Be Careful To Not Judge

I just read Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, and it struck me about how different we look at things based on the results of the action.

I thought of it because, on the surface, trying to climb Mt. Everest is, in a word, nuts. At 29,028 feet, it is the highest mountain in the world. If you make it to the top (or really, anywhere on the mountain), you will be battered with high winds and cold temps. The threat of frostbite, or altitude sickness, or any of a number of other things that you wouldn't want happening to you are pretty high. (They said in the book that if a person was taken from sea level to the top of Mt. Everest, they would be unconscious within a few minutes because they couldn't breathe, and a few minutes after that, they would be dead.

If you are planning on climbing Mt. Everest, you better be ready to pony up tens of thousands of dollars (for the permit to hike it) and block off a couple of months of your time (to get to the mountain and especially to get acclimated to the altitude). Oh, and even if you do everything right, if there is a storm at the top on the day you are trying to reach the summit, you will likely either not actually be able to make it, or you will die. If you do make it safely, you will not enjoy it. It will be a miserable time getting up and experiencing the conditions.

Now, picture a person that is not all that experienced in climbing, but is a go-getter and is able to afford the time and money that it takes to hike Everest. If that person dies while climbing, people around them will likely wonder what they were thinking. If they make it, they will be lauded for their toughness and determination. In reality, the difference between these two outcomes is often luck or chance. And yet we would likely look at the people differently.

In the same way, we need to be careful about judging people in all walks of life. Often, the reason they are where they are is because of some bad luck, or chance. This seems to be true all the time in how people view homeless people - they might think them simply bums that are afraid of hard work. In reality, for many homeless people there is a bad set of circumstances that led them to where they are. In other cases, it might seem as if the people almost never had a chance.

We can't know the circumstances of how people got to where they are and the people they have become. Because of this (among other things) we should strive not to judge these people, but to understand and help them.

Scripture Sunday: Matthew 5:14

Every Sunday on this site I will take some time to look at a passage from the Bible that I like and think is great... though they could obviously be presented by themselves without further mention, I will throw my two cents in on what the verse(s) mean to me.

Today we look at something that comes right after the Beatitudes in Matthew's Gospel, when Jesus is still preaching to the people.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14)

I see this verse as a great inspiration to live out our faith at all times, and to have the light of Christ shine in us and through us at all times.

This verse says that we must use our talents and help and serve others. For many people, they see faith as a private thing, and don't like to discuss it all with anybody else. But Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world, and that we cannot be hidden. In short, if we believe that the Gospel is true (and if you don't, then you shouldn't be Christian), then we cannot keep that to ourselves. We should want to share it with others.

Of course, this doesn't mean that we need to shove religion in other people's face. Our goal is to share our faith and the joy we receive from it, and that in-your-face style is not a very effective method of doing that. But we must show our faith through our actions, and we must be open to talking about it if the situation arises.

We are the light of the world. Just as a city set on a mountain cannot be hidden, we cannot hide that light within ourselves from others.

Destroy Your Enemies

The title of this post is obviously a bit misleading from what most people would think "destroying your enemies" would mean, but when I hear the phrase I like to think of the Abraham Lincoln quote:

"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?"

The quickest way to like somebody is to get to know them. Everybody has positive things about them, and everybody has something to offer. If we focused on the positive instead of the negative of people, then we would have no enemies. If you don't like somebody, get to know them better.

Often we make a hasty judgment about a person, and then it can be difficult to change our first opinion of them. At least this is the case for me. Sometimes it seems like within 30 seconds of meeting somebody (sometimes even before I even hear them speak!) I have made a judgment about a person, and it may be tough for them to change my opinion of them. This is not their fault, it is mine. This is not a shortcoming of theirs, it is a shortcoming for me.

I am reminded of a story I read about Mother Teresa. In her personal writings, she talked about a fellow sister with whom she didn't personally like all that much, and with whom she did not feel much of a connection. However, when asked about their relationship, that sister said that they were very good friends. Such was the depth of Mother Teresa's love for those around us.

Even if we do not have any "enemies," everybody has those people in their lives with whom they don't really get along with well, who they don't like all that much, and whose personalities do not click well. Now, with how many of them would the other person think you are close friends? For me, the answer is zero.

Destroying your enemies and making them friends does not mean everyone that you "hate"... it means all of those people in our life who we have a hard time making a connection with or loving. Those are the people we should strive the most to love.

John Wooden's Three Rules

A couple of weeks ago, I posted an article which contained a video of John Wooden speaking about his definition of true success. In the same talk, he also said he had three rules that he practically almost always followed and gave to his players and students. They were:

1. Never be late
2. No profanity
3. Never criticize a teammate

Certainly, whether you are looking at these rules from sports or in life, the practical application is there. If you follow these rules, you will likely be more successful, more liked, and more respected than if you do not.

Being on time, often, is a matter of respect. By not being late, you are respecting that other people have things to do and places to be, and they do not like waiting for you because you are running late. In life, there are few quicker ways to lose respect than being late.

