Kutless - What Faith Can Do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1JBSQMkQEo

It's a really nice, touching song that you should listen to regardless of religion. It may really help those of you who really need it.

Despite the lyrics, the song is aesthetically pleasing and I think you will like it (:

 A new day can bring new beginnings.

Some thoughts

I haven't posted in a while because I was busy with finals last week and Spring Break was this week so I was busy having some relaxation I haven't had in a while. However, along with my break, I've had some time to think and play some computer games.

Thinking is never good for me as my thoughts wander off to areas that are depressing, too happy, or too psychological. One of my train of thoughts took me to the land of gaming. Why do I like to play computer games was one of my questions. At first it wasn't meant to have any kind of deep meaning but as I thought about it I found a deeper meaning in my shallow question. I have an infatuation with games because it helps me escape from my real life filled with stress and constant situations demanding my time and effort. The fake game world allowed me to escape for a while in the time I was spending time with my friends online. I guess this may be the same answer for everyone else. Although we dislike to admit it, games are just another way to escape reality. That is nothing to be ashamed of though since we all need a break from our real lives at one point, right? It can almost be seen as another healthy coping skill.

My Spring Break also led me to thoughts about college and the pressure that several students undergo due to the pressure of being accepted into a prestigious college. My question is: Will getting into a good college a guarantee of being successful in life? Isn't it all based on your willingness? I am not undermining the importance of college but this was just a tidbit of the questions percolating.

Have a nice rest of your Spring Break!

Story of My Love/Life

The blushes, the pushing, the urging,

all only in the beginning.

The giggles, the talks, the gossiping,

all only in the beginning.

The intensity in the beginning,

the feeling that it would never end.

That is all only in the beginning.

For those feelings will soon fade away like they usually tend.

The suspense pushes on as the time flows,

as every chat and word from your crush is embedded in your mind.

You do not think your crush will easily go.

Who would let him go for he's so sweet, smart, and kind.

As love nears the end so does the friendship that used to be there.

It's crushed like the dreams that were once embraced.

Now there are darting eyes and whispers everywhere.

So your true feelings will now have to be encased.

When love is done and the pain has taken its toll,

you start to wish for time to reverse.

But sadly, time is in a permanent mold.

Due to the short-lived fun you had before, all words exchanged are terse.

Be careful with your crushes,

be careful with your feelings.

Be careful with everything that feels quite warm and luscious.

For your genuine words may forever be in a sealing. 

Life

Life causes grief, happiness, stress, bliss, wonder, excitement, questions, answers, explanations, and all sorts of other topics often discussed by philosophers. In the Bible, it says that humans came from Adam and Eve. Meanwhile, in science, it explains that humans evolved from primates. Whether or not either explanation is the truth, we, humans, exist right now and are seen as the "superior" mammal. Why were we given life though? Why did God or the Big Bang create the earth, the solar system, and the universe? These are all questions that humans have still failed to answer but are still wondering.

One question I always have for myself is: why am I me? Why was I born as who I am right now? Why was I not someone else, in another body, family, environment? Sometimes I feel like there is no special reason and at other times, I think that I have something special to do here on earth before I die in this body. Whether I help an entire country or I merely help one person, I am meant to make a change, no matter how cliche that may sound. Please comment if you have anything to say although this post may be very short compared to the others~

Our Journey

The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.
Albert Einstein 






Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.
Khalil Gibran 

Society - Huckleberry Finn

Recently, I was obligated to read the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Although the book was entertaining and mundane simultaneously: causing me to fall asleep at some parts and be engaged in others. Overall, I learned a valuable lesson and that is contained in the one word: society.

Mark Twain was trying to make a point through his book by satirizing humankind. Not only did he satirize slavery, but he also did the same to other concepts of society as a whole. The first thing was our herd-like mentality.

The herd-like mentality was blatantly addressed in Mark Twain's idea that was voiced through Colonel Sherburn when the colonel was chastising the community on their way of following even a "half a man."

