Taking Pictures (without a camera)

Some people just have to take pictures on their phone or camera, they want to capture something and save it for later. But I’ve never had that luxury before. You see, I’ve never had a phone that could take pictures, I’ve always wanted one, but recently I’ve begun to wonder if it’s better to not be able to take pictures. Because I’ve never been able to take a picture when I see something cool I have begun to figure out other ways to capture the moment. I’ve learned to “take pictures” mentally, to make memories. So today, I want to talk about making memories, taking pictures, but not like a photographer would, I don’t have a physical camera, but like a person living in the moment can. We all have an incredible capacity to remember things down to the smallest detail, but we often choose to store it in the memory of our technology instead. 

The problem is that we have technology with us constantly. We don’t go anywhere without our phones so it’s very easy to not be attached to the world. And when we pull out our camera to take a picture, that picture may come out clear, but when you look back on the moment and try to remember it, your memory will be fuzzy. The technologies surrounding us blur our focus and distort the images we see. Our phones divide us between two worlds, but we were only meant to live in one.  Now, whenever we see that perfect sunrise, or experience a moment of joy, it’s almost like we have to take a picture in order to prove it happened. It pulls us out of reality and forces us to rely on something else for our happiness. We are addicted to saving things for later instead of savoring them now. So in order to solve part of this addiction, we can make our own memories without our phones.

The process of making memories is all about finding ways to get your brain to store things away forever. But you can’t make a memory if you aren’t there, so step one to taking pictures is to be in the moment. Instead of being on Instagram and checking where someone else is, check out where you are. Look for the extraordinary in your situation. And once you find it, don’t pull out your phone. It will only pull you away from whatever is happening. Some things weren’t meant to be captured, somethings we just need to soak in. So once we’ve found the extraordinary things in our life that we want to remember, and when we don’t pull out our cameras, what should we do?

The second step in taking pictures is focus. Just like focusing the lens of a camera, your brain can focus on certain things that you want to remember. Once you’ve found the moment you want to “take a picture of” focus on every detail. The sights, the sounds, the smells the emotions you feel, the people around you. Those are things that an ordinary photo can’t capture, but your brain can. I still remember the first time I ever walked across a stage. It was four years ago but I was focused on every detail of it, mostly so that I didn’t trip and fall in front of everyone. And because I was so focused in that moment on everything around me, I can remember everything about it. When we focus, we remember every detail that cameras can’t capture.

Step three, associate. We all have things that bring back memories for us, right? The sight of the beach brings back childhood memories of playing in the sand, the smell of smoke brings back memories of campfires. We like to associate certain memories with objects or images, it’s a habit, but doing it purposefully helps us remember times more clearly. Associating memories with images or objects helps us hold on to them, it also helps a lot with step four: recall.

Recall is just remembering things we already know. When we take pictures mentally, we already have that information stored away..…..somewhere. Sometimes we don’t know exactly where though. Our brains are sometimes like squirrels who don’t know where they hid a nut. We aren’t all perfect at remembering things, but practice makes our brain stronger at it. When we do this, the possibilities are limitless.

We all have great potential to remember things if we follow this process. Our memory can store 2,500,000 Gigabytes, or 300 years-worth of TV. When we lay aside the problems and focus on the process, the potential is amazing. Since our phones have replaced our memories, we have begun to lose this art of taking pictures. But we should go back to it, live in the moment more fully and hold on to things for longer, simply by not pulling out your camera. 

I finally got a phone. Yes, a phone that can take pictures. You can't believe how excited I was. But when I look at all the people who are addicted to taking pictures, who always stare at the world through their screens, it makes me sad. It makes me resolved to never become that person. I want to be able to remember things clearly, I don't want to be dependent on the memory of my phone for all my favorite moments. So now when I'm tempted to pull my phone and open the camera, I think of all the memories I will miss if I do that. And instead I dwell in the moment, focus on the details, associate it with something, and later I can recall it consistently. That's how I take pictures without a camera, you should try it. 

How could we doubt?

About 700 years before Jesus' birth, a prophecy was recorded in Isaiah about a child who would be born of a virgin and who's name would be Immanuel. From Jeremiah, the people learned that He would be a descendant of David. In Micah, we are told that He would be born in Bethlehem. Throughout the Old Testament, prophesies were written about a Messiah who would save His people and rule wisely over them. The Jews believed that. They hoped in that. In the book of  Malachi, about 400 years before the birth of Christ, it was written that a messenger was being sent. And then there was silence. For about 400 years people waited for a messenger. Waited for a Messiah. Waited for prophesies to be fulfilled. And then came Someone who fulfilled every single prophecy about the birth of the Messiah and lived a perfect life and died a painful death just like Scripture said He would. How could we doubt that Jesus Christ is our Messiah?

In a small town that hadn't ever been mentioned in the Old Testament, Nazareth, an angel appeared to a 15 or 16 year old girl and told her not to be frightened. He told her that she would bear a Son and His name would be Jesus. This girl was naturally shocked and confused. Her name was Mary, and the Bible tells us that she had found favor with God. She was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph, so how could she have a child? She was surprised because this, to say the least, was not normal. So when she bore a son, there is absolutely no question that this child was the Son of God. If His father had been Joseph then Jesus would not have been God incarnate, He would have only been man. And if He was only man, then He could not save. And if He could not save, then our faith is a hoax. And if our faith is a hoax, then we are hopeless. But His father was God. Jesus was miraculously born of the virgin Mary. Fully God and fully man. Looking at all the strange and intricate details of His birth, how could we doubt Jesus was the Son of God?

