Warning: This is a God related post, read on only if you have interest in hearing my opinion about hypocrisy and judgementalism as relates to SOME of my fellow Christians...
I have been noticing an influx of the "pro-Christian" chain-style status updates on Facebook lately. The irony is that so many of them have negative, judgemental undertones that are anything but Christian. They seem to attack groups as a whole or try to make us feel bad for not backing one cause or another. Unfortunately, Christianity lends itself very well to hypocrisy. It is easy to talk the talk, but very hard to walk the walk (the important part). The arrogant, all knowing attitude I have observed in a lot of Christians can be really off-putting. I'm certainly not saying all Christians act this way. Although, some Christians seem to think that by blasting their faith all over the place by telling us all how awful we are for not believing in prayer in school, or not to buy products that have taken "In God We Trust" out of the Pledge of Allegiance, or believe that the world is more than 6,000 years old, that they are honoring God in some way. I wonder, have they forgotten Jesus teaching us that by saying long prayers and making a religious spectacle of ourselves, that we are making it more about us than God?
I know that He also said we needed to go out into the world and make disciples, but I don't think that requires me to go around with an "I LOVE GOD" t-shirt and a megaphone. We prove what is in our hearts by our actions and how we treat people. Now, I will be more than happy to share my beliefs and faith with anybody who is interested and who wants to hear it (like those of you who are still reading this) and I tell people I will pray for them, then I do pray for them. I love to talk about religion, as you who follow my blog will notice by all the religiously based posts you will see. However, I have noticed that the easiest way to make someone uncomfortable and tune you out is talk about God when they have no interest in hearing about it. Bottom line on this point is that "You don't need to walk anywhere to preach if your walking is your preaching." The author of that quote unknown to me. If you know who said that, please let me know!
Christianity is supposed to about love and acceptance. We have to make judgments all day every day about people and situations. The very last thing we should be doing is judging people for their beliefs. Matthew 7:1 says "Judge not lest ye be judged." The spirit of this verse is often lost in translation when not accompanied by the rest of the paragraph. It comes down to this. Judgement is inescapable, the key is realizing that you will be judged to the same standard you use to judge others. If you want to put someone else's faith under a microscope, be prepared to have your own placed there also. The only one who knows His ways is God. No man has God figured out. I know I certainly am not even close. This is how I see it though, love it, like it, or hate it. I just don't believe in making anyone feel bad about themselves for any reason, including their faith. Well, maybe with the exception of serial killers and child abusers. That sin I will probably have to die with.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Beauty Review #1
I wanted to do this quick review on a couple of things new to me that I am in love with. I'm not a total girly girl. I don't mind getting my hands dirty, but I always love an opportunity to get all dressed up and feel beautiful. As a full time working mom and wife, I don't get those chances very often. So, when I can have or do little things to make me feel more like a woman and less like a scrub I will take it!
The first thing I want to talk about is my new Z Palette. I saw this in a video by Emily on Beauty Broadcast on YouTube. There is a link to her YouTube Channel on my page under "Things You Should Check Out." She does a lot of great reviews on different products and celebrates "drug store" products I can actually afford. If makeup is your thing, definitely check her out! But I digress....the Z Palette.
ZPalette.com sells these great little empty makeup palettes that have a magnetic back. The purpose is that you can take all of you little individual eyeshadow singles, duos, trios, quads, or blushes, bronzers, or just whatever and take them out of their original packaging then put them into the one larger palette. It cuts down on a lot storage space you need to hold all of those little packages as well as keeps your stuff in one easy to use and transport package. It is super simple to use and really cute too! They come in two sizes and four styles (black, pink, leopard, and zebra prints) and have a clear, hard plastic "window" on top so you can see what you have in there. I got mine about 2 months ago from the website and I love it! I will put the link to the website at the bottom of this post so you can check 'em out.
The other thing I wanted to talk about is spray tanning. We all know how dangerous tanning beds are for our skin, but may love having that bronze glow. Some people look beautiful with fair skin, but for those of us that adhere to the "dark fat looks better than white fat" policy, I strongly recommend looking into the spray tan. I got my first one about a month ago and knew instantly I was hooked. My sister is a stylist at The Hair Co. here in Conway and needed a guinea pig on which to practice this new skill, so I went and let her tan me.
