Stories, October 2009

I decided recently that whenever I see something embarrassing, humorous, comedic, or simply funny, rather it happened to me, or it simply witnessed it, I would document it. The following is a collection of those incidents which I have documented that occurred in the month of October, 2009. Keep in mind that I am very frank in these stories. One of them has brief written nudity (10/2). One of them involves using the restroom (10/19). I say the word “booger” in 10/5. Other than those points (and even including those points), these stories should be fun for everyone. Enjoy!

 

 

 September 30, 2009

 Earlier this evening, I was walking on the Lunsford trail (the big sidewalk that encircles ACU’s main campus). Walking the other direction on the trail approaching me was a woman walking with a baby carriage. I looked at the carriage as it drew near because I wanted to look at the (presumably) cute baby in said carriage. After I looked at the carriage for a few seconds, it started barking at me. I thought, “This is weird. I had never heard a barking baby before”. As the woman and her carriage waked past me, I realized that the “baby” was a Chihuahua. Immediately after discovering that this woman had a dog for a baby, I sincerely wondered what it must have been like to have given birth to a dog.

 

 October 1, 2009

 After my morning shower and dressing session I returned to the community bathroom in my dorm to commence my daily tooth-brushing session. As I was brushing, some guy who I had never seen before (he obviously lives on a different hallway) came in and started preaching the gospel of toothpaste. He went to his respective sink, began putting toothpaste on his toothbrush, saying, “Finally, my teeth have a good savior. This can make my teeth as white as snow.” He then pointed to the logo on his toothpaste tube which claims that it strengthens enamel, and said, “I call it, Enamel: God with us.”

 

 October 2, 2009

 Last night was visitation night across campus. In such a night, the females of the campus may visit the males’ rooms, and vice versa. As I was leaving my room to visit one of the female halls, I saw another guy on my hall leaving his room, obviously to go to the community bathroom. He apparently forgot about visitation night; he was wearing nothing but a towel draped over his shoulder. He was singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” as he walked down the hall. When he got to the line “The land of the free” he realized his ignorance and covered up, then, hiding behind his towel, sang “And the home of the brave!” There was a female watching him.

 

 October 3, 2009

 For lunch today, I decided to visit the “Home Cookin’” line in my campus’ cafeteria for some roast beef an’ tators. I get my roast beef an’ tators and set it on a table. To go along with my authentic “just like mother makes” meal, I get MinuteMaid lemonade (also “just like mother makes”), leaving my roast beef an’ tators briefly unattended on the table. As I leave the fountain and head back toward my table, I see someone at the table that I had just claimed, eating my roast beef an’ tators. At this point, I decided I didn’t want my roast beef an’ tators anyway. I got pizza and sat down at a different table.

 

 October 5, 2009

 Last night, while walking around the Lunsford trail, I saw a cute female approaching me from the other direction. She was still quite a distance away, but I could tell she was cute. All of a sudden, I get an urge to sneeze, so I sneeze into my hand. Nothing (no snot or booger) was on my hand, so I continued walking normally. As we walk past each other, I give her the “what’s up” look with my eyebrows, and she made eye contact with me, then gave me a “Wow. You should be embarrassed.” look, which surprised me. Didn’t she know of the interaction that occurred between people, especially of different genders, walking down the Lunsford trail?

                I had a huge booger hanging down from my nose.

 

 October 5, 2009

 I returned to my room just a minute ago. I ran up the stairs, as always, taking two to three at a time. Every step above the landing was wet; somebody had obviously spilled something. I didn’t realize that until my face was in the puddle on the sixth step.

 

 October 14, 2009

 I went to Taco Bueno earlier this evening. When I got there, I was amongst a huge group of high school students, presumably to watch a football game. I was in line right in the middle of the crowd, with twenty or so people ahead of and behind me. The guy behind the counter announcing completed orders got excited by the big crowd, and announced everybody’s name as if they were about to hit a grand slam. Whenever he called out somebody’s name, the rest of the thirty-nine-or-so people would cheer loudly to acknowledge that they know them.

                When he called my name, nobody cheered. In fact, the restaurant went dead silent. I quietly got my food without making eye contact and sat down.