A choir of angels heralded His birth, bringing good news of great joy to all people. Shepherds left their sheep and came to worship their Lord. After His birth, wise men brought gifts from afar. Jesus Christ humbled Himself to be born in a manger.  He was protected from the king who decreed that He be killed for simply being born. He was born to fulfill a promise and save us from ourselves. For the first time, humanity held God in our hands. The Sovereign king of all was born in the night in a small town to a young girl. Born because man had turned their back on God, but God hadn't forsaken man. The Giver of light entered the world like any other child, the savior the world was held in Mary's arms. God gave His own Son to save us. How could we doubt that we are loved?

Romans tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. It also tells us that the wages of sin is death. We know that God is just and therefore cannot tolerate sin. But we also know that He is loving and merciful. So He sent His only Son to die for our sins. Fully God, Jesus lived a perfect life doing God's work on earth. Fully man, Jesus struggled through temptations of the flesh but never once sinned and then He bore the punishment for our sin. 1st Timothy says, "For there is one mediator between God and man, that man Jesus Christ." He is the only mediator for us because He was the only Son of God and son of man. Because Jesus lived perfectly and then took our punishment on His shoulders, how could we doubt that our every sin has been forgiven?

2,000 years after His birth, families gather together, united because of Christ whether they acknowledge it or not. Every year, we celebrate the fact that we don't have to doubt. Christmas is about the certainty and confidence we have in Him. It's about the hope He gave us on that night in Bethlehem. It's about His unconditional love for us. Now we wait for His second coming, when He will wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be no more pain. We don't have to wait in sorrow and despair, rather we know that God fulfills His promises, loves His people, and will return to take us home. So we wait with joy and excitement. Since God sent His own Son to earth for us, how could we doubt that there is hope?

My favorite Christmas song: Who would have dreamed. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LbzC0pii-s

Wearing a mask

Run. Hide. Disguise. 

People don't like pain. We all know that. And we often believe that we cannot let others see our pain. We think they will abandon us, hurt us, or change the way they treat us. We fear that. So we run away from our pain because we don't want to deal with it and we don't want others to have to deal with it.

Mask. Obscure. Suppress.

We tell ourselves that we are loved because of the person we appear to be, not the person we truly are. When we are out in public or speaking to others we stay happy and bright. We wear a smile when we don't feel like it and keep our burdens to ourselves. When the pain starts to surface we suppress it. We build ourselves a castle out of emotional walls, and then those walls become our prison.

Lie. Cover. Bury.

Everyday we get up and we shoulder our pain like a backpack and we carry it with us everywhere we go. It gets heavy, but we don't let others see it. When people ask how we're doing we grin and say fine, how are you. We make friends and we let them into our lives, but we don't want them getting too close. The people who know us best have an idea that we are struggling, but everyone is struggling so they don't think anything of it.

This probably isn't you, but maybe it is.

I don't know you, I don't know your story, and I don't know if you are masking your pain. If you are, I don't know what it is. I'm not accusing you of anything and I'm not suggesting that you are hiding yourself from everyone. I don't know you. But I know me. And I know someone is out there somewhere who is believing they must do all those things: run, hide, disguise, mask, obscure, suppress, lie, cover, and bury their pain. If you do this then I cannot tell you to stop, that would be hypocritical of me. I can however tell you that you shouldn't shut everyone out because it hurts. People care about you and they won't run away if you let them get close. I know that pain hurts, but I've also discovered that you can't have joy without sorrow, you can't appreciate light without darkness, you don't know what freedom is until you have been chained. And if you let people in, if you be who you truly are and get rid of the mask then you will know true joy, light, and freedom. You will be happier and more real. You will appreciate that and people around you will appreciate that.

Like I said though, I don't know you so I can't assume anything about you and I am definitely not accusing you of doing this. I can only write in the hope that I can help someone somewhere escape their pain. I can only write about things I struggle with and am thinking about and want others to avoid. And if this isn't you, if you have no idea what I'm talking about when I mention wearing a mask, than that is great and I have a mission for you this holiday season. Behind every mask there is a face. Behind each face there is a story. Get to know someone's story. Break down the walls of the prison that they are keeping themselves in, ask them how they are doing and if you don't think the answer is honest, get to know them until you are confident that they aren't hiding their pain. They will thank you. Love has a powerful way of removing disguises and pain, so help someone out by getting to know who they truly are.

I do, however, want to add that not all masks are bad and some are even necessary. Almost everyone is wearing a mask at some point, we have to fill many different roles and they aren't always natural, so we fake it till we make it. Pretending to be happy sometimes is a necessity. But don't use that as an excuse to never reveal who you truly are. You should let people in from time to time.

Masks are a great thing to have in theatre, they make people become something they aren't for the sake of entertainment. When used every day though, the person becomes just an actor and the world becomes just an audience, watching but not truly seeing the person underneath. So the actor struggles alone and the world doesn't step in to help because they only see the act, not the struggling person. People dealing with pain would struggle less if they would accept help from the people put in their lives to help them. You need to let your walls down, drop your burden, and lower the mask that you use to disguise your pain. Unfortunately it would be hypocritical of me to tell you to stop wearing a mask and hiding your pain because I know how easy it is to hide. But I will tell you that you should open up and be honest with some people. Let others into your life and stop hiding, then you will know what it is to be joyful, light, and free.

But if you don't know what I'm talking about, if you have people who truly know you, and if you are open and honest with at least some people, then you can help spread joy. You can set people free by loving them and getting them to tell you their stories. Show them that they don't need to hide their pain. Because as much as we believe it's a necessity, we don't need to and we shouldn't wear a mask.

His masterpeice

God created the world and then created people in His image to do His work on earth.

You are loved. You are enough.

We sinned against Him and yet He sent His only Son to die for us.

You are loved. You are enough.

He knew you and designed you before the world began knowing exactly where you would be born and the struggles you would go through.

You are loved. You are enough.