"You didn't want to come. The average man don't like trouble and danger. You don't like trouble and danger. But if only half a man - like Buck Harkness, there - shouts 'Lynch him! Lynch him!' you're afraid to back down - afraid you'll be found out to be what you are - cowards - and so you raise a yell, and hang yourselves onto that half-a-man's coat-tail, and come raging up here, swearing what big things you're going to do. The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that's what an army is - a mob; they don't fight with courage that's born in them, but with courage that's borrowed from their mass, and from their officers. But a mob without any man at the head of it is beneath pitifulness." (pg. 146) - Colonel Sherburn.

This paragraph shows how the society that we have today is very dependent upon each other. Nobody truly has their individuality since they are all focused on the herd, what the mass does, is this alright, and so on. I think this is still the case today in our society as well. Instead of doing things for ourselves, we tend to wait until someone else does it, thus following their footsteps. Since there is either no one doing the work or everyone at the same time, doing the same work, there is no room for progress. I think this is the problem that is prevalent in the school that I attend. Many of us are worried about what the person next to us is doing. 'If that person does something, then I should too.' Or even if the student does not think that, the parent may, just hoping that following the next person's footsteps would be doing them some good. However, that is not the case. We must fall into our specialties if we are to get anywhere in life or be happy in our lives. We must learn how to think for ourselves just as Huck Finn has learned to do in this novel.

Huckleberry Finn is a very impressionable young man in the beginning of this book but he still remains to express his own thoughts despite the fact that he is a child who should listen to his white elders. He is forced to be "sivilized" and follow the footsteps of his pap who believes in many old-fashioned concepts even for the time setting of the book. However, when Huck journeys on the Mississippi River, he learns to think for himself. At the end of the book, Huck knows that he must think for himself and avoids Aunt Sally when she decides that she would keep him in her care to educate and "sivilize" him. The society in this novel gives Huck a very deformed conscience despite the fact that they are set in a society where slavery is considered to be common. In my opinion, Huck still goes down the right path despite the influences of society around him. He learns that friendship and the value of the person is greater than what society says. I think that this is what we must learn to do. People as a whole nowadays should form their own justifications and opinions.

"Stand up for what you think is right, even if you're standing alone." - Anonymous.

Religion

The mere word religion brings up a lot of controversy. It is a word that connotes many different ideas, controversy, theories, etc. It is such a vast, weighty word and the topic of religion has been vast and full of depth as well. Religion depends on culture, the person, family, beliefs, needs, and other aspects of the believer or non-believer. I have quite a few friends who are atheist. When I ask them why they are atheist, they say they don't quite believe in the fact that God will be there for us always because they have never seen proof of him before. I, as a Christian, think that you don't need proof to know because religion is based upon trust and faith. However, I also understand their point of view because it is hard to have faith or belief when you do not have tangible, hard core facts that you can lean upon. Meanwhile, I have friends who are undecided or atheist but they don't tell their parents. I think religion is a sense of obligation within a family. For example, if your parents are Christian, Catholic, Buddhist, or whatever religion they are, the child is compelled to be of that same religion. Therefore, when the child begins to stray from that religion, the parents are worried or disappointed thus disallowing the child to truly open themselves to tell their parents that they are not as religious as they expect them to be. Religion is, in a sense, a way to comfort ourselves and to find something to lean on, but not in a negative way. It is something that helps us get through life when times are tough. Praying and depending on someone higher than us to help us get through something may be of great comfort.

In the beginning, the Greeks created the 12 gods of Olympus because they could not explain the natural events that happened in their world. However, now in the 21st century, we have enough technology to figure out why it rains, why it's so hot on some days, and other things that go on with the weather. Therefore, some people believe: Why do we still need religion then? Well, there are many cases in life when science cannot prove everything that occurs. For instance, someone may have a chronic illness that the doctors explained would not be curable. However, in the matter of a couple of days, the person begins to heal, MIRACULOUSLY. What science can explain this besides the "science" of sincerely praying, hoping and having faith that the person will get better? In many religions there is a being who is higher than the rest of us here on earth. In the case of Christianity, it is God. God (or your own god) is the one who has the answers to the whole entire universe in the eye of the believer.

