The Kry

Sometimes you just hear the words you to need to hear at exactly the right time. A couple weeks ago as I knelt to pray after communion, I heard exactly what I needed to hear: "Take My Hand" by The Kry. The words were beautiful. I knew them well, but it had been such a long time since I last heard them. There was nothing more I could have asked for at that moment. Thanks Linn.

"I know there are times
your dreams turn to dust
you wonder as you cry
why it has to hurt so much
give Me all your sadness
someday you will know the reason why
wih a child-like heart
simply put your hope in Me

Chorus:
Take My hand and walk where I lead
keep your eyes on Me alone
don't you say why were the old days' better
just because you're scared of the unknown
take My hand and walk

Don't live in the past
cause yesterday's gone
wishing memories would last
you're afraid to carry on
you don't know what's comin'
but you know the one who holds tomorrow
I will be your guide
take you through the night
if you keep your eyes on Me..."

Money on the Ground

A friend of mine told me an interesting metaphor a couple weeks ago. He said that love is a lot like finding money on the ground. You don't really look for it, but when you do find it you feel so thankful. When you actively look for money on the ground, you will probably end up with some pennies and maybe a pretty dime or two if you're lucky, both of which won't get you very far. But when you least expect it or even maybe care for it, you may just stumble upon something greater... something worth more than any monetary value that may come across your feet.

Edit:
Whether you pick it up or not is up to you. Perhaps someone lost what you may have found and is out there desperately searching to find it again. Or maybe you would rather bless the next soul that may come across whatever you found. Regardless, there was a reason why you found it at all, and it is ultimately your decision that will determine what happens next. We can all find hundred dollar bills on the ground but not all of us can make them last...

For The History Books

Standing in front of the steps of Sproul Hall amongst the vast multitude of youth as we watched the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, be sworn in and give his message of hope was both powerful and moving. It is amazing to see the union of both young and old finally come together and make steps toward change. The journey is going to be long and rigorous, but the forces of evil left the White House today. His story is inspiring, and I hope and pray that he continues to inspire and leads this nation towards the change and peace that not only this nation but this world needs.

Out of Commission

During my trip to Oregon, I saw this old, broken ship sitting at harbor that immediately caught my attention. Staring at the vessel reminded me of myself and also made me think about life in general too. The boat sits in harbor now and is broken, rusted, and almost forgotten. In the beginning, it served as a whaling boat for years. However, it eventually became a tug boat for the remainder of its years on the seas, until it finally came to that harbor to rest. The boat is like a reflection on life: In life, you are made for a certain purpose or intention, but sometimes that changes. Eventually, in the end, you have to come into harbor, like this boat, to finally rest until you are eventually weathered and forgotten. You might have occasional visitors, but as the years progress they will grow fewer. Although more and more visitors will be strangers who might not understand or know your story and even though less and less visitors may show up, you may perhaps spark inspiration in those few that do stop to look.

Even though you might be out of commission much like this boat, that does not mean you have to be forever chained to that harbor. No matter how broken, how rusted, or how impossible it may seem, there is a possibility to be rebuilt. But even if you do continue to remain there fighting the powers of mother nature and the hands of father time, I think the spark of inspiration or growth of ambition you might foster in, even if it is just one other person, is enough to rest in peace. I hope that when my ship does finally come in for good, I at least inspired one mind, touched one heart, and reached out to one soul. Then I will know this life, regardless of all the hardships and pains I might have endured, was worth living.

Flightless Birds

People say birds are one of the best representations of freedom. This association makes sense if you think about it. For example, the bald eagle has become symbolic of majestic power and American freedom. I guess that is why when you see birds that are unable to fly it is so sad, since they can't be in the sky free to roam and travel as they please. But what about birds that naturally can't fly like penguins, turkeys, chickens, ducks, flamingos, and even peacocks? The more I think about it, I believe that those flightless birds are proper metaphors for us humans. Some of us find ways to cope and excel with what we have like penguins, some of us are unfortunately helpless and sometimes eaten like turkeys, chickens, and ducks, but many of us are simply shrouded in our own self glorification as we surround ourselves with unnecessarily gaudy garb like flamingos and peacocks. In the end, none of these birds are free; they are still flightless birds forever chained to the ground. Likewise, we are both literally and figuratively chained to the ground as well. There are social standards, natural circumstances, and perhaps even self-inflicting flaws that chain us and keep us apart from the freedom and individuality that we claim to seek. However, that doesn't mean we can't be like that majestic bald eagle or like the illimitable hummingbird. Every bird was flightless once: you just have to be willing to give up all the preconceived notions and unnecessary baggage that chains you to the ground and take that precarious leap, no matter how high or low the branch. Maybe then we can finally take flight and really be free.