He knows the plans He has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

You are loved. You are enough.

He put people in your life who love you and who you can love who will challenge you and inspire you.

You are loved. You are enough.

Every word you speak and every move you make is changing lives around you, you are changing the world in your own way.

You are loved. You are enough.

You are a star, you are amazing, you are inspirational, you are a friend and you are perfectly imperfect.

You are loved. You are enough.

You are not a burden. You are not needy. You are easy to love and friendship with you is exciting and fun.

You are loved. You are enough. 

Your mistakes don't define who you are, God does and you are His child. Everything in your life is there to make you even more awesome then you already are.

You are loved. You are enough.

No matter how difficult life is, God will never leave you or forsake you. You are His creation and He loves you. Never argue with that fact. Never minimize it. Never deny it.

You are loved. You are enough. 

When difficulty hits you from all sides and you are struggling, God is your refuge and your strength, a very present help in times of trouble.

You are loved. You are enough

The world needs you to be you, because you are real and genuine and you will change lives. Never hide who you are, don't let your mistakes mask the way you view yourself.

You are loved. You are enough.

People love being around you because you are kind, caring, and considerate. Love with everything you have and live life to its fullest.

You are loved. You are enough.

Don't compare yourself to others because you are unique and you are special. You could never live under anyone else's shadow because you shine brighter then a star and you are your own amazing person.

You are loved. You are enough.

God loved you enough to send His Son to die for you. God adopted you and calls you His and nothing will ever be able to separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You are loved. You are enough.

Jesus Christ, perfect and holy, set aside His glory to come to earth, was born in a humble manger, lived among sinful men, and died a painful death, and He did it for you.

You are loved. You are enough.

No good works and no mistakes could ever change how you are seen be God. You are His child. Your identity is in Him.

You are His masterpiece.

Now live like it. And never forget that you are loved and you are enough.

Fifteen things I learned

It was a good year. But mostly, it was a year of changes, new things, and learning life lessons. Fifteen is an interesting age that brings a lot of challenges, but if you stick with it, you'll make it through. Reflecting on this year I wanted to make a list of fifteen things I learned being fifteen, and I know that's a pretty generic thing to do on your birthday, but honestly if you could learn these things sooner than I did your life will be awesome.

#1. I love people
I'm an introvert, you guys know that, but I really used to never be around people. But I've come to realize that being around others teaches me so much and fills me with happiness. Some of my best moments are with other people. People are amazing and inspiring and loving. And I've come to rely on that. Now, I love being with people. I've made so many friends in the last year, and I can honestly say that they have impacted and changed my life in so many ways. They are encouraging and loving and supporting without even knowing that I need them to be that way. It's awesome. And I can never do for others what people have done for me, but I want to spend the rest of my life trying.

#2. I love to write
I've written more this year than ever before. And the more I write, the more I realize how much I love it. Words hold so much meaning, and to be able to put them in such a way that conveys the message you want to communicate, there's magic in that for me. It gives me joy to phrase things the right way, to pour my thoughts out and see a page fill up. For the rest of my life I never want to stop writing and sharing those words with others.

#3. About hope
I've learned so much about hope. If I had to pick out a theme for the fifteenth year of my life it would definitely be hope. Over and over it inserted itself into my life, I didn't even realize the trend until about a month ago looking back at all I had been doing. Through papers, speeches, blog posts, emails, and discussions, that word kept popping up telling me what it was and how desperately I needed it. Some of those things I wrote in a post on hope, some I will simply remember forever. Hope has been my theme.

#4. I never want to stop learning
I have been a schoolaholic for the last year (yes, that's now a word) Honestly I've done so much school work for high-school and college credits. I used to think that school was boring and unnecessary. But I've begun to realize that I love it. I never want to stop learning about stuff, I want to take college courses and read deep books and research difficult questions for the rest of my life.

#5. Breathing is a necessity
Life gets stressful. It becomes overwhelming. And it makes it difficult to breathe. Especially when you realize all the things you have to do in a very little amount of time. But when that happens and life gets busy, you have to breathe. I never appreciated how difficult or necessary it was to breathe in some situations until this year.


#6. Peace is a mindset
When I focus on all those things that stress me out or I take on too much responsibility then its almost impossible to experience peace. But if I have all that going on and I focus on the fact that God has control and His plans for me are to prosper me not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future, then I can have peace. God can give us peace that surpasses all understanding, it comes with a mindset of trusting His strength and His plans for our life.

#7. To deal with responsibility
I've always been afraid of growing older, simply because it means more responsibility, more things that could go wrong, so many ways that a single decision could mess up my life. But I've become better at handling big responsibilities. I've had to be responsible for kids that come into the gym, I have to be able to keep them safe and if they get hurt, its my fault. I've been responsible for driving the car and not hurting anyone. I've been responsible for meeting deadlines and getting good grades and most of the time I haven't failed. Dealing with responsibility takes practice, and I've had to practice it a lot this year.

#8. Chocolate is a lifesaver
Where would we be without chocolate? It reminds us life is still sweet even when it looks sour. I couldn't have made it through my 15th year without it.

#9. Some music isn't actually that bad
I used to never listen to music. Ever. But this last year I was introduced to some songs and some singers and I started listening to music more. Now, I actually enjoy it.

#10. Difficulty hits everyone
Everyone goes through trials and hard times. But it's very easy to forget that. It's easy to just focus on how I'm feeling, what I'm going through. As I've been getting to know a lot of people in different situations, I've come to realize that others need encouragement at times. I've begun to ask how people's day was and try to get an honest answer. Instead of just focusing on me, realizing that difficulty hits everyone has made me try to spread hope more often.