The process includes standing in a little booth as naked as you are comfortable and being airbrushed from top to bottom. It is a little cold, but not uncomfortable. Then you stand in front of a fan for a few minutes to dry. That's it! The whole process only takes 30-45 min from start to finish. You can't shower for 8 hours and for that time you do kind of look like "a dirty hooker," as Ashley Evatt said on FB, but when you do shower that color blends and you look awesome! I will post a link to The Hair Co. website below this also if you would like to check them out and make an appointment. Ask for my sister Sarah Coker!
Feel free to message me with any questions or comments about these products. I hope you will try them out! Everything beauty should be about what makes you feel good and not what you do for anyone else. As we all know, true beauty comes from within. However, there is nothing wrong with giving the outside a boost too if it puts an extra spring in your step! Stay beautiful!
The Hair Co. Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Hair-Co/140300739332365?sk=info
Z Palette:
http://www.zpalette.com/
The first thing I want to talk about is my new Z Palette. I saw this in a video by Emily on Beauty Broadcast on YouTube. There is a link to her YouTube Channel on my page under "Things You Should Check Out." She does a lot of great reviews on different products and celebrates "drug store" products I can actually afford. If makeup is your thing, definitely check her out! But I digress....the Z Palette.
ZPalette.com sells these great little empty makeup palettes that have a magnetic back. The purpose is that you can take all of you little individual eyeshadow singles, duos, trios, quads, or blushes, bronzers, or just whatever and take them out of their original packaging then put them into the one larger palette. It cuts down on a lot storage space you need to hold all of those little packages as well as keeps your stuff in one easy to use and transport package. It is super simple to use and really cute too! They come in two sizes and four styles (black, pink, leopard, and zebra prints) and have a clear, hard plastic "window" on top so you can see what you have in there. I got mine about 2 months ago from the website and I love it! I will put the link to the website at the bottom of this post so you can check 'em out.
The other thing I wanted to talk about is spray tanning. We all know how dangerous tanning beds are for our skin, but may love having that bronze glow. Some people look beautiful with fair skin, but for those of us that adhere to the "dark fat looks better than white fat" policy, I strongly recommend looking into the spray tan. I got my first one about a month ago and knew instantly I was hooked. My sister is a stylist at The Hair Co. here in Conway and needed a guinea pig on which to practice this new skill, so I went and let her tan me.
The process includes standing in a little booth as naked as you are comfortable and being airbrushed from top to bottom. It is a little cold, but not uncomfortable. Then you stand in front of a fan for a few minutes to dry. That's it! The whole process only takes 30-45 min from start to finish. You can't shower for 8 hours and for that time you do kind of look like "a dirty hooker," as Ashley Evatt said on FB, but when you do shower that color blends and you look awesome! I will post a link to The Hair Co. website below this also if you would like to check them out and make an appointment. Ask for my sister Sarah Coker!
Feel free to message me with any questions or comments about these products. I hope you will try them out! Everything beauty should be about what makes you feel good and not what you do for anyone else. As we all know, true beauty comes from within. However, there is nothing wrong with giving the outside a boost too if it puts an extra spring in your step! Stay beautiful!
The Hair Co. Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Hair-Co/140300739332365?sk=info
Z Palette:
http://www.zpalette.com/
Friday, March 25, 2011
Breastfeeding in Public
This is a subject my friend Natalie and I were talking about today at work and I really felt I needed to write about. Everyone knows that unless there is some anatomical, chemical, cultural, or psychological reason a woman shouldn't breastfeed her baby that it is always the healthiest alternative for both mother and child. While I would never condemn anyone for choosing not to breastfeed, I strongly support doing it if possible. Goodness knows it is not easy! I always thought that breastfeeding was just a natural instinct and babies came out looking for a breast and would go right to work; easy as pie. Anyone who has breastfed knows that is far from the truth. It can be very difficult, so I understand not being able to commit to it. I would still urge anyone who is able, to at least give it a try.
What I don't understand is the taboo surrounding breastfeeding an infant in public. It saddens me to think that we, as a society, are so sexually fixated that we view a woman nourishing her child as offensive. No one asks you to go out of sight when you are eating. Why then should we feel the need to shield ourselves from this beautiful miracle of nature?