The Bounds of Reality

Ideas, thoughts, emotions, and dreams know no bounds, know no rules, and obey no laws. They exist in a place beyond reality, but we try to make sense of them or bring them into this world. Sometimes they can grow, but often times they are rejected. However, we can hold them in our own hearts and minds and hope for them to come into existence at another time. Sometimes it takes seconds, hours, days, or maybe even years for our efforts to even translate a slight replication or understanding of all the endless things we hold in our minds and hearts. We want that perfect line to that perfect poem, that perfect verse to that perfect song, or that perfect image for that perfect painting that manifested itself from that perfect idea, but more often than not we will find ourselves unable to produce that "perfect" thing that we so desperately want. Although we may chase the complete or somewhat bearable replication or understanding of the mind or heart, it is the process, the toil, the relentless efforts, and the failed attempts that makes that final or complete replication and understanding so rewarding. It is the journey from the mind, not the destination to the bounds of reality, that makes the successes so fulfilling.

Life in a Yurt

The past few days I spent in a "yurt" with two of my closest friends. I had no idea what a yurt was before this trip so don't feel stupid if you don't either, but it basically is a little hut. Anyways, the trip was so refreshing and much needed. It is nice to get away from all the distractions that clutter our lives today and just really have time to just take in the beauty of nature with good company and have some time for self reflection. It is so simple, but I think most of the time I forget to really just stop and take in all the beauty and blessings surrounding me. It is so easy to fall into those familiar distractions but being away from it all made me realize that I can easily make some steps at moving beyond those distractions without a road trip to the middle of nowhere.

However, the trip would not have been quite the same without the company I was with. I mean who else would just spontaneously go to Oregon with me? These guys mean a lot to me, and I am so glad that I can just spend time with these guys whenever I come back home. Even if we are in different places for school throughout the year, I know we can just pick off where we left off when we all are back. Talking, laughing, and just doing whatever is so natural, and that is something so priceless to me. I am so glad that I have them in my life and I could not have asked for anything better.

Before It's Too Late

I have been meaning to write this for quite some time, and I thought it would be appropriate now especially since it is the start of a new year. I know people always say that you have to learn to appreciate what you have before it is gone, but I think people always seem to forget that. Flowers are so much more meaningful and appreciated by a person that is alive rather than dead. It really shouldn’t take a loss or tragedy for us to realize that. And even though those important people in our lives probably already know that we care about them regardless if we tell them or not, I think it is important that we let them know just in case they don’t already or remind them that we do. Instead of wishing you had more time or wishing you had said more, just do it now. Because you can’t change yesterday and tomorrow is never promised, and you never know whether or not you will get another chance to do it otherwise.

So I just want to thank all those people in my life that have stuck it through with me thick and thin. I honestly can say I don’t know how I would even be here without you guys. I am so blessed to have such wonderful people that will be there whenever I need an ear to hear my troubles, whenever I need a helping hand when the weight of it all becomes a little to unbearable, whenever I need a second opinion when I become unsure of my own decisions, whenever I need words of encouragement to get me through the day, whenever I need a smile or a laugh during times of despair, and just whenever I don’t even need anything at all except someone to just be there. It really is an honor to know all of you, and I am sorry for all the times I have failed to be there for you. I promise to try and always be there for all of you whenever you need me like when I needed you.

The best of friends are the ones that are always there with an open mind and heart even through the various changes and circumstances that may occur in life. There might be times of disagreement, confrontation, and perhaps even separation but I hope that in the end there is resolution. I would never want to lose a good friend over anything, and I hope that even if we go our separate ways that the distance between us is never too far. They say nothing last forever, but I promise to always try and be a person with an open mind and heart and put any pride aside to make any wrongs right. Because losing any one of you is something that just can’t be replaced with any amount of money, possessions, or even other acquaintances I may meet.

Let this be a friendly reminder to take some time to really think about all those people you have in your own lives that you are grateful for. Make sure you thank them and do or say everything you need to or want to do or say to them before it's too late because you never know when you will have that opportunity again.

In a nutshell this is a thank you and that I hope you all know that I am so grateful. I can’t thank you guys enough for being here, and I promise to always try and be there for you too. May we always put our differences aside and let the good times roll on!