#11. One choice makes a difference
I read and heard of a lot of stories about people who just needed one person to talk to them, say hi to them, or smile at them, to lift their spirits and brighten their day. Looking at that, I began to realize that one choice really can make a difference on someone's day, week, or life. I wrote a post about that too because I think we need use our choices more wisely and impact people around us.

#12. People are watching
My parents always would tell me that people were watching my behavior, most often that was when I was misbehaving and they needed me to stop. So I grew up hearing that, but I never really believed it. Recently though people have begun saying that they have seen me and taken notice of me and some of the things I do. And to emphasize that in my life, I wrote about it a lot, because I need a constant reminder to be respectable, to be a role model. It's a kinda scary thought, but it's motivating too. People are watching me, and I want to be someone worth watching.

#13. To remember
Goodbyes are hard. Ending good times is painful. Missing a place and people and happiness is part of life. But we can keep those memories with us. I've begun to realize what really needs to be remembered, the little things that make me happy, the friends and the good times I've spent with them. We can't just take those things for granted, we have to hold on to them, value them, and remember them forever. I wrote a post about petrichor at a time when I was regretting that I hadn't remembered some times better. It's so important to remember, and that's one of the lessons I've learned in this last year.


#14. To let go
Some things we can't hold onto forever. I had to let go of the sport that meant the world to me. I had to let go of the dreams that came with it. I had to let go of the dreams of having lots of free time each day. I had to let go of memories of my past mistakes. I had to let go of grudges against people. While it's important to remember things, some things chain us to the past and won't let us move on. That's when we need to let go. And I had to learn that if I was going to continue some friendships I had to let go of grudges. If I was going to pursue new dreams, I had to let go of the old ones. If I wanted to make progress, I had to let go of the mistakes that kept me down. I learned to let go.


#15. It's the courage to continue that counts
The world can pelt us with difficulties, it can shower good times upon us, but through it all we must persevere. Pressure builds diamonds. There's a quote that says, "An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward, so when life is dragging you back with difficulties it means that it is going to launch you into something great. So just focus and aiming.” It takes courage to continue aiming. Courage to continue fighting through trials. Courage to breathe when the temptation is to panic. Courage to forgive when hate is easier. Courage to make the right choice and change lives. That courage is what matters. Not the success I've had in this last years. Not the failures that held me back. I learned the importance of courage. I had the courage to continue.


Now I'm sixteen. The journey isn't over. I have learned a lot, but there is so much more to learn. But I step into this new year trusting the plans God has for me and looking forward to what He will teach me. I want to make an impact this year, use every moment I have for good, and encourage people around me.

The problem with being ok

I'm sure you've been asked if you were "ok" at some point in the past. It seems to be our go to question whenever we see someone who is obviously not "ok". Anytime we see a problem we just ask if it's ok.

Many times when I am asked if I am ok, I am conflicted over how to answer. How do you answer that question? At one such time I was obviously not “ok” and this person realized that. So why did they even bother asking? Could I respond by saying “no, I am not ok”? Isn’t that selfish? Even if I had answered yes, I knew that this person was going to ask “what’s wrong?”, so why wasn’t that just the first question? Are any of us actually “ok”? What does that even mean?

Questions like that have pestered me for a while now. It's been difficult for me to understand why people ask “are you ok?” And I don't understand what the answer should be. So let's go through some answers to questions that I need answered, and maybe you'll relate at least a little to some of these thoughts.

Why do people bother asking "are you ok?"? They ask because they care. For some reason they want to know what's going on and if they can do anything to help. And that is a good thing, it's nice that people care, they have the right idea. But they/we also ask it because we are afraid. We don't want to ask "what's wrong?" for fear that nothing is wrong and then we look weird for asking. "Are you ok" is a safer question. Obviously, I see a problem with that. If we are asking because we care, shouldn't we ask the harder question? The question that may actually get an answer that tells us how we can help? Honestly, "are you ok?" is the wrong question. We should be asking “how can I help you?” or “what’s going on?” Not only is it the wrong question, it also carries the false assumption that being ok is a good thing.

If we respond to the question by saying, "yes", then the asker often shrugs and walks away, assuming nothing is wrong. But being "ok" IS wrong. We shouldn't live our lives in a stream of ok days. Rather, we should be joyful, grateful, and productive. We need to stop falling into a pattern of ok, we weren't made to just survive from day to day.

We were meant to be like trees planted by a stream of living water, they don't just survive and scrape by, they flourish. 

We all get asked "how are you?". Generally we respond along the lines of, "I'm ok, how are you?". If we say anything negative about how we are, then we get asked what's wrong.

Being "ok" has become normal. But it shouldn't be. If someone says they are ok, the asker should not be satisfied with that answer but rather curious as to why they are just ok. The asker should follow up by questioning why they aren't great, happy, or joyful. So the question "are you ok" is the wrong question and contains the false assumption that just being ok is a good thing.

But it's not just the question that is the problem, it's the normal response that is also flawed. It's difficult to know what to say to this question, so if we are in pain and don't want people to know, then we just respond with "I'm fine" and hope they will leave us alone. Doing this thwarts the attempt the asker made to show care. Whoever is asking wants an honest answer the majority of the time and by saying we're ok when we're not is communicating that we don't care about their attempt to care. It's shutting people out who want to help. That's hurtful to you and to the person who cares about you. 

So if that's the wrong answer, what should we say? We should be honest. If we're hurting and someone asks the flawed question "are you ok?" then give an honest answer. If you're just doing ok, then say yes. If you're doing amazingly well, tell them that. And if you aren't ok, tell them you're not ok and explain what's wrong. But I, like so many people, am hesitant to do that. I think we hesitate mainly because it seems selfish. Before answering, when someone asks me if I'm ok, I have always considered if it's a bad thing for me to say no. If I say I'm not ok, then I am afraid it will seem like I'm all about me, like I believe I deserve their attention and worry. And that's definitely not what I want to be seen as, so I'll just say yes. I think that's the mindset of many people who won't give an honest answer to this question. So in order to avoid seeming selfish, we hide our hurt. The problem there is that if someone asks about you, it's ok to talk about you. Obviously don't go on and on about yourself or exaggerate something just so you can talk about yourself, but be honest. If someone cares enough to ask about you, then probably they genuinely care so you should give a genuine answer. 