My small explanation and opening to religion here on my blog does not help explain this concept of religion. I am merely explaining some concepts that I have heard around me and decided to share them here. Religion vs. science is another topic that is as vast as the ocean, maybe even more. It is going to be quite a long way (or never) before we, humans, discover the true meaning between religion and science. Until then, we must follow which idea and method best suits us.

Conflict

The definition of a conflict is a serious disagreement or argument. Conflicts are prevalent throughout the world, ranging from your very own school to conflicts between whole countries! For example, there is the matter of bullying at school. Bullying, the word itself sounds like an attack word intended to hurt someone. Bullying someone means to hurt another peer either verbally or physically, and now in this era, technologically. Another example of conflict is between nations such as in world war I and world war II. Next, there is the infamous Syrian conflict occurring right as we speak. A little background on the conflict in Syria is that it has sprouted due to the oppression that the civilians felts from their ruler known as Bashar al-Assad. Although it began as a protest to save a couple of school children from torture, it soon grew to a cry for democracy and the fall of Assad. Now, it is a full blown "civil war" (known by some people) to liberate the civilians from the hands of the Syrian government. In this conflict, there have been over 60,000 people murdered and tortured in the matter of 22 months. This death rate shows much violence and bloodshed in this one country alone.

Why is there conflict like this? Of course the sprout of all conflict comes from the fact that people or sides cannot come to an agreement as they have clashing ideas. However, the way that they handle these clashing ideas is vital as it can lead to either a resolution or further harm. However, why physical abuse? In a way, technologically bullying or hurting something/someone is easier to understand as hiding behind a computer screen allows you to avoid taking full tangible responsibility for what you did or said. On the other hand, physical abuse is a bit more dense. Physical abuse is, in a way, a way to show that one person is physically superior over the other and disobeying the stronger one can lead to harm. In my opinion, conflicts should be settled verbally, not through verbal attacks, but through discussion. It may sound cheesy, but at least both sides are talking out the situation and seeing how each side understands the situation.

Friend vs. Stranger

What is the true difference between a stranger and a friend? A stranger is unknown and a friend is someone who has a hand to lend. He had always had that hand, which made him my sturdy land. We were friends, family, and even lovers at one time, but now we have become strangers as if it were cued by a chime. It is funny how he made promises he could not keep, and although I knew they would be broken, I still weep. Because somewhere, deep down in me, I was praying that we were not yet history. They see frowns on my face as I walk by, they stop and ask, "Are you going to cry?" I boldly reply with a faltering no, because of you I am feeling so low. He is MY stranger, the one I know but don't. We used to be best friends, but now there is a moat. I told him that we would stop talking, I told him this reality as a warning. He promised that we wouldn't, that we would be different. I scoff as I think of those empty words. Those words are now like empty chords. Once, we looked into each other's eyes, When I looked I hope this reality was just a lie. I can't wait anymore for this situation to end, one of us will just have to bend. If it won't be me and it won't be him, I guess I'll have to wait until the water spills over the brim. Don't be my stranger but be my friend, your true feelings, to me, send.

Technology

What has this generation come down to? Honestly speaking, this young generation obsessed with iPhones, iPads, their computers, their phones, game systems, etc., is turning into a group of robots. Although it is hard to fathom, the Internet itself was raw, unpeeled, undiscovered about 10 years ago. It was a luxury that made it so unattainable and desired. Now? Having access to the Internet is not something that is astonishing as it has become to be a necessity in life. That's all fine and dandy to me, the Internet is a great advancement for our world and our society. The Internet has made life easier for the majority of us who are in sync with what is happening with the technology these days.

Now to the matter of the use of electronic devices. The time that we spend on them bother me just a little. Why? These devices are good for talking to people who are not next to you, researching, etc. However, that's the real issue with these devices. These electronic devices are taking away our human qualities of speaking, interacting, and using our body language to express what we mean. Now that we can talk to each other online, it has allowed some people to rely on the fact that they can "express themselves" on the computer and not in person thus allowing them to say things that they usually wouldn't in the real world. Cyber bullying is one of the extreme cases of this. Some of the mean, hurtful things that you wouldn't say to the person face to face, you have the opportunity to do so online. The question is, why do we choose the electronic route to hurt each other? The answer is simple: we cannot see the other person's true facial, body reaction to the criticism and cutting words. All we see is the black and white letters on the screen that rarely mean anything to us on a deeper level rather than pixels coordinated to show words and paragraphs.