 

 October 17, 2009

 This weekend is fall break at school. Most of the student body went home this weekend. In fact, at lunch today, I counted eight other people in the cafeteria with me. After eating my first plate of pizza (which was, for the record, probably older than I), I put it up in the dishwashing station and then get seconds, leaving my drink to guard my table. Similarly to the story I posted on October 3, upon returning to my table, someone was eating there, apparently not heeding the call my drink made to her claiming my table. The real irony is that there were at least a hundred open tables.

 

 October 18, 2009

 Earlier tonight I was walking around the Lunsford Trail with my friend Emily. We pass this one guy walking slowly the same direction on the trail. He looked awkward, but we didn’t think anything of it. Shortly after we passed him, he started throwing eggs at us, or rather in our general direction. Thankfully, he had horrible aim.

 

October 19, 2009

 In class today, my professor asked what we normally do while taking a break from studying continuously for several hours. When one guy in my class admitted that he likes to go sit on a toilet and poop while playing a game on his iPhone, just about half of the class—inclusive of the females—agreed with him.

 

The rest of my October was pretty boring. Thanks for reading!

True Beauty

October 27, 2009   9:30-9:46

 

I cheated on You.

I ran off with someone else

I thought my affair was justified

I thought it was right

She seemed so beautiful

I got caught up in the moment—

I didn’t know what I was doing!

I was lost, thrown, tossed

And I needed someone to run to

Someone to love me

I thought she would love me

But she didn’t.

She doesn’t love—

Not like You do.

But I didn’t know that.

 

She told me she loved

She said I could run to her

And everything would be better

And I believed her.

I ran to her with expectation,

Believing she would make it right.

But she didn’t. She was a liar.

Her words were coated in lies

She was the Father of lies

But I didn’t see that—

I didn’t want to see that.

I was too blinded by her false beauty.

Her physical lies interfered

With the truth.

Your Truth.

 

You are True Beauty.

You are so beautiful

You can’t even contain Your whole beauty

In Yourself.

You made the universe—

Sun, moon, stars, planets

Me—

To share Your beauty.

But I couldn’t see it.

I didn’t want to.

 

I am Your bride.

I am Yours.

Open my eyes to see Your true beauty

In its fullness

That I would never see someone else

And think that she is more beautiful

Than You.

For You created her

But she has not Your beauty.

Open my eyes to Your true beauty

In is fullness

That I would never cheat again

I am Your bride.

I am Yours.

Yours alone.

Carpe Diem

October 23, 2009  9:13-10:02

 

All too often lately I’ve been caught up with life. School by itself is stressful, but friendships in addition to school can be stressful too. But friendships are worth the stress. I’m sure school is, too.

I have recently forgotten the importance of living in the present. I seem to always want to live in the past, or hope too much for the future, forgetting that the present often presents itself with the greatest presents of the three. The problem with living in the future is that tomorrow soon becomes today, and today just as soon becomes yesterday. Therefore, if you hope for tomorrow, all you’re doing is living in the past. And if you live in the past, all you’re doing is wanting to make yesterday your tomorrow so you can experience it again. Of course, we know that yesterday is gone and we can’t revisit it. And before we know it, tomorrow will come and go, too. But today is always around. No matter where you are, or how old you are, today will always be here. Today is a faithful companion that is with you wherever or whenever you are.

As humans, we very frequently forget that this is the day the Lord has made, and that we should rejoice and be glad in it. While it is true that one can always affect his or her future, one’s future is always dependent on one’s present. So how can one say that he will do something in the future if he takes no preparatory actions today?

The concept of today as is the concept of time in general is hard for humans to grasp. It is even harder still for us to imagine life without time. This is because God has created us to work with time. Thus, we should embrace the gift of time because God created it. Maybe that’s why the word “present” can refer to time and a gift. Time is a gift. The chance to start over new is such an incredible blessing. The fact that we have so many yesterdays and probably even more tomorrows ahead is a gift. God creating each new day is a gift. Let’s embrace each day one gift at a time.