There was a picture of a profile view of a woman's breast with an infant nursing from it (no nipple showing at all) that was run on the cover of a parenting magazine a few years ago. This caused such a controversy that many establishments would not display it in their stores. How sad. It was a beautiful picture of a beautiful thing. It worries me that this stigma would discourage mothers from proving this wonderfully beneficial nourishment to their babies.
The main two arguments I have heard against public breastfeeding are first, "I don't want to see that, it makes me uncomfortable," and second, "I don't want my kids exposed to that nudity." Let me argue these points right now. To the person who is uncomfortable I have a couple of responses. The first are questions. What about a mother feeding her baby could make you uncomfortable? Are you that uncomfortable with sexuality that you could possibly see that in a sexual way? I mean really? If you really are uncomfortable, your solution is simple. DON'T LOOK! For the person who wants to shield their own children from "such a display," I urge you to change your perspective. I see it as a wonderful teaching opportunity. If they are old enough to question it, they are old enough to hear a frank explanation.
I'm not saying that women should just sit around in stores or restaurants all exposed, but anyone who has children knows that when that baby decides its hungry, the time to act is five minutes ago. How great it would be for mothers to be able to immediately meet that child's needs in a stress free environment. Nursing a child is great for bonding time, it is also free and abundant. Breastfeeding is a natural, healthy, beautiful thing that should be celebrated, not shunned.
I got this image from cafepress.com
What I don't understand is the taboo surrounding breastfeeding an infant in public. It saddens me to think that we, as a society, are so sexually fixated that we view a woman nourishing her child as offensive. No one asks you to go out of sight when you are eating. Why then should we feel the need to shield ourselves from this beautiful miracle of nature?
There was a picture of a profile view of a woman's breast with an infant nursing from it (no nipple showing at all) that was run on the cover of a parenting magazine a few years ago. This caused such a controversy that many establishments would not display it in their stores. How sad. It was a beautiful picture of a beautiful thing. It worries me that this stigma would discourage mothers from proving this wonderfully beneficial nourishment to their babies.
The main two arguments I have heard against public breastfeeding are first, "I don't want to see that, it makes me uncomfortable," and second, "I don't want my kids exposed to that nudity." Let me argue these points right now. To the person who is uncomfortable I have a couple of responses. The first are questions. What about a mother feeding her baby could make you uncomfortable? Are you that uncomfortable with sexuality that you could possibly see that in a sexual way? I mean really? If you really are uncomfortable, your solution is simple. DON'T LOOK! For the person who wants to shield their own children from "such a display," I urge you to change your perspective. I see it as a wonderful teaching opportunity. If they are old enough to question it, they are old enough to hear a frank explanation.
I'm not saying that women should just sit around in stores or restaurants all exposed, but anyone who has children knows that when that baby decides its hungry, the time to act is five minutes ago. How great it would be for mothers to be able to immediately meet that child's needs in a stress free environment. Nursing a child is great for bonding time, it is also free and abundant. Breastfeeding is a natural, healthy, beautiful thing that should be celebrated, not shunned.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Bible
Let me preface this by saying that you may not like everything I have to say in this post. It won't be a "warm fuzzy" like my other posts have been, but it will be what I believe and what I think. Please feel free to comment and give me your friendly opinion. I am always open to hearing another point of view or engage in a hot debate. :)
Religion is a subject I have thought about all my life. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and had always found it to be comfortable. It is a rather open minded denomination, so obviously that has appealed to me. Recently, I have had several religious discussions with others as well as a good deal of internal monologue debating with myself on many spiritual subjects. So, you will most likely see more than one (and probably more than two) posts from me on my theological thoughts.
As you may have guessed, however, this particular post will be a SMALL window into my feelings pertaining to the Bible. So, without further ado, let's get to the point.
I believe, as many do, that the Bible is the "greatest novel ever written." I feel that it is a wonderful compilation of stories and guidelines, that if properly interpreted, could help lead one on the path to a happy life. The Bible is good place to turn to in times of crisis, uncertainty, and even joy. It can give you inspiration and guidance when nothing else can. By following the values expressed in the Bible, a person with a sound mind, could very well lead a happy, productive life.