Generally when I get asked if I'm ok, I am conflicted over how to respond. Now don't get me wrong, I love the fact that someone cared about me enough to try to understand what was going on. But it's the wrong question and often receives the wrong answer. It gives the asker the opportunity to hide behind a "safe" question and the answerer an opportunity to hide behind a "safe" answer. But shouldn't we be honest with each other? If we care about people, shouldn't we be brave enough to show that we care? Don't ask if someone is ok, ask what's wrong or how can I help. Don't assume that because they say they're ok, they are actually doing well. And don't respond to this question by blowing it off and thwarting someone who cares. Don't be dishonest for fear of being selfish. 

BE GENUINE!!! 

If you care, genuinely care! If you're in pain, be genuinely honest about it! And please don't be ok with just being ok. We must not simply stumble through our days with our heads hung low, rather we must flourish like a tree planted by streams of living water. "Are you ok?" is the wrong question and being ok is the wrong lifestyle. Let's break away from the dialogue that disguises our feelings and instead, be open and caring toward other people.

Thanksgiving

Time for a stereotypical holiday post, you know, the one that tells you what it really means to be thankful this Thanksgiving holiday. And I wanted to write this to add my voice to the thousands that are trying to explain the true meaning of living thankfully (at least for one day). But I also wanted to do something a little differently, I don't want to list things I'm thankful for, I'm not going to ask you what you're thankful for, and I'm not going to tell you to be grateful. Those are all good things but I'll leave them to other people to tell you. Rather, I want to challenge you.

Thanksgiving is "an expression of gratitude". An expression is "making known your thoughts or feelings". So on Thanksgiving we should actually be making known our thoughts of gratitude, not just keeping them to ourselves. And if we take a moment to think of what we're really grateful for, what really makes a difference in our lives, it's people. The people surrounding us shape us into who we are and bless us in incredible ways. So instead of just being grateful this Thanksgiving day, I challenge you to go thank five people who have blessed you in the last year. Just five. Go tell a handful of people that you appreciate them and what they've done for you. This could be your parents, your siblings, your best friend, the person who cooked the meal, anyone who has benefitted you in some way. 

Saying "thank you" isn't that hard, but we often forget to do it. People appreciate being appreciated, and when we don't tell them thank you they can feel forgotten. There are so many people in our lives that make a difference, and we take many of them for granted. Instead of just having an attitude of gratefulness, or listing things your grateful for, go tell five people that you appreciate them. Let them know they're not forgotten. Inspire them to continue on. 

In the spirit of this challenge, I want to say thank you. Knowing that people will read what I write encourages me to keep writing. And I love writing. If you are reading this than you are inspiring me to continue doing what I love, and I'm very grateful for that. You are the reason I continue to write my thoughts down, organize them, and post them. So thank you. 

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and help other people enjoy it by making them feel appreciated! Take a moment to tell five people thank you, after all, that is what Thanksgiving is all about.

From Now On

How many of us make New Year's resolutions?

What about goals for the school year?

Have you ever kept working toward those goals for a substantial amount of time?

Trying to reach our goals is hard, you have to keep your feet on the ground and forge ahead through disappointments. We should set goals that make us a better person, and then reach those goals by forming habits. Consistently shaping ourselves into better people makes an impact on the lives of people around us. Being diligent and hardworking widens our sphere of influence and changes how people see us.

We all have dreams that one day we can change the world right? Everybody wants to make an impact and leave their mark on history. 

But changing the world starts with changing yourself. 

I loved the movie The Greatest Showman. One of the reasons I liked it so much was because of the truth it conveys, especially in the soundtrack. As P.T. Barnum sets out to change the world of entertainment, he comes to realize that he wasn't happy with the man he became, he saw that he needed to change himself rather then the world. This is conveyed in the song From Now On, when he sings,

 From now on

These eyes will not be blinded by the lights
From now on
What's waited till tomorrow starts tonight
Tonight

Let this promise in me start

Like an anthem in my heart

From now on

It's hard to change. But by setting and reaching for goals, we can change and change the world. We have to decide that from now on, we are going to change ourselves, set those goals and then reach them. It's time to live by Nike's motto, "Just do it" and get to work. Make goals, set your standards high for yourself, and then take action. Reach for something higher and make a difference in the world by making a difference in your life. And it starts today. Change begins with a resolution, progresses with an action, and it snowballs into impacting lives around you.

Identity in Christ

Ever wonder where your sunglasses are, start rifling through every place you know of and then find them on your head? Have you ever left the keys in the door and then scoured the whole house for them? How about setting your coffee down somewhere and spent forever longing and looking for it?

Problems like these happen rather frequently, and often the issue in these situations is looking in the wrong place for something that isn’t there. This problem doesn't stop with misplaced objects, but rather often occurs when looking for things infinitely more important, and even when searching for our identity, for who we are and what we are worth as people. We search everywhere, seeking that one moment when we have the recognition we want, only to find it slips away, changes, or isn’t as we thought, and once again we’re lost in the search for significance. In our crowded and competitive world, the search for who we are is becoming ever more urgent. And sometimes we look in the wrong place.

Adam Levine sums up our anxious thoughts on who and what has the power to define us when he asks in his song Locked Away, “If I showed you my flaws if I couldn’t be strong, tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?” the mindset here is the common one of believing that what you do, defines you. Thankfully, the answer to who we are is given to us in the Bible, whenever it speaks of God’s love and the sacrifice He made for us.