 

I now encourage you to read what is, in my opinion, one of the greatest poems ever written. This has surely endured the test of time, as we may read it thousands of years later. Read the words of the great King David in Psalm 118:

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever!

Let Israel say, “His love endures forever!”

Let the house of Aaron say, “His love endures forever!”

Let those who fear the Lord say, “His love endures forever!”

In my anguish I called to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free.

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off.

They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off.

They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off.

I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me.

The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.

Sounds of joy and victory resound in the homes of the righteous, “The Lord’s hand has done mighty things!

“The Lord’s hand is lifted high; the Lord’s hand has done mighty things!”

I will not die but live, and proclaim what the Lord has done!

The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death.

Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter.

I will give You thanks, for You answered me; You have become my salvation.

The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;

The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it!

O Lord, save us. O Lord, give us success.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.

The Lord is our God, and He has made His light to shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the alter.

You are my God, and I will give You thanks; You are my God, and I will extol You.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever!

Internal Conflict

September 13, 2009

23:42-0:00

 

I usually think with my heart

Though some say I should use my brain

But can the brain operate without the heart?

Or the heart without the brain?

Or is it either way all the same?

 

What would happen if I relied only on my heart

To make my decisions?

Could I say I thought them through

Or that I was thinking of the outcome?

Or shall I simply say that I wasn’t thinking?

 

And what would happen if I only used my brain

To interpret my deepest desires?

Could I say that it just felt right

Or that I meant it with love?

Or shall I simply say that I thought I was right?

 

How can I solve a conflict with others

If I am conflicting with myself?

 

How do I know what is right

If I only judge how it feels?

Why should I care if it feels good

When I know that it’s wrong?

 

Why don’t the heart and the brain

Speak the same language?

Why must they insist that only one is right, and the other wrong

When really they both are?

Why can’t they help each other out?

 

If the brain needs blood

And the heart needs direction

Why won’t they get along?

 

Sometimes I wish that I wasn’t so stubborn.

A Call

September 4, 2009   15:25

I’d say I have a pretty good life. I have two loving parents, two great siblings, and I am currently attending college at an excellent private University. My house (that is, when I’m not at college) has four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. I have a car back home, as do both of my parents, and each of my siblings. Each driver has our own car, which increases convenience drastically. Granted, it also increases insurance drastically, but it’s manageable. Both of my parents have full-time jobs, so we can get by.  We’re just your average upper-middle class family. Yep, my life is great!

 

When I was in Uganda this past summer, I lived with a missionary family, in their house. I was with a relatively big group, so we divided in half, and stayed with two different missionary families. The family I stayed with was a young family of five. The parents of the house had three children. Don’t hold me on the exact ages, they’re only approximate, but I think their daughters were six and four, and their son was one. The other family was a bit larger, with something like six children, aged (I think) eleven to three weeks. Both families’ houses were about the same size: three to four bedrooms, and three bathrooms. We were certainly glad we stayed with the missionaries most of the time. They lived in mansions!

Each household even had its own car!

 

There was one night when we didn’t stay with the missionaries, or even in a hotel (I’ll have to describe the hotels later). One night, we divided up into groups of two, and stayed out in different villages. Several gracious families who attend the church the missionaries support volunteered to host us for the night, which includes the day before and after said night. We spent well over a full day living just like the Ugandans.

When we arrived, as is a custom in such a hospitable culture, we all (the man of the host house, me and my companion from the mission team, and the missionary who delivered me to my host house) gathered and drank hot chai that was prepared by the wife of the family. According to their culture, if anybody visits, even for a moment, it is rude to not offer a drink, and it is, in turn, rude to refuse their offer.

After that, I spent the rest of the day digging holes with a pickax into dried dirt, which included a lot of quartz. While I was digging, Cameron (my missionary companion) and Benerd (the host) walked approximately a kilometer down the road to the community water well to retrieve water, which would aid my digging. There wasn’t much water, since Uganda was in a dry season, but they got what few liters they could, and brought it back to me. Naturally, Cameron was exhausted from carrying water that far. And he’s a football player (American, of course).