I feel like the Bible is also a great tool to help with the early teaching of morals and values to children. It is easy to relate abstract concepts like faith and loyalty to kids by using the stories from the Bible. For example, the story of David and Goliath is packed full of internal strength, bravery, and standing up for what is right. There are numerous parables that illustrate how to treat others with kindness and respect. It can also be utilized as a history book to a certain extent.
The Bible's greatest strength and greatest drawback is one in the same. It is open for interpretation. There is no way to really know how many times the Bible has been translated and rewritten. While I certainly believe that the Bible was divinely inspired, there is no debating the fact that it was WRITTEN and EDITED by MAN. It is awe inspiring that the Bible was written a couple of thousand years ago and yet it remains relevant today. However the problem arises when people take some parts of the Bible too literally or out of context. There is a lot of symbolism in there, people. Does Creation ring a bell? Also, if they skew the message in a way that the Grace is lost and their own agenda takes precedence. Like the countless extremist goups doing idiotic things and/or placing people in harm's way "in the name of the Lord." Remember the guy wanting to burn the Korans?? Not to mention the fact that the people and the vernacular were very different. You could take years and years of formal education on the Bible's history and translation and you still would not know it all.
Wars have been fought over God and religion since the beginning of time. Countless lives have been lost. I cannot imagine that it was in God's "plan" that his own creations would kill each other off in His name. It just goes to show how we should not ever be arrogant enough to assume we are right about our own interpretation. The ONLY one who knows what he was really trying to convey is God and in my opinion He used multiple avenues in which to share it with us. But that is for another time.
In the right hands, the Bible is wonderful tool to aide in the production of morals and values and learn about Christianity. However, it is probably the most dangerous piece of literature ever created when in the hands of extremists or those who are too narcissistic to listen to another person's interpretation of "The Word." I'm not trying to downplay the spirit of the Bible or say it's okay to "pick and choose" what to believe and what not to believe. I am only suggesting that it should be taken for what it is.
Religion is a subject I have thought about all my life. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and had always found it to be comfortable. It is a rather open minded denomination, so obviously that has appealed to me. Recently, I have had several religious discussions with others as well as a good deal of internal monologue debating with myself on many spiritual subjects. So, you will most likely see more than one (and probably more than two) posts from me on my theological thoughts.
As you may have guessed, however, this particular post will be a SMALL window into my feelings pertaining to the Bible. So, without further ado, let's get to the point.
I believe, as many do, that the Bible is the "greatest novel ever written." I feel that it is a wonderful compilation of stories and guidelines, that if properly interpreted, could help lead one on the path to a happy life. The Bible is good place to turn to in times of crisis, uncertainty, and even joy. It can give you inspiration and guidance when nothing else can. By following the values expressed in the Bible, a person with a sound mind, could very well lead a happy, productive life.
I feel like the Bible is also a great tool to help with the early teaching of morals and values to children. It is easy to relate abstract concepts like faith and loyalty to kids by using the stories from the Bible. For example, the story of David and Goliath is packed full of internal strength, bravery, and standing up for what is right. There are numerous parables that illustrate how to treat others with kindness and respect. It can also be utilized as a history book to a certain extent.
The Bible's greatest strength and greatest drawback is one in the same. It is open for interpretation. There is no way to really know how many times the Bible has been translated and rewritten. While I certainly believe that the Bible was divinely inspired, there is no debating the fact that it was WRITTEN and EDITED by MAN. It is awe inspiring that the Bible was written a couple of thousand years ago and yet it remains relevant today. However the problem arises when people take some parts of the Bible too literally or out of context. There is a lot of symbolism in there, people. Does Creation ring a bell? Also, if they skew the message in a way that the Grace is lost and their own agenda takes precedence. Like the countless extremist goups doing idiotic things and/or placing people in harm's way "in the name of the Lord." Remember the guy wanting to burn the Korans?? Not to mention the fact that the people and the vernacular were very different. You could take years and years of formal education on the Bible's history and translation and you still would not know it all.
Wars have been fought over God and religion since the beginning of time. Countless lives have been lost. I cannot imagine that it was in God's "plan" that his own creations would kill each other off in His name. It just goes to show how we should not ever be arrogant enough to assume we are right about our own interpretation. The ONLY one who knows what he was really trying to convey is God and in my opinion He used multiple avenues in which to share it with us. But that is for another time.