In the next few moments I would like to encourage to acknowledge your worth in Christ, and realize that past mistakes or doubts of the future don't define you.


Most people search for their identity in other people or things. The web is filled with quotes on self-esteem and how to make yourself loved. The general opinion is that you are what you do, and for many people their job, their sport or their greatest accomplishment is how they define themselves. This is a works based approach to self-worth, and it does not provide the reassurance we desperately need. When you are always trying to please people, you lose a sense of who you truly are. People around us will always demand more from us, society and even others close to us often demand perfection and scorn us when we can't meet that standard. The result is confusion, sadness, and depression. Rather then turning to people or actions for our worth, we should look to God.

But in order to understand who we are to God, let’s first look at who we are compared to God. Because to understand the magnitude of His love, we should look at the significance of His sacrifice for us. Isaiah 40:15 says, “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.” We are one drop, tiny and insignificant next to the nations of all time.

That is what we should be worth to God. The good news is that He doesn't see us like that.

Compared to God we are nothing, but in His eyes we are everything.

No one can stand when measured up to the perfection and infinite majesty of God, but thankfully, He does not look at us in comparison to Him, rather He looks at us as His perfect creation which can bring glory to Himself, forgiven by His Son. And despite of who we are as sinners we are still loved by Him. To remember how great, how deep the Father's love for us is, we only have to look at his hands, look at His side. Christ’s love for us is greater than the drops in the ocean. And we are His children. His creation. Which He made in His image.

That is our identity as Christians. That is the promise we must run to in the midst of our daily life, the hope we can cling to. He should be the one place we go to for answers, the way we define ourselves. Go anywhere else and your looking in the wrong place, searching for something that is not there. Nothing we do, no acts of charity, no helping the poor, no receiving awards, not even winning nationals, could ever achieve the love we already have.

Our identity is complete in Christ alone.

So if you lost everything you thought made you who you are, if you could no longer be strong in the way you are expected, what would you be worth? If it seems that life would be hopeless, then you are looking in the wrong place for your identity and your salvation. We must realize that only Christ defines us, and while compared to Him we are nothing, in His eyes we are everything.

The Economic Problem

I recently finished macroeconomics and microeconomics for school and I enjoyed it (I enjoyed finishing it more than actually doing it though). But I've been thinking a lot about why we have economics. In both the courses, there was a module that focused solely on the purpose behind the study, and that purpose surprised me. Economics only exist because of scarcity. If it weren't for scarcity there would be no reason for the study of the economy. It's interesting because even the richest people experience scarcity. So I've decided the problem is not having too little, it's always wanting more. Discontentment drives economics, humans can never be satisfied with what we have. The economic problem is not scarcity, it's discontentment. So let's look at what it means to be content with what we have. 

Contentment is not something we find, it's an attitude we must have. It doesn't depend on our circumstances, in fact, it's often in spite of them. When he wrote his letter to the Philippians, Paul had a lot of trials to contend with, his circumstances weren't great. And yet, much of the letter is about rejoicing and standing strong in the Lord. In Philippians 4:11 he writes, ".....for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." He had decided to be content with whatever he was going through, to not desire more than God had given him, that was his attitude about everything the world threw at him. The fact is, that God pours His blessings out on His people, and being discontent is simply being blind to those blessings. 

Unfortunately, we live in a world where everything is driven by discontentment, we just don't call it that. We call it scarcity. To quote my economics textbook, "Scarcity occurs when we have unlimited wants but limited resources. For each of us, our ability to satisfy our wants is limited by the time we have, the income we earn, and so on. These limits mean that everyone has unsatisfied wants." It goes on to point out something that I found rather sad, "Everyone faces scarcity. Even the richest Americans, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, have to face scarcity because they want more than what the available resources can provide to satisfy them." No matter how rich you are, there are always things you want. And sadly, for most of America, this is true, most people suffer strongly from discontentment. Our demand almost always exceeds the supply. Economics is the study of how we cope with that. But the truth is, we can't conquer scarcity if we are simply trying to satisfy wants. Economics cannot solve the problem it has been presented with. If we simply try to find satisfaction by getting more of the resources that make us happy, then we will be endlessly searching.

I want to point you to one of my favorite movies, The Greatest Showman. Think about what Barnum did. He went from nothing, to plenty, and then back to nothing. And in one of the last scenes of the movie, he's at his lowest. That's when he realized his discontentment had driven him to lose almost everything. Then he sings the he sings the song "From Now On". And the lyrics say, "For years and years, I chased their cheers, The crazy speed of always needing more." But once he realizes this, he makes a promise to change it. The song also says, "From now on, These eyes will not be blinded by the lights, From now on, What's waited till tomorrow starts tonight, Let this promise in me start, Like an anthem in my heart, From now on." He realized that being happy didn't mean chasing the cheers of an audience, or standing on a stage, or receiving awards, it didn't require politicians praising your name, it was only necessary that you are satisfied with what you have. It took him a long time to realize that. Let's not make that mistake. 

Honestly, I'm not just talking to you. This post, like many of them, addresses my struggles. Discontentment has been a problem for me. No matter how much I get, I tend to focus on what I don't have. Often I will be surrounded by my best friends, doing what I love, having fun, and still be focused on what awards I can earn. In reality, contentment doesn't come from walking across a stage, or receiving a medal, or a bunch of first places'. It's being happy where you are. And I want to focus on that, especially in the next two weeks. So I urge myself and you to decide that from now on, we won't be in a crazy speed of always needing more, our eyes won't be blinded by the lights. From now on let's try to say with Paul, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Let's prove that not everyone faces scarcity, let's show that you don't have to be a millionaire to be content. The economic problem is said to be scarcity. But the real problem is discontentment. We can conquer that in our own hearts by changing our attitude and not being blind to the blessings God gives us. That would solve the problem economics has never been able to.