Never criticizing is another issue of respect and teaching. There is no good that will come out of criticizing someone else. It is not constructive, and often the person on the receiving end of it is not actually getting anything out of what you are telling them, they are upset about being negatively chewed out.

This is not a comprehensive list of ways to live your life, but it is certainly a start. If you follow these rules, you will be treating others with respect, and in turn they will treat you the same.

Scrubs "My Old Lady" Ending

I am a fan of Scrubs, and for my money the best episode of the series came in the first season, called "My Old Lady."



One thing the episodes talks about is always learning from your experiences, and from taking time for yourself to understand your dreams, goals, and life. It is about taking chances and making decisions. It is about getting to know people and trying to understand them.

This is the reason why I believe it is the best episode of Scrubs.

Give Me Your Eyes

One of my favorite Christian songs is by Brandon Heath, titled "Give Me Your Eyes." In the song, Heath talks about trying to see others and the world as God would see them.

"Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so i can see
Everything that i keep missing
Give me your love for humanity"

What would we see if we could see with the eyes of God? Instead of seeing someone that annoys us, we see someone that we need to get to know better. Instead of seeing a beggar, we would see someone desperate for love and attention. And so on, countless examples could be given.

Instead, we usually see them through the eyes of our self-serving selves. People come into and out of our life every day, going different places and doing things, and we barely take notice. We don't try to think of their needs and the ways that we can love them and make the world a better place. Indeed, we don't think about them at all.

But how much different would we, would the world be if we make a concerted effort always to see each other through the eyes of God? To reach out and try to help people, and understand them and what they are looking for in life. We would learn empathy and compassion, and grow in all of the virtues that come from serving others.

Lord, give me Your eyes.

Scripture Sunday: Psalm 19: 8

Every Sunday on this site I will take some time to look at a passage from the Bible that I like and think is great... though they could obviously be presented by themselves without further mention, I will throw my two cents in on what the verse(s) mean to me.

Today we look at a refreshing and reassuring Bible verse from the Book of Psalms. It is from Psalm 19:

"The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the Lord if trustworthy, bringing wisdom to the simple." (Psalm 19:8)

Here we know that the Lord will never betray us, He will not make a mistake that hurts us. His law is perfect, and if we let it, it will refresh our lives. If we have the right attitude about His teachings, it will enrich us, not bring us down or make us look at things as a burden.

We know also that we can trust the Lord and His teachings, as well as the things He has put in our hearts. No matter how simple we are, how common we think we are, if we are open to the Word of God, it will bring wisdom and hope into our lives.

Let us keep this verse in mind and allow the Lord to refresh our lives, our souls, and our minds.

There Is No Progress Without Change

There is a quote that says something along the lines of madness being doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Or another, similar sentiment was expressed to my junior high class, "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always be what you've always been."

Both points are saying the same thing as the title of this post... there is no progress without change. If you want your life to change, or you want to improve some area of your life, chances are you are going to have to do something different.

Many of us would like to magically be better at some things, whether it is personality traits (we would like to be more giving, more caring, more patient, etc) or skills (such as cooking, or being organized and clean). But we aren't willing to actually taking any steps towards making that happen. We tell ourselves that "next time we will be better." But, if you don't make any type of change, next time will not be better.

If we want to improve some area of our life, we have to consciously work towards making that a realistic possibility. If we don't, if we just continue to hope that it gets better, we are going to be hoping for a long time.

The Story of Joe Delaney

Joe Delaney was an NFL running back in the 1980s, playing two seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs (including winning the Rookie of the Year award. But that is not why he is so well remembered.

On June 29, 1983, Delaney died while trying to rescue three kids from drowning in a water hole in Monroe, Louisiana. He didn't know how to swim.

To say that Delaney's actions are a great example and role model would be an understatement. When someone else was in trouble, he didn't hesitate to help, even if he didn't exactly know how. He put his life on the line without hesitation to try and help others who were in trouble.

How often do we find ourselves in situations where somebody we know needs help, but we are not sure how to help them? For many people, the response then is to try and push the responsibility off to someone else, and hope that someone else can help them. But we need to take the lesson of Joe Delaney, and jump in with whatever help we can provide. It may not be perfect, but some help is better than no help.

I will end with a quote from Rick Reilly's article on Joe Delaney, which is very much worth a read (and also short):

Anyway, the point is, next time you're reading the sports section and you're about half-sick of DUIs and beaten wives, put it down for a second and remember Joe Delaney, who, in that splinter of a moment, when a hero was needed, didn't stop to ask why.

Little Acts of Kindness Matter

I watched a video of a speech by a volunteer firefighter, who told of a couple key lessons he learned from going into a burning building.



One thing he learned was that you should never wait to make a difference in someone's life. There is no need to wait to give until you can "afford" to... if you are waiting for the perfect time, it will never come. Give what you can, it will be enough.

The other important message is that little acts of kindness really do matter. We may think that when we do something little to help another person that it is not actually helping, but that couldn't be further from the case. A little act of kindness can go a long way.