In the right hands, the Bible is wonderful tool to aide in the production of morals and values and learn about Christianity. However, it is probably the most dangerous piece of literature ever created when in the hands of extremists or those who are too narcissistic to listen to another person's interpretation of "The Word." I'm not trying to downplay the spirit of the Bible or say it's okay to "pick and choose" what to believe and what not to believe. I am only suggesting that it should be taken for what it is.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Raising Children....
Anyone who has children knows exactly how hard a job it is to raise them in this world (and everyone who doesn't have kids, know exactly how yours ought to be raised). As expecting and new parents, we all buy the parenting books and the magazines and read them like they are the Bible. By the time that kids is a year old, we have learned all those "crucial reads" are good for two things: 1. Making you feel like an incompetent parent for not being able to go a day without raising your voice or make the perfect "Bunny in the Grass" cupcakes like the ones the beautifully made-up mom on page 21 baked in her crystal clean kitchen.... and 2. The pages from those books are great for starting a fire.
Being a mom has brought more joy to my life than I could have ever imagined. It has been the hardest, most rewarding job I have ever had. It has made me realize just how much my own parents must have sacrificed and worked to mold my 2 sisters and I into the happy, productive members of society we are today. I've told my mom many times that I just hope I can be a fraction of the caliber parent to my kids that she and my dad were (and still are) to me.
I learned within weeks of being a mom that not all of the same "rules" of parenting apply to all parents and all kids. I am a huge advocate of breastfeeding for all those who can do it. I breastfed both of my kids for about 8 weeks, but it did not come easy at all. I remember calling my friend, a mother of twins and one older child, crying late one night because Chloe was having a hard time "latching on," was not waking up every 2 hours, and would not feed on both sides in one feeding like she was supposed to according to all of my "crucial reading material." Amanda just said, "Michelle, put down the books and listen to that baby. She will eat when she is hungry and she will sleep when she is not. She is fine and it will be ok." She talked with the amusement a veteran mom has when trying to calm a rookie mom. Her saying that to me made all the difference in the world to allow me to worry less that I was doing everything "right" and more about what was right for us. Guess what....the kid ate when she was hungry and slept when she wasn't!
Getting advice from a friend when it is solicited is one thing. Getting unsolicited advice via words or the dirty look from a stranger is quite another. You can do everything right, read all the books, enforce the discipline, go out at times when the babies are well rested, and provide entertainment and there will still be times when your child will scream their heads off in the grocery store for no apparent reason or run around like crazy people in the doctor's office. It seems like everyone in the world is staring at you when these embarrassing situations arise. The kids also only seem to act like this when you are in a hurry or are already exhausted from the day's events. I wonder sometimes when these meltdowns occur in public if those people who are giving me and my little monsters dirty looks are thinking I put the kids up to this behavior just to annoy them. Because I'm sure I must look like I'm having the time of my life!
I've learned, over time, to block out what other peoples' reactions are and stay focused on my family and reacting appropriately to the situation. Sometimes that means even letting the kids cry because I'm not going to "cave in" to a request I am not willing to grant just to keep them quiet. My rules for my kids cannot dissolve the minute we go out in public just to keep them from annoying others. I know my kids best. I know how they will react to most situations. I do my best to avoid things and places where I know they will be inappropriate, unacceptable, or will just embarrass the crap out of me. Some things like going grocery shopping are just unavoidable and I have to go when I have to go. I have to handle them in such a way that will benefit their future behavior, not just pacify them in the moment.
My children make me want to go crazy every day, but they also make me laugh every day. They are truly the light of my life. My husband and I love them with every fiber of our being and cannot imagine life without them in it. The world is a terrifying place in which to raise kids these days. I don't know what is going to happen in the future of the planet, all I can do is try to give them the tools they need to survive and be happy and healthy. The media tells us we need so many fancy things to make our kids happy and smart. It's not true, but it can be hard to avoid. I mean, you can hardly even buy a toy that is purely for imaginatively play and isn't supposed to teach them something. I like my kids to always be dressed cute, and i would love for them to be brilliant, but it certainly isn't necessary to make them good people or even happy.
There are really only a few things they need outside of food, water, and shelter. I think they are LOVE, comfort, a sense of security, guidance, and hope. All of those things are FREE, people! Hug those babies and kiss their boo boo's!