Next, a detrimental factor of electronic devices is the fact that they are portable with information in them that we have access to at a mere touch of our fingers. This leisure allows people to believe that they don't have to think for themselves as the machine will think for them. Therefore, after learning something new, we tend to forget. Why? The device can easily find it for us again whenever we want to know again. This is causing problems worldwide. For instance, recently, studies have shown that children's capability to think for themselves and generate their own imagination is decreasing as the machine does all of this for them at a mere, short command.

This essay/article is not trying to put down the technological advances that our great world is experiencing, I am merely saying that the way we use these luxuries should be moderated. "Everything is good in moderation." Humans must still interact with each other and think for themselves, this is what separates us from the robotic machine sitting in front of you.

Family Relationships

Family. That one word connotates so many different things, emotions, people, etc. to each person who hears the word. "Family"'s connotation depends on our experiences with our individual family members. The constant, almost traditional, relationship between parents and children is one that is full of bickering and disagreements about desires coming from each side.

Parents - Parents are the children's guardian, therefore, they are the children's shield from mistakes that are easily made. However, some children do not see this; they do not see the fact that their parents are trying to shield them from the mistakes that they had once made during their childhood. If the offspring merely ignores the wishes of the parents, then the children are basically forcing their parents to watch them go down the same awful road that could resurface tragic memories from the parent(s)'s past(s). However, there is also the matter of projection. What is projection? Projection is when parents decide to live their life through their children. Why? There are many reasons behind projection, one of them being the fact that the parents may not have had the means to live the way they wanted, their parents may not have had the money or the willingness for their children to follow their dreams. However, what several parents do not see is that they are forcing their children to go down the same road that led them to projection when they project upon their children. The children of the most current generation see the world in their own eyes and they see opportunities in themselves that others cannot.

Children - Now as a female who is slowly maturing to the point where I am able to recognize my parents' wishes and the reasons behind them, I am still reluctant to follow some of their commands. Some of their commands seem to be very unreasonable to me. However, I try (emphasis on the word "try") to understand their reasoning behind what they tell me to do. They say what they do for the sake of my safety, my future, etc. Sometimes I feel like they don't love me, a ridiculous assumption on my part as they act the way they do BECAUSE they love me. I have a friend who thinks that her father does not know anything about the world right now because he is a man who lived "back in those days." Quite frankly, whenever I hear her say this, I feel that she is wrong. My acquaintance boldly states that her father will never understand the troubles that we are going through today as teenagers, but I am absolutely sure her father is aware of that and everything else. Offspring give their parents less recognition than they really deserve for their survival in the past. Is there a reason to this? (Well there is a reason to most everything, in my opinion.) As some of the readers are teenagers, I may be able to say that this inferior recognition is due to teenagers' rebellious stage of life when they feel that they know more than their parents. Therefore, recognizing that their parents are aware of the troubles would be, in a sense, going against their "superior" knowledge that they possess as teenagers.

"The Crucible" Analysis

I don't know if any of you have read the Crucible but if you have, I did a psychological (or at least tried) analysis of Abigail Williams, one of the main characters of the novel who decides to accuse others around her of witchcraft in court. She is such an interesting character that I chose to analyze her for one of my school's "choose your own project" project.

[To be honest, I have never taken a psychology course but I am veryyyy interested in this subject. It amazes and interests me when I begin to ponder on the wonders of the mind and human nature. Then I begin to combine that with modern events, books, daily crises, etc.! Makes my hair rise hehe. So please bear with me if I do not write the name of a specific disease or condition when I write some things but if you do have any knowledge to share with me, please do!!!! I would be happy to know. I am planning to read about psychology soon but have never found the time, but I will!]