Labels

Step out of your box

Ever heard someone say, "I can't help it, that's just the way I am"? Or something like, "I will never be good at this so I don't need to try"? Statements like those annoy me. A lot. They put people in a box and say that they will never move outside of it. We put labels on ourselves and on others that prevent growth and success. That always frustrates me. It's like creating a box and then deciding to never leave it, even if it's not a good thing to stay in it. The problem is that we hide behind labels, we use them as excuses to not do things.

We label ourselves as introvert or extrovert, intelligent or unintelligent, loud or quiet, and then we stay like that. Last week, I talked about personality types a little, and I think that's one way that we label people. Now, I don't think it's a bad thing to know your personality, I think it's a bad thing to use that as an excuse for something. If I see someone standing alone in a corner I can't just say, "I'm an introvert I don't need to go talk." That would be like seeing someone's house on fire and deciding that since I'm not a fireman I can't help at all. As an introvert, I should still be kind to other people even if that means that in need to go outside my box. We should use labels, like personality types, to help us know how to improve rather than being happy with our weakness's. Extroverts do this too, I've heard people say they can't help but be loud and shout when they should be quiet, simply because that's the way they are. And sure, not everybody does this, but I've found that way too many people do. It's hard not to. Making excuses comes natural to us and labels are our best excuse. But we don't just leave it at that. We don't stop with labelling ourselves, we label others.

When someone walks into a room, you have judged them almost immediately in some way and put a label on them. Business Insider reports that first impressions are made within seven seconds. We label people naturally, and the problem with that is we act based on those labels way too often. If we see an introvert we think they're happy to be left alone, when in reality, everyone wants friends. We look at an extrovert and think they have plenty of friends and wouldn't be interested in getting to know us. Seeing someone younger than us, we think they aren't "on our level" and so we avoid them. We see an adult and decide not to speak to them because we think we are beneath them. We tend to think that anyone really smart or a super good debater can't be nice, so we avoid getting to know them. And I don't think everyone does this, but I do think it all happens way too often. The problem mainly lies not just with labels, but with how we act due to the labels we put on others. We stick to our first impressions of people and never give them a second chance. 

So I ask that you use labels to show you where you need to improve, not as a shield to hide you from certain interactions. Do what you can to break out of any stereotype and conquer any labels that are put on you or that you put on others. Personality types are great for finding out about who we are, but all too frequently we let them put us in a box and we never try to change it. In fact, we use it as an excuse. Let's change that. 

Let us all become the person we should be, not the person we are labelled as. 

Introverts should step out of their box and introduce themselves to people. Extroverts should be more quiet and sensitive around people. When someone new walks in the room and you get your impression of them, give them a chance to change it. This takes courage. We become comfortable with who we are, change is hard. Stepping outside our box is risky. But we must have the courage to break out of the labels placed on us, and the courage to get to know people despite whatever label you've placed on them. With courage comes change. 

Being just the way we are is great, and we are unconditionally loved as ourselves, and yet, life is about direction not perfection. We are to become more like Christ every day. And labels can help us, as long as we are focused on stepping outside of them, on becoming better then we were yesterday. 

Don't make excuses. Have courage. Step outside the box.

Personality

I know I've told you guys a little about me in this post. But I thought it would be cool to talk a little more about my personality and what that means for me. Also, this may be important for a later post....so stay tuned.

 I've mentioned many times before that I'm an introvert, but there's parts of my personality that seem pretty cool.

I'm an INTP on the Myers-Briggs personality test. That means I'm Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Perceiving. Humanetrics.com says, "INTPs are pensive, analytical folks. They may venture so deeply into thought as to seem detached, and often actually are oblivious to the world around them." That sums me up pretty well. People think I'm not paying attention, when really I'm just thinking more deeply about what they're saying. INTP's also tend to see things as what they could be, we search for how things could be improved, we find the possibility for improvement in every thing. I'm shy about meeting new people, but I can be very self-confident around those who I know.

 Basically, I can seem pretty withdrawn around lot's of people and knowledge is one of the most important thigs to me. But there is another personality test called the Enneagram, which also gives an accurate description of my personality. I'm a type 5, an Investigator. Investigators have a need for knowledge and are introverted, curious, analytical, and insightful. That's me in a nutshell. The hard parts about being a 5 are feeling lost when I'm in a crowd, wanting to voice my opinions but not wanting to stand out, and people telling me I seem distant or arrogant because I struggle with connecting with people.

 The similarities between me and these analysis' of me are pretty amazing. Really, both types of personality tests lent the same result for me, I'm introverted and I love facts and knowledge. These tests can be very useful, they don't just show me what I like, they also pinpoint my weaknesses. They reveal what I need to work on. This is my personality, but I can change the bad parts. I'm not confined to remaining like this

For some people, personality tests aren't at all accurate. But it was pretty accurate for me so I enjoyed it. You're probably wondering what the takeaway is, why did I even bother to write this? I kinda just wanted to have fun, let y'all get to know me a little better. It's also going to be important in next week's post. I also want to point out that, whatever our personality, God designed us specially and beautifully. 1st Corinthians 15:10 says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am." And Psalm 139:14 tells us that we are, "Fearfully and wonderfully made." We are exactly what God meant us to be. It's pretty neat to look at all the personality types and the differences in the people that God made and look at ourselves and realize that we are His wonderful creation. And when we look at who we are, we must remember that this is what we are by the grace of God. 