Once we were done digging, we went to Benerd’s avocado tree, picked about sixty avocados, and loaded them in a burlap sack onto the back of Benerd’s bicycle. Since Benerd was a little bit richer than most Ugandans, he had an extra bicycle, which me and Cameron shared. His bikes in America would be worth maybe forty dollars each. They didn’t have any gears, (and if I remember correctly), poor quality tires. Anyway, we got onto his bicycles and pedaled about eight kilometers into the city on the dirt highway. We rode through many villages on the way, and heard numerous joyful cries of “Hey, bazungu!”, which translates into “Hey, white men!”. Ugandans get so excited to see white men because, in their culture, (and I don’t know exactly how to word this correctly, but) white men are blessings from God Himself. Most Ugandans don’t even want us to give them money (although there are exceptions); they like us because we’re obviously visitors. They feel honored that two white men would humble themselves enough to ride through their village, kicking up road dust into their faces.

After Benerd sold his avocados in town for (by American standards) an unreasonably low price, we headed back. Cameron and I rode on one bicycle, and Benerd rode his own. In one village, Benered met a friend and talked to him for a little while, and he told me and Cameron to ride home without him. Once we arrived to the next village, there was a fork in the road, and we didn’t know which way to go. So we stopped our bike at the fork, and waited for Benerd. While we were waiting, we were approached by several Ugandans. This certainly scared both of us, because this definitely wouldn’t happen in America. When people are approached by strangers in America, its usually a frightening thing. And then one man started talking to us (most men in Uganda speak English), asking if we were lost. When we explained to him that we were simply waiting for someone, he said something like “Well, enjoy Uganda. It is very safe here!”, which relieved both me and my football-playing friend. Obviously the man could sense our fear. But he was right! Uganda is a great place! It is extremely hospitable, and very safe. Everyone looks out for each other, and we didn’t realize it until that moment.

Eventually Benerd showed up again, and escorted us back to his house. By this time, it was night, so he lit up his whole house with a propane lantern. His wife prepared a nice meal of matokie (which is essentially a bland banana) in a bowl of beans and, since they had special guests, avocado slices. We ate our meal with our hands (even the beans, which were pretty juicy), and then went to bed. But before we went to bed, Cameron and I went outside to look at the stars. I’ve been in the country in West Texas at night and seen stars, but this was much more incredible. I’m sure an astronaut who has been into space would agree this was a great view of the stars, because the nearest electricity was really far away (most lights aren’t on at night, even in the big city I mentioned earlier).

We went to bed shortly after, but I had trouble sleeping. Benerd had this rooster that crowed essentially all night. I named him Dr Pepper because (according to my wristwatch), he crowed at 10:00, 2:00, and 4:00 right on the dot, amazingly. I explained to Cameron how annoying this rooster was. I was seriously considering throwing it off the side of the mountain.

The next day, we went out to the road to cut down a few trees, which were starting to invade the road. Me, Benerd, and Cameron as a group effort cut down three different trees with Benerd’s machete. Then we carried the trees, trunk and all, half a kilometer down the road to Benerd’s house to be used as cooking wood.

At about the time we finished that, our missionary arrived to pick us up. After we drank our chai, we were on our way back. I explained to the missionary that I had trouble sleeping because of the rooster. He then told me that the night before we stayed there, all of Benerd’s chickens and roosters were stolen. All but that one. All but Dr Pepper. It then hit me that Benerd had lost everything, and I couldn’t even appreciate what little he still had. You see, Ugandan villagers don’t have bank accounts. They invest in livestock. If you buy a male and female goat or chicken, and they reproduce, you’ve made a profit. Once that happens enough, you can start selling the baby chickens. Benerd lost all his investments the night before I lived with him, and I was upset because the one rooster he had left crowed the whole night, looking for his lost friends.

 

In the book of Matthew, chapter nineteen, Jesus encounters a rich man, who asks how he can get into heaven. He explained to Jesus that he had followed to law of Moses to the letter– he had not stolen, he had not committed adultery, he had honored his father and mother. Jesus then told him to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor. Then the man left Jesus, sad, because he was in love with his possessions. Jesus then turned to his apostles and said (NIV) “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” In other words, if you humble yourself and give what you don’t need to those who do need it, you will be blessed in heaven.