Well to introduce you to the book/play if you have never read it: The setting is in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts centered around a teenage girl by the name of Abigail Williams who accuses many civilians in Salem of witchcraft, especially one woman who she especially dislikes, Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of John Proctor. There is a bit of a history between John Proctor and Abigail Williams, if you were not aware. They had an alleged relationship, an affair. Now mind you, this society that they all lived in was strictly Puritan. Imagine the shame that would have been felt by Proctor if the society discovered that this good man was smitten with another woman besides his lovely, innocent wife! Therefore, Abigail and Proctor were forced to separate. The feelings that Abigail felt here would be only a part of the incentive for her revenge.

Abigail is a girl who is pent up with hurt, depression, and trauma. Her first major incentive for all of her current actions is the bloody, malicious murder of her parents that she was forced to witness. This event embedded a horrible trauma into her mind that caused her to feel numb. Abigail’s second incentive is the scar that Elizabeth left when she kicked Abigail out of her house in response to the affair that John and Abigail were having. Abigail felt abandoned at this and she was offended at the fact that Elizabeth had stolen her only source of comfort after her parents’ death, John Proctor. Her third incentive grew when she asked John Proctor to return to her again. He merely compared her to a mare while he called himself a horse. He said, “The promise that a stallion gives a mare I gave that girl!” (pg. 62) At this moment, Abigail felt abandonment once again. In addition, although it was not her parents’ fault for leaving Abigail alone, Abigail most likely felt abandoned and thus hurt that her parents left Abigail alone in the world. Lastly, Abigail was scarred greatly when her own uncle questioned the purity of her name in the society as purity of the name is very significant in a strictly Puritan society. Reverend Parris’s question implied that Abigail was not a girl worthy of living in his house. Furthermore, Abigail’s scars and hurt probably would not have been a great problem if she had the chance to confess her hurt and then have someone counsel her on her feelings. It is a fact that a person has to be able to verbalize their feelings and past, hurtful experiences in order for him/her to be psychologically healthy. This is emphasized among females especially as females are naturally gregarious creatures that depend on verbal topics such as issues in their own lives. Abigail was restricted of this chance because the voice of women was not encouraged in the Puritan society. Finally, when Abigail was given the opportunity to speak out loud and have people listen to her opinion when she became a witness at court, she took advantage of it. Abigail would not have taken advantage of her position if she had been listened to before. 

The Facade

Suffocating on the inside where no one can see.

Outside you're all smiles for everyone to perceive.

Every smile hurts for it is each fake,

the real one is gone, because he did take.

When I'm not smiling, people ask me what's wrong.

They wouldn't understand for very long.

When I talk, people don't listen and I succumb to silence.

This reaction is mere common sense.

When he looks at me, I pretend to laugh.

My fake happiness I must waft.

My friends cannot see my silence as deep contemplation.

They think of it as sadness that could fill an entire nation.

But truth be told, I am both upset and curious

of what could have set this situation to delirious.

My laughter and smiles are to hide all this.

I cannot have my feelings where people can sift.

At times I think that I am being foolish,

but at others I feel like walking around being ghoulish.

I see him laugh and interact,

and when I see this I wish his ignorance was all just an act.

Can he not see what I am thinking?

'I hope this is all worth it,' is what I am wishing.

How are we separated like heaven and land

when it seemed like fate had pushed us together like the sea and sand.

We were brothers, sisters, and best friends before.

What happened so that we are not each other's core?

I am foolish and dramatic and being whiny too,

but how can I ignore this smart fool?

People tell me to confront but it's harder than it sounds

for you do not know what will rebound.

As time slips away so does my chance to sew,

this would be so much easier if I were just to know.

Infatuation?

As teenagers, each human has had an infatuation with the opposite or same sex due to appearance, the comfort that s/he provides, and the pure need for someone closer than a friend.

"Crushes" are interesting concepts that I have not yet come close to grasping although I have had several crushes in my past. When I was younger, I did not know the definition of true love or even infatuation for that matter. Therefore, I would easily fall into and out of what I thought of as "love." That is one common reason behind elementary, middle school, and high school relationships: the ignorance to the true meaning. Weren't relationships reserved for those that we truly cared for? Not merely as friends, infatuations, family, but much more. Someone that we wished to dedicate the rest of our lives to.