You guys should take the tests and let me know what you are. If there's any INTP's or type 5's reading this I would really like to know. Here's the link for the Myers-Briggs test and to take the Enneagram you can go here. Take them, analyze if it's accurate at all, and let me know! 

Petrichor: After it rains

You know that smell when you walk outside right after it rains? The one that makes you feel like the world is as it should be? 

Well that smell has a name: Petrichor. 

Petrichor literally means the smell after it rains. And if you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, you need to spend more time outside. The beauty of the earth after it rains is astounding and you definitely need to see it. And smell it. It's called petrichor, but for me, that smell has a different word as well. Nostalgia. See, I lived in Maine for 8 years. And it rained quite a bit up there in the spring. Often, we would go outside when it rained and splash around in the puddles and just have fun. Then the sun would start to come out. A rainbow would appear. The mist would start rising off the ground. Our soaked clothes would begin to dry. 

And everything looked magical. 

I only remember a few of these moments, but I hope I never forget them. Those feelings of pure comfort and joy will certainly not be forgotten. Nostalgia is looking back on things with a feeling of fondness. We need to do more of that. Each and every one of us has come a long way. We've fought battles, we've learned lessons, we've persevered. And sometimes we need to remember that.

Steven Curtis Chapman is a Christian songwriter who wrote a song called "Remember to Remember", it stood out to me among because of the way he phrases our journey through life. The lyrics I love the most say,

"Well, I've been looking back over my shoulder
Retracing every step trying to unforget
And I see the mountaintops I've journeyed over
And I see the valleys deep where I crawled on my hands and knees
Pages and memories filled with joy and stained with tears
They call my name and if I listen, I can hear them saying
Remember the way He led you up to the top of the highest mountain
Remember the way He carried you through the deepest dark
Remember His promises for every step on the road ahead
Look where you've been and where you're going
And remember to remember"

We should remember what has gotten us this far, look back on the lessons we've learned and the good times we've had. From those memories, we can draw the strength to continue on. The Lord has been with us through tough times already, we must have faith that He will continue to be with us in the future. That's the good side of nostalgia.

But nostalgia isn't always a good thing. Sometimes feelings of fondness for the past can keep us from looking at the future. They can come upon us when we don't need them and hold us down. We have to learn to let go of certain things. At some point, we have to look past them and move on. There is a balance we all have to find between remembering things, and letting them go. Memories tie us to our past, sometimes they can be an anchor that steadies us, but sometimes they can be a chain that imprisons us. 

Everything we have done has helped create who we are, so we must, from time to time, remember those things. But at the same time we must not be weighed down by them. 

For me, those nostalgic memories come flooding back when it rains. Now, every time I smell petrichor, it takes me back to that magical time in the rain in Maine. The times when I was totally carefree. Nostalgia can be a bad thing, it can keep us tied to the past and prevent us from moving forward. It can conjure up feelings of sadness at a time when we should be happy. But it can also keep us from forgetting past blessings. It can help us keep pushing forward to achieve similar memories. It can show us the magic that God places in our lives. 

And that is what I feel when it rains. I am transported to another time and place. Those memories surface whenever I smell petrichor, the beautiful scent of the rain drying up from the earth. So step outside after it rains and make your own memories, and in the future always remember to remember. 

Unnoticed is ok

Some people stand out. You know, the kind of people where you walk into a room and immediately notice them. The people who seem to be everywhere and meet everyone.

And then some of us aren't like that. Some people just aren't noticed that much, or at least feel that way. These people with quiet spirits and subdued speech just don't seem to get much attention. Most of those people are introverts, who watch the world without interjection. And I'm sure at some point, whether introvert or extrovert, you have felt this way as well. Overlooked by society, left out of the popular circles, unknown by the "cool kids". And it can feel pretty tough to be unnoticed. In fact, some people make it their goal to become liked simply so they don't have to deal with the pain of being unnoticed.

 That's wrong.

I believe that being unnoticed is ok, even good. There's a few reasons for that. 

Being in the background means less pressure. Honestly, if no one really pays much attention to you then you can be absorbed in your own thoughts, or caught up in a book, and no one even realizes you really aren't paying attention. Going unnoticed gives you freedom to enjoy yourself without being judged as much as the popular kids.

 I think that if you are unnoticed then you know what it feels like, so you notice. Because you aren't seen, you can spend more time seeing. When you're unnoticed you relate better to people who also feel left out, you can impact their lives. Those who are less popular are in a good place to serve others. In fact, people who serve others should be unnoticed. In fact, people who serve others should go unnoticed. Mathew 6:3-4 says, "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." Our giving should always be in secret, so going unnoticed is ok.

But I know, feeling overlooked can hurt. Standing in a crowded room watching everyone talk and laugh is hard, it can make you feel unloved. Sitting alone in a row of chairs can make you think you are forgotten. And at some point, everyone has felt that pain. Everyone addresses it in a different way, some people seek popularity, others embrace the loneliness. But I would suggest that if you feel like you are unnoticed, you should use it to serve others. You are put in the place you are in for a reason. You were made for a purpose only you can fulfill. If you are unnoticed by everyone, then there is a good reason for it. If you look at it in the wrong light and view it as painful and pitiful then that's what it will be. But if you see it as an opportunity.....the possibilities are endless. 

Maye you're not one of these people, maybe you're a popular person and cant relate to the people who blend in to the background. If so, then here's a quick word of advice for you: Make A Difference. You also have a platform, people are watching you to see what is "cool", use that to shine a light into people's day. Notice the people who go unnoticed and remind them that they are special too. 

Some people are just overlooked by society, that's ok. Don't see it as a problem, use it as a solution. No matter where you are, who you are, or how popular you are, you are where you are to do something only you can do. So, do it. I know what it feels like to be unnoticed, I know that others feel the same way. And I know that unnoticed is ok.