That story from Matthew that you read just now about the rich man can apply to us, too. Anywhere God is calling the rich to do anything, he is talking to Americans. What is it worth, in God’s eyes, if we follow the law– we don’t steal, kill, lie, lust– but we don’t help out God’s other children– our brothers and sisters in Christ– who are in need?

Also in Matthew, in the twenty-fifth chapter, Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. God blesses the sheep and says to them in verse thirty-five “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” The righteous then ask “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”, to which Jesus  replied “whatever you did to the least of these, my brothers, you did to me.” If we don’t clothe the naked, if we don’t feed the hungry, if we don’t help the helpless, how can we expect God to do those to us? How can God show His love for us, if we don’t show love to others?

I don’t kow about you, but I think it’s time we changed our lifestyles. I say it’s about time we get off our assets and help out those who need it. We Americans have tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank doing nothing, and people like Benerd don’t have so much as a chicken.

 

Before I came back to the states, I gave the missionary some of my left over money in order to buy Benerd some more chickens. Translated to the American dollar, twenty dollars will buy three or four hens, or two to three roosters. Don’t you see how easy it is to help out? Our leftover change could buy a chicken, a huge investment, for someone who needs it.

…To Infinity and Beyond…

August 24, 2009   23:42

Well, I started college officially today. It was pretty cool.

Ok, enough of the fatuity. I’m going to get straight to the point here.

One of my required courses is a science, naturally. I chose to take Astronomy, not only because it is the most interesting form of science there is (although Marine Biology is a close second), but also because it is supposedly the easiest science course. Well, I just read over the beginning of the textbook, and it really assured me that we pretty much know nothing about the universe. It makes me wonder why I paid well over a hundred dollars for a textbook that knows nothing…

One thing chapter 1.1 did know, however, was that we must measure astronomical distance in a chronological format. This statement really stuck out to me, because the two primary ways in which God is infinite are through time and space. I mean, if God is omnipresent, He is everywhere at the same time. As far as time goes, He lives in a “world” without time. That is why we either will or will not live with Him eternally.

While I was in Uganda in June of this year, I met a guy named Evans, whom I had a brief Bible study with. He said something that really spoke to me. After I told him that I lately had a big interest in the first three chapters of Genesis, he decided to quiz me on just that– the first three chapters. He asked me what I believed the first thing God created was. Detecting this as a trick question, I flipped through the first few verses of the bible and came to the conclusion that God first created light (the part of verse one that says “God created the Heavens and the Earth” is a summary of what is to come). But Evans pointed out to me that the first thing God created was actually time. That fact is hidden in the first three words of the entire Bible– “In the beginning”. Before God could create our universe, He had to create time, which is essentially the realm of everything that has ever been created but God Himself, and perhaps His angels.

My astronomy textbook explains to me that we don’t really know how big the universe is because we can only see within fourteen billion light-years of planet earth. Of course, a light-year is a measure of distance—how fast light travels in a year. In order to measure space, we must use time—the only other tool we humans use that cannot relate to God (as far as I know. Granted, I might be wrong. I’m just a freshman, after all. I don’t know anything…)

I guess I just find it amazing that when we try to measure great measures of time or distance—measures that might as well be infinite by our standards—we must use the other unit. My amazement with that is that we try to grasp essential infinity with infinity. It’s like a parent telling a child who questions their authority “Because I said so”. We don’t have a real answer other than what is simply is.

If my simile in the preceding paragraph was beyond (or rather far below) the level of your comprehension, I sincerely apologize, and blame my poor thinking skills on the time of day. I am, in fact, approaching the freshman curfew hours, through which I usually sleep.

With that said, I feel that there is nothing more to be said, as anything said would either be presented in a rambling format (as you are currently reading), or in a format that otherwise makes no since.

I do, however, want to ramble a quick summary, so bear with me, if you please. Basically, God cannot be measured. In fact, the simple concept of infinity can’t even be measured. Humans, the greatest race in the universe, (unless you believe in weird beings other than us (if so, you probably are one yourself), know nothing about the universe. God is showing to us just how great He is in a hidden way—in such a way that we can’t necsisarily see it.