Being a mom has brought more joy to my life than I could have ever imagined. It has been the hardest, most rewarding job I have ever had. It has made me realize just how much my own parents must have sacrificed and worked to mold my 2 sisters and I into the happy, productive members of society we are today. I've told my mom many times that I just hope I can be a fraction of the caliber parent to my kids that she and my dad were (and still are) to me.
I learned within weeks of being a mom that not all of the same "rules" of parenting apply to all parents and all kids. I am a huge advocate of breastfeeding for all those who can do it. I breastfed both of my kids for about 8 weeks, but it did not come easy at all. I remember calling my friend, a mother of twins and one older child, crying late one night because Chloe was having a hard time "latching on," was not waking up every 2 hours, and would not feed on both sides in one feeding like she was supposed to according to all of my "crucial reading material." Amanda just said, "Michelle, put down the books and listen to that baby. She will eat when she is hungry and she will sleep when she is not. She is fine and it will be ok." She talked with the amusement a veteran mom has when trying to calm a rookie mom. Her saying that to me made all the difference in the world to allow me to worry less that I was doing everything "right" and more about what was right for us. Guess what....the kid ate when she was hungry and slept when she wasn't!
Getting advice from a friend when it is solicited is one thing. Getting unsolicited advice via words or the dirty look from a stranger is quite another. You can do everything right, read all the books, enforce the discipline, go out at times when the babies are well rested, and provide entertainment and there will still be times when your child will scream their heads off in the grocery store for no apparent reason or run around like crazy people in the doctor's office. It seems like everyone in the world is staring at you when these embarrassing situations arise. The kids also only seem to act like this when you are in a hurry or are already exhausted from the day's events. I wonder sometimes when these meltdowns occur in public if those people who are giving me and my little monsters dirty looks are thinking I put the kids up to this behavior just to annoy them. Because I'm sure I must look like I'm having the time of my life!
I've learned, over time, to block out what other peoples' reactions are and stay focused on my family and reacting appropriately to the situation. Sometimes that means even letting the kids cry because I'm not going to "cave in" to a request I am not willing to grant just to keep them quiet. My rules for my kids cannot dissolve the minute we go out in public just to keep them from annoying others. I know my kids best. I know how they will react to most situations. I do my best to avoid things and places where I know they will be inappropriate, unacceptable, or will just embarrass the crap out of me. Some things like going grocery shopping are just unavoidable and I have to go when I have to go. I have to handle them in such a way that will benefit their future behavior, not just pacify them in the moment.
My children make me want to go crazy every day, but they also make me laugh every day. They are truly the light of my life. My husband and I love them with every fiber of our being and cannot imagine life without them in it. The world is a terrifying place in which to raise kids these days. I don't know what is going to happen in the future of the planet, all I can do is try to give them the tools they need to survive and be happy and healthy. The media tells us we need so many fancy things to make our kids happy and smart. It's not true, but it can be hard to avoid. I mean, you can hardly even buy a toy that is purely for imaginatively play and isn't supposed to teach them something. I like my kids to always be dressed cute, and i would love for them to be brilliant, but it certainly isn't necessary to make them good people or even happy.
There are really only a few things they need outside of food, water, and shelter. I think they are LOVE, comfort, a sense of security, guidance, and hope. All of those things are FREE, people! Hug those babies and kiss their boo boo's!
Here Goes...
So this is my first ever blog post and I'm not really sure what to write about. There is so much going on in the world right now, it is difficult to absorb it all. I am a mother, a wife, and nurse. For me that is enough. I do not claim to be a philosopher, a theologian, or a political or sports expert. I am not a dietitian, or a fitness and beauty guru, but I do have my opinions on all of these subjects. In some cases, rather strong opinions. There are many things I love and few things I hate. I have great respect for people who listen with an open mind, stand up for what is right and value what is in the interest of the common good of others. I have great loathing for people who act out of malicious intent, selfishness, and who feel the need to bring others down for their own personal gain or social stigma.
I think it is beyond tragic the way the world seems to be loosing itself into war, poverty, natural disaster and despair. I know the world has to be full of good people who are willing to work hard to raise their families and support their communities and who dream of a world at peace. Why then does that seem to be such an impossible goal to achieve?
