty. I see how it may help to give perspective on primitive lifestyles, but what is not considered is cross cultural economies, cost of living, etc. I hesitate to try and articulate what i feel about this subject because i dont want to come across as if i do not feel burdened to help the oppressed, because that is my desire. I think that people often respond in emotional and sometimes self serving ways, consequently acting out of ignorance. I am just a stupid college student that doesnt know anything about life, but in my developing point of view i will never feel guilty for being an american. I realize that poverty is man made, and representative of distribution deficiencies. I want to play a part in the alleviation of poverty, because God has chosen to bless me with resources (support, education, opportunities) not because i am sad that the African boy looked so skinny and American's seem to waste money. I am bothered by poverty simulations that seek to educate people on understanding the lives of the homeless. Poverty is not camping, fun, and games. its reality for many, so why couldnt you have used that weekend you spent laughing and walking around town to go out and serve people in the community instead? I think the world will move toward unity and cohesion when the west can realize what the east has to offer. This is a perception that in my experience and learning im sure will change, but it is what is running through my mind for the present. I feel that America is blessed with materials, money, and opportunities, practical resources that should be more equally distributed world wide. The east exhibits a life style of peace and communal living in the midst of their day to day struggle to make it. We can change each other. Help each other. love each other. It is not about me... $$$ :) $$$ helping you....      :(     

I feel like i attained an inside view of the eastern perceptions of individuals who see their humanitarian or missional efforts as great assistance to the oppressed people this summer. When i was talking with one of the older girls at the orphanage, she told me about the numerous groups of people who pass through each year to....paint. I was not surprised. Many times "service projects" are synonymous to painting a wall. She wanted someone to BE with her, to LOVE her, to TEACH her english. The humidity and the climate caused the paint to sweat off of the walls every year anyway. If i had no family and spent every waking hour i had to study so that maybe one day i could do something with my life, i know that a painted wall would not be the first thing i would suggest for the western people to offer me. My desire is not to come across as negative or pessimistic, because i think there are Godly, brilliant people with innovative (but lasting) methods of reaching people at work now, and rising up. All i can do now is write about the ways i view the world, but when i actually figure out how mutual cross cultural sharing occurs, and the practicalities of my ideals i will let you know. I have recently written something similar to this, in which i describe a world that the Lord crafted with people of different means intentionally so that his glory may be shown through our service and love. I still feel that we are to accept our position in society, and move on with it responsibly. yes there is corruption, but i dont have to play a part in that. I dont know anything about what i am talking about. But i want to learn. And i want to be an agent of change. And i want to live in America. And i want to travel overseas often. and i want to learn the correct opinions to have. and i want to make ignorant people feel stupid. they dont deserve to help. hehe jk. and i want to be a soccer mom. and i want to always love people. 

W H Y * I * L O V E * L I F E

*The fact that my mere existence affirms my faith in God. 

*The ability we have to love deeply. 

*Opportunities to become successful by personal standards. 

* Music 

*Reading... If you think about literacy and language, it really is an amazing phenomenon taken for granted. These words that I am typing are representative of human emotion and concepts that are interpreted by little letters formed together to make words, which have the ability to evoke feeling inside of another person. 

*Going to sonic to get a diet Dr.PP with vanilla and 5 real cherries and turning your wallet upside down to find that you had the exact change for it. 

* Tears- They give your face a hug when it needs one and they are warm and salty like egg drop soup. 

*Thinking the girl at Target looked like she didn.t have much confidence, so you tell her that you like her hair because you remembered how good it made you feel when someone told you the same thing. 

*Having parents that you want to resemble in several ways. 

*Those special once in a life time friends that are always and forever.

*Sleeping on floors

*Exotic and remote places 

*Exotic and remote people

*Education

*Art

*Special days, like when you get out of school or work early, or when your mom takes you out of class for an orthodontist appt. and doesn.t make you return to school but takes you to the movies instead. 

*going to see movies alone

*seeing conformity and realizing that individualism is perfect and free

*Buying presents for people on a whim

*calling your aunt so she can play her harp on the phone for you

*Mystery of outer-space 

*Telling people how you really feel

*Mystery of the ocean floor

*Relationships in different countries that give you the reason to return

*Rachel who works in Memorial. 

*Being able to play with other people's dogs and babies but not having to take care of it as your own. 

*laughter. What is better than that...??

*old siblings to look up to

*structured spontaneity 

*Mix CD.s

*my weaknesses are your strengths 

*being ok without a 4.0 because you realize that life is great, and you are still going to do monumental things to change the world.

*empathy to action

*hearts, pink, nail polish, dresses, frillzz.

*secrets 

*being intentional friends with EVERYONE 

*understanding yourself because you are focused on others

*getting away with caustic remarks because people dont understand your personality or take you seriously. 

*Sapa and overnight trains through the mountains. 

*Pictures 

*Dear Grandmothers

*having difficult times and gaining life experience 

*eric clapton

*text messages. 

*Christmas

*mentors

*making people feel small when they degrade others......so?

*being able to understand people.s lives better through social networking websites. 

*elegance and class

*being friends with older people. 

*memories

*expressing love to jesus and worshiping using the personality he constructed for you. 

*internships and supervisors

*your three favorite movies

*those people that  you get a little more excited to see than others.

*aimless driving with good music 

*productive mornings

*knitting and yarn

*being naked when appropriate 

*intense heat on face during the wintertime

*the college experience, though its closure is becoming much anticipated

*the telephone

*friends who encourage but also constructively criticize

*going on walks

*blankets

*fridays

*being able to have difficult conversations with people and make it to the other side. 

*asking difficult questions

*slowly becoming less social because you realize the benefit of solitude.

*impressionable children

*museums with dad 

*the violin and piano

*taking the lady off guard on the phone because you asked her how her day is going. 

*waking up before my alarm

*sleepovers

*getting away with things because you can

*both comfort and discomfort 

*realizing what other people have to offer

*conversation that has depth and meaning

* making mistakes every now and then

*always finding something to look forward to

*good movies on long flights 

*eccentric people

*having the ability to influence others

*saying what you mean to say when you mean to say it without regret

*understanding that its not about winning, but getting your point across 

*high ceilings 

* lumberjacks oh yes. 

*starbucks at night time 

* stars at night time

*the galleria in the winter

*people who aren.t afraid 

*this one night when i was young my parents put a mattress in the living room and we watched a movie and made marshmallows on the fireplace and had a sleepover and i thought it was the best. 

*holding babies

*indian sunburns

*cultured individuals

*world-views

*appreciating various methods of accomplishing the same task

*new life phases 

* you.  .  .