Welcome to the Life of Dr Pepper and Poptarts

August 20, 2009   10:45

Well, I’ve been at college at Abilene Christian University for almost a week now. And I have had Dr Pepper and Poptarts for breakfast just about every day. “Tell me what could be better?”

Aside from the fact that I strongly dislike community bathrooms and loud neighbors as I attempt to sleep, I’d say that the college life isn’t so bad. But class hasn’t started yet. I’m still in Welcome Week.

But Welcome Week is awesome. This morning I woke up at 5:30 to attend a sunrise devotional. And it was awesome! A sunrise is one thing I could never tire of. There is nothing more beautiful than a sunrise with the exception of the face of God himself. I have yet to have found anything more desireable than to greet the day with your siblings in Christ praising Him. And donuts.

Maybe Ignorance is Bliss…

July 23, 2009   11:20

 

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to know more about how things work. I was always playing with things, of course, and taking part what I could to see how it worked. One of my parents’ favorite stories is this:

 

            When I was two, I had an electric train. Well, it was powered by batteries. It would go around in circles on its little track. This was obviously quite a boring toy, even for a two-year-old. I decided I wanted to fix this, to make it better. I had to think of a way to make this boring toy fun. Apparently I wanted my train to go backwards. So, from what my parents say, I took out the batteries and put them in backwards. And, lucky for me, my toy train ran backwards! What a fun toy!

 

 

Today’s society is based on knowledge (if not money). One of the most common values we first-world nations have alike with third-world nations is the value of knowledge. Americans require that every child attend school until they either graduate high school or become a legal adult. Third world countries praise those who have been educated, and those who are older; old men are always wise men. Old men know more than young men.

 

But really, it’s not just today’s society that thrives on knowledge. Ever since the beginning of man’s existence, we have always wanted to know more than we do.

 

 

The Garden of Eden was a paradise for Adam and Eve. They had everything they could have possibly asked for: food provided for them (Genesis 1:30), land that took care of itself (Genesis 2:5-6) and dominion over all the Earth (Genesis 1:28-30). This is not intended to be blasphemy, but Adam and Eve were essentially like God (after all, mankind was made after God’s image, Genesis 1:27.) They were like God in almost every way, with the Earth serving them, and them ruling the Earth. There were only two qualities they lacked from God: Eternal life, and the knowledge of good and evil. (Aside from those, there’s also the omnipotence and omnipresence of God, of course, but let’s not get too carried away here…)

 

The Garden of Eden had two trees that were forbidden to touch: The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the Tree of Life. Eating of the fruit of either tree would have made man much more like God in the way they choose. In easier words, Eve (who acted on behalf of all mankind) ate of the Tree of Knowledge, and then was thrown from the Garden before we could touch the Tree of Life.

 

Of all the God-like qualities that exist that are accessible to men, we seem to value knowledge the most. I mean, we ate of the Tree of Knowledge before we got anywhere near the Tree of Life. We value knowledge more than eternal life! Apparently we would rather live short, sinful lives than eternal lives in paradise.

Maybe it’s true that ignorance is bliss.

 

 

 

 

PLEAS READ THE COMMENTS AS THEY ARE A CONTINUATION OF THIS POST.

Guilt

June 6, 2009   10:17

I’ve always marvelled at human psychology. The complexity of the human mind is undoubtedly beyond that of our own comprehension. And I think this is truly outstanding. That simple fact, by itself, is one of the major reasons that I, myself, believe that there is a god who created all living things. In all logical reality, if humans really are the highest forms of existence (as evolutionists believe), how can we not even understand ourselves? However, if there is a god, an idea that no human can fully comprehend, doesn’t it seem to make more since to say that He created us, and that’s why we can’t understand ourselves?

One aspect of the human brain I’ve especially pondered over lately is guilt. Well, I’d say more accurately that the ability to comprehend right and wrong is more amazing. I mean, what is “right”, and what is “wrong”? How do we know which is which? And why is it that when we do wrong, and some part of our brain recognizes our action as “wrong” or “bad”, we feel a sense of guilt?