Some would say it is because we are turning away from God, some would say it is because of money and power, and others still would say it is because of increasing turbulence in world politics. Maybe they would all be right. I think that is all true, but I can't help but feel like it has to be much simpler than that. I think point blank we have lost our sense of community. There are probably a thousand reasons this has happened. I blame a lot of it on the great advances in the technology that we all love and can't live without. I have heard so many stories from my parents and grand parents about how in their small town 50-100 years ago there was never anything else to do besides work all day and then sit out on the porch talking all evening with their neighbors. You didn't just take care of your own, but you took care of your neighbors also. And you damn sure didn't rely on the government to pay your way or plow your fields. We have all heard those stories and every time I hear them (even as a "Generation Y", with a smartphone and a facebook page) I try to imagine how sublime living in that world would be.
I love technology. I love having answers right at my fingertips. I love the security I feel by always having my cell phone everywhere I go in case I need help. I also know how much texting and Facebooking people has taken away being able to shake someones hand, look them in the eye, and have a real, involved conversation. To be held accountable to your real feelings by not being able to hide your body language and facial expressions.
The death of the conversation and the death of the community attitude has lead to people not caring. Not caring for each other, not caring for a hard days labor, not caring for themselves. We have to find a way to get people to care enough about the problems of others and not just their own in order to get them motivated toward making a change. The world will never be at peace as long as people continue to step on the proverbial "little guy" in order to full-fill their own ambitions.
All that being said, I know you are thinking, "well there has been war and conflict since the beginning of time." And you would be right. Even when there was more of a community attitude, war has always been an ever present reality. World peace is a tall order to be sure, and those that are believers in what I will call the "gospel truth," believe there will be world peace before the end. I really hope that is true. My point is, even if the world at large is always engaged in conflict, attitudes here at home can use some major adjustments. While I know we won't all agree on everything, how to treat your neighbor and work for a living or raise your family are not difficult concepts to grasp and ones in which we should all strive to improve. If we can master these simple tasks, I can't help but feel the ripple it causes could be greatly effective.
I think it is beyond tragic the way the world seems to be loosing itself into war, poverty, natural disaster and despair. I know the world has to be full of good people who are willing to work hard to raise their families and support their communities and who dream of a world at peace. Why then does that seem to be such an impossible goal to achieve?
Some would say it is because we are turning away from God, some would say it is because of money and power, and others still would say it is because of increasing turbulence in world politics. Maybe they would all be right. I think that is all true, but I can't help but feel like it has to be much simpler than that. I think point blank we have lost our sense of community. There are probably a thousand reasons this has happened. I blame a lot of it on the great advances in the technology that we all love and can't live without. I have heard so many stories from my parents and grand parents about how in their small town 50-100 years ago there was never anything else to do besides work all day and then sit out on the porch talking all evening with their neighbors. You didn't just take care of your own, but you took care of your neighbors also. And you damn sure didn't rely on the government to pay your way or plow your fields. We have all heard those stories and every time I hear them (even as a "Generation Y", with a smartphone and a facebook page) I try to imagine how sublime living in that world would be.
I love technology. I love having answers right at my fingertips. I love the security I feel by always having my cell phone everywhere I go in case I need help. I also know how much texting and Facebooking people has taken away being able to shake someones hand, look them in the eye, and have a real, involved conversation. To be held accountable to your real feelings by not being able to hide your body language and facial expressions.
The death of the conversation and the death of the community attitude has lead to people not caring. Not caring for each other, not caring for a hard days labor, not caring for themselves. We have to find a way to get people to care enough about the problems of others and not just their own in order to get them motivated toward making a change. The world will never be at peace as long as people continue to step on the proverbial "little guy" in order to full-fill their own ambitions.
All that being said, I know you are thinking, "well there has been war and conflict since the beginning of time." And you would be right. Even when there was more of a community attitude, war has always been an ever present reality. World peace is a tall order to be sure, and those that are believers in what I will call the "gospel truth," believe there will be world peace before the end. I really hope that is true. My point is, even if the world at large is always engaged in conflict, attitudes here at home can use some major adjustments. While I know we won't all agree on everything, how to treat your neighbor and work for a living or raise your family are not difficult concepts to grasp and ones in which we should all strive to improve. If we can master these simple tasks, I can't help but feel the ripple it causes could be greatly effective.
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