Another reason crushes are very apparent and common are because many children and teenagers today are in need of a peer "counselor" to listen to their problems at home. Many households are unstable for reasons known only to those affiliated with the crisis at home. Offspring from this family household may seek comfort and guidance not from a responsible, wise adult, but a peer that s/he believes will understand him/her as they are the same age. When the hurt minor finally finds the person that she/he can dig out guidance and quality time from, it gradually turns into a crush thus replacing the harmful family with someone else. Also, there is the point where some may feel a mere obligation to love and care for their family. Therefore, finding a crush outside of the family is easier to dedicate time, love, and care to as that can be cut off as one desires as it is not an "obligation."

The cases in the 2 above paragraphs are merely my opinion; the last paragraph a bit strong and one-sided.

Lastly for today, another reason for crushes may be because the person who contains the crush in their heart is merely very cheerful and friendly so they are likable and s/he chooses to find the positives in others.

For someone that I am acquainted with, I have realized that she is not comfortable with crushes. She is comfortable with keeping an infatuation in mind but when the person reciprocates the feelings, it immediately becomes a hassle for her. I have heard that relationships with boys in a girl's life depends on her relationship with her father. It is quite probable that this uncomfortable feeling may originate from her relationship with her father. Maybe her father contained high expectations thus causing the girl to feel anxiety when a boy or anyone for that matter entrusted her with something or with a dream.

The human mind is quite complex, especially when it comes to the matters of love and feelings for another human being.

Reality

Teddy,
my comfort, my friend, my family.
Bear,
protection, pure warmth, my rock.
Ripped away from my pleading arms, my
bare
arms hanging limp by my meek self.
Pictures portray perseverance,
only with the help of my
teddy bear.
My teddy bear strolls to the trash and
plunges right in.
Motionless.

Handed a pen.
Thrown into reality faster than I can erase my past
mistakes.
No room for faults anymore.
Perfection.
Childhood drifted away as time
drifted
away.

Introduction to ourworldmindset :)

No one can deny that the world that we all inhabit is in an imperfect condition. Nobody besides people in government truly address the detrimental environment that our future generation and our current generation are living in. Even government officials and U.N. members may not be devoting their full time to issues at hand due to conflicting, opposition forces that have a strong, adamant say in the modern day issues. For example, as I quote one of my esteemed teachers, "The U.S. government cannot say anything drastically harming toward guns as the N.R.A. (National Rifle Association) would immediately cut off funds and their vital support."

I strongly dislike how society is strongly affiliated around influence in society. Although it has been like that from the beginning of politics and of society itself, I belief that society must be at the hands of everyone, especially the marginalized. It has almost become a custom that solely the strong are taken into account when they utter a mere word or opinion about a matter at hand. Meanwhile, the poor and the marginalized groups are shunned as the majority believes that they are ignorant and they cannot contribute anything useful and relevant to the matter. However, this is not the genuine scenario. Frankly, marginalized groups provide more than influential people and well-known people are able to. Why? They have experienced much difficulties. I am not implying that the well-known are not rags to riches cases themselves, but I am saying instead that these frequently ignored marginalized groups are currently experiencing hardships that would aid in solution-making for conflicts. Each group has a different say, opinion, and experience that they can integrate into the discussions and solutions.

My blog will try to address the conflicts that our world is experiencing today and the reasons behind them. I am aiming to become a psychologist and I have found a recent interest in modern events as I partake in a program at my school known as M.U.N. (Model United Nations). Anything that you, the reader, would like to say, please comment and I will try to integrate your opinions and information in my next couple of paragraphs.

There will be many situations in which I will use gross exaggerations to emphasize an effect but please remember that my gross exaggerations are not always true and that I may simply emphasize and make them pop out more to send my point across. What I write will range from issues at school, community, countries, nations, and the world to simple poems that express feelings and thoughts.

Thank you ^^