It seems to me that whatever can be proven is automatically deemed “right” or “wrong”, “correct” or “incorrect”. For instance, to put it as simply as possible, if a man named Joe has two apples, and Bob gives him two more apples, Joe is now in possession of four apples. This is a correct statement, which cannot be logically argued.

One can, however, argue over the number of apples Bob now has. We do not know how many apples Bob originally started with before giving two of them to Joe. Therefore, one could say that Bob now has eight apples, whereas someone else could just as easily say that he has no more apples left in his possession. Now, which of the arguing men is correct? If Bob never reveals to us the number of apples he originally started with, you might as well say both men arguing are correct.

“Good” and “bad”, “right” and “wrong”, “correct” and “incorrect” could either be proven facts or opinion.

Man argues over the beginning of the universe. We always have, since the beginning. One man says that we began when the universe exploded in a theory known as the “Big Bang”. A different man says that we began shorty after God said “Let there be light”. All we humans know for sure is that we began at some point; we do exist, after all. But which man is right?

As much as I believe that God created the universe, there is no way comprehensible to the human mind to prove that I am right. Likewise, I cannot prove my adversary wrong. This is because the creator, whether God or an explosion, has not revealed to us all the facts. One could say either man is correct.

Still, if I were to believe my adversary (as I have before, people always question themselves), I still feel a sense of guilt.

 

A man cannot verbally prove opinions to be “right” or “wrong”, as I have stated. Yet, the subconscious part of our brains can prove right or wrong in a form of guilt. This is what fascinates me about the human mind. We can convince the conscious part of our brains all we want that “right” is what we say it is. Yet, the subconscious, the part that we cannot control, seems to know the truth.

I can’t explain it, but it’s real. Guilt seems to always know what is truely right or wrong. And that is a marvel of the human brain. A God-given trait, I believe, that all humans have.

Yes, I do believe (at the moment this article was written, at least) that one cannot prove God to exist. One can always prove a God-believer wrong, and that’s why this earth is not perfect. Opinions destroy perfection. However, when one considers the complexity of such things as the human brain, for instance, it seems hard to believe that he cannot believe something higher and smarter created it.

I believe that God left hints of Himself all over the universe. One can recognize them as His, or simply acknowledge their existence. I believe that one of the most predominate feelings is the desire to know more. A man driving home from his job wonders if he is working simply to survive for a hundred years, whereas a man worshiping knows for certain what he is living for. Man A has expeienced a hint of God; God is trying to show His face to him. In a form of guilt. He knows he is not living right.

 

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Comments, as always, are highly appreciated. I want to know your opinion on this issue!

I will be in Uganda, Africa throughout much of this month on a mission trip, so please pray for me and the rest of my mission team.

Internal Conflict

May 2, 2009 23:43

At the moment this post was written, my high school prom is occurring. Without me.

I asked the girl that I really wanted to go with, and got rejected. I then decided that I would not go to the prom because I’d be upset that I was not there with her. Now, as I type this, I realize that prom is one of those things that happens once in the average lifetime, and it’s not something worth missing, even if it’s not with someone in particular.

And from where I’m sitting, I think I should have gone, even if just by myself. I’d be sitting in the corner away from everyone else either way. But now I’m sitting by myslf in the corner of my room, so while it is similar, I won’t be able to say truthfully that I attended prom.

Is that okay? Sure, it’s just a little get-togeher, and I wouldn’t have enjoyed it anyway, but the experience is worth attending, I’ve heard.

Maybe I’m just upset because all of my friends from school are there now, and so I have no one to talk to. Still, for the rest of our high school lives, prom is all they’ll talk about, and I won’t be abe to relate. And I have being excluded.

In summary, I just feel like I’m tearing myself apart; I’m either feeling bad for not attending prom, or for feeling bad about feeling bad for not attending prom.

While I know to tear oneself apart for a simple dance is stupid, I still feel like it’s okay to justify this, just this one time, and I think that’s what’s the most hurtful. I am letting myself feel bad.

I guess if you tell yourself that it’s okay to feel bad, you just feel even worse because there’s nothing to stop you from hurting.