Hug Log

Ok, here it goes! Today I am officially starting a hug log. Someone told me that seven hugs a day can have a tremendous impact on your self-esteem and at the same time you are spreading hope. So what is there to lose? Each day I will record my experiences of who I hugged and their reactions. I will also write about how the experiences is moving me to be a better person.

Just War?

Recently in a history class I was part of, the discussion over justifiable actions during war became a heated debate. Ex-military members, who had fought in Iraq, and a few others students called for a relinquish of moral responsibility on the part of our soldiers when facing an enemy that seeks military advantage through gorilla warfare, which includes blending into the local community. It was proposed that the soldiers be able to use methods such as killing suspected members, including women and children, who supported the gorilla regime.

I could not help but sit in awe as people jumped on the bandwagon for such an idea. I felt sick to my stomach and asked myself why this was a proposed solution for dealing with enemies of the United States. During war it is most evident that the human nature is capable of sinking to the lowest levels, which put us in the category of beasts rather than supreme keepers of this world.

I can imagine that anyone having to experience the awful nature of war would come out with this mind set. The part that frightens me is that family members and friends of these soldiers are also slipping into this mindset. If there is a right response to this problem, that could return humans back to a peaceful state of mind, surely more violence is not the answer. If we stoop to the level of animals and lose our purpose as morally conscience beings we are no better than the people we call our enemies.

A powerful man once said “an eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” Might we consider that if we are determined to end violence, the correct response should be to show our enemies that we are fighting for a cause that speaks to all humanity and not just our own? To honor the lives lost is it right to take more? Instead, aren’t we called to sacrifice even more so that a true end to violence may be achieved? The man that I quoted earlier was Mohandas Gandhi, the leader of one of the most successful none-violent movements in history. The only bullet he knew was the one that killed him.

It is a tragedy that war exists and that people are effected in unimaginable ways. However, to lose sight of our moral ground in order to seek revenge would be an even greater tragedy.

One more year

I have had the most amazing three years at UIW. The thought of graduating from college had never crossed my mind until last year. I am the youngest and also the first in my family to accomplish this. The true value in this is that my experience has been life changing. I set out for college without love for anyone including myself. I could barely imagine a world outside of my own desires, and the notion of giving back to this world was not only non-existent, I could careless what happened to it. Today I stand with faith in something bigger than myself and I love the worst of people. My view of this world is one of hope and the lens I view it through has been purged of selfishness( to a great extent).

My most valuable asset in life is intangible and like many things it was gained through the guidance of those I have come to call family at UIW. Some of those people have moved on to bigger and better things, others still remain a crucial part of my life today. I can even imagine heading into my final year that more will be added. This thing I refer to is my faith.

Faith has challenged me to live a life without fear. I face that challenge every morning when I wake up. I allow all that has been to reside in my heart not as a burden but as a compass for the present. The future is not certain but I have faith that it is full of substance that will keep me longing to pursue all that is good and avoid those things that keep us shackled.

My faith has leaked into every aspect of my life. In areas that once brought strife and self destruction I have seen a miracle. My relationship with my family was horrible to say the least. I gave my parents many reasons to doubt my honesty. Sneaking out in the middle of the night to have fun with my friends, not helping out around the house, and not showing the respect they deserved as loving and caring parents.

Now that I'm older I really do appreciate the sacrifice they made for us. The lesson I took away from this is that we must love those around us while we have the chance. Even when they get on your nerves.

As I reflect on all of my experiences I am reminded of how blessed I am to be at the end of one of my life's most important journeys. This journey has set me in a direction with paths that offer a life to be happy about.

The Shack part 2

One of the hardest things I face is holding on to faith. It seems like we read a book like this or go on a retreat and really feel like we have found something solid to stand on. But, before you know it something sweeps in and puts us in a rut. I think this is just a fear that is a byproduct of our ability to imagine. The bad part about being able to imagine is that without wisdom the ability cripples us into picturing a unhappy future. Finding our faith and relationship with God is a process that has many ups and downs. I find it necessary that I build a trust with Jesus so that no matter what comes my way I can always remain hopeful for the future. After all we are all immortals and in time we will find eternal happiness. I see my life on earth as a shot must take, even though I know it is going to sting, it is for the best. If we try to avoid pain, the shot, we are only preventing the miracle of forgiveness from working in our lives. Because in the end it is the sting that makes the rest of our life so wonderful.

The Shack

This is my first post and I want to write something that is meaningful to me. Recently a friend suggested a book for me to read. She told me that it explained how God works in our world. Personally I have been going through a valley in my faith. I have been questioning what my faith really means to me and what I am supposed to do in this life. As a college student, over the past years I have learned much about the ongoing struggles that are being played out around the world. Millions are starving, sex trafficking is not limited to any one part of the world, corporations have put profit before mankind, a countless number go on each day not knowing if things are going to get better. The world is a dangerous place. With so many large problems, how can I do anything? This question has driven me to think, at times, that radical change needed to happen. After reading this book I was humbled to know that my purpose in this life is not to imagine the future as something I can create. Instead, I realize that the so called evils are not so much evil as they are part of a huge mess that only God can work out. I started to talk to God in a new way after reading this book. I no longer think about the future. It is the present that I strive to live in.