As the saying goes and as we know is true, kindness is contagious. When you perform a kind act or send a smile someone's way, they are more likely to do the same for someone else. They will be put in a better mood, and they will put others in a better mood because of it.

The time is always right to help out another person, whether it is with a big act or a small act.

Steve Jobs Commencement Speech

I shared this video once upon a time, but with graduations happening around the country within these couple of weeks, I thought it would be appropriate to share the best commencement speech I have ever heard.



Best of luck to those moving on to their next stage in life... it is scary, but pretty darn rewarding too!

Scripture Sunday: Mark 4: 40

Every Sunday on this site I will take some time to look at a passage from the Bible that I like and think is great... though they could obviously be presented by themselves without further mention, I will throw my two cents in on what the verse(s) mean to me.

Today is a story of Jesus calming a storm at sea, and the fear of the Apostles of the storm before Jesus calms it. He says to them,

"Then he asked them, 'Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?'" (Mark 4:40)

From the first time I contemplated this verse, I have thought it could apply to all of us today in all types of situations. In the Bible story, the Apostles are scared because it is storming. Even though Jesus is right there with them, they do not have the faith that He will provide and keep them safe. Of course, despite their doubt, Jesus does calm the storm and keeps them safe.

In the same way, there are many situations where we are scared and do not have faith that Jesus will provide and keep us safe. There are many times where we face doubt and uncertainty, and our first instinct is not the trust the Lord. And yet, despite our doubt, the Lord is always there for us.

When we doubt the Lord and have trouble trusting, the Lord asks us, "Why are you terrified? Do you not have faith?" For if we had true faith and confidence in the Lord, there would never be time for alarm or doubt.

John Wooden on True Success

The other day I came across this talk by John Wooden on what he sees as true success... it is a great video of the inspiring and wise old coach, and I would heartily recommend it to anyone.



In the video, Wooden gives his definition of success. He says that success is:

"Peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you're capable."

Notice that his definition of success has nothing to do with achieving more fame or money than another person, a point which he makes in the talk. Instead, it is concerned with doing the best that you are capable of, and being satisfied with yourself and the life that you are living.

People see success as being in competition with other people, but Wooden says, "Never try to be better than anyone else." Rather, be the best you that you can be. At the end of the day, you need to be able to look yourself in the mirror and be satisfied, and that will not happen over the long-term if you are reaching for more fame, money, or popularity than other people. Those goals are fleeting, and are concerned with pride, not the true sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from real growth as a person.

What is your definition of success? You need to evaluate that first, because that is what you will judge yourself on. If you have a warped sense of what being successful means, chances are you will be focused on the wrong things, and this will severely stunt your growth as a person.

Wooden had it right with his definition of success. True success is becoming the best person that you are capable of becoming. It has nothing to do with so many of the earthly things that we usually judge success on. If we truly are able to embrace this definition of success and live our life based on it, how much happier we would be.

No Margin of Error

For everyone, there are people that we might not get along with, or simply might not enjoy their company. Sometimes we might not really care about making them a better person, or acting nicely towards them. There are people we might see as lost causes, or as being beyond redemption.

However, in the eyes of Jesus, there is nobody that matches that description. A reflection I once read said:

"There is no margin of error that's acceptable to Him, no percentage of lives that don't matter. He makes an astonishing claim: It's not God's will that even one soul be lost. Everyone counts. Everyone. So the next time it seems expedient to write off somebody, or some group, as not worth our time, resources, and compassion, remember the percentage that interests Jesus when it comes to salvation: 100%."

I don't think anyone would read this and be shocked by what it says, but I doubt there are a lot of us that are really living this out. We don't go the extra mile for those we don't care as much about, and generally are only interested in them so far as we can get something from them.

How different the world and people would be if they saw each soul and each person as a unique person created by God to be loved and known. If we treated everyone with the respect that we would treat those we most admire.

How do we treat others?

How do you receive information?

When we think about communication, we usually think about the ways in which we share information... but what about the reverse? How do we receive information?

This is more, I think, than simply being a good listener or being a bad listener. It has to do with body language, which can have such a large effect on the person sharing the information.

We discussed this during marriage preparation... sometimes another person is going to have to share bad news, or disappointments, or ways in which they have failed. If they don't share these things, then it is not really much of a deep friendship. However, whether they share or not share might be largely dependent on how well you receive information.

It means that you have to make the other person feel comfortable, and that you are interested in hearing what they have to say and doing what you can to help them, rather than judging them if their information is not happy. If you are able to do this, then you will both be more comfortable with each other, and your friendship (or, in the case of marriage) or love will grow.

The Comings of Christ

When we think about the coming of Christ, we think about his first coming, being born in Bethlahem, and the Final Judgment, but there are other, hidden, important comings of Jesus.

"St. Bernard of Clairvaux spoke of three 'comings' of Christ: as the child of Bethlahem and the final Lord of history, as well as the quiet daily arrivals of grace in which we recognize the face of Jesus."

We must be constantly alert and aware of the comings of Jesus in our everyday lives, whether it is through things like the friendship of others, the beauty of the earth, the fulfillment of a goal, or any of the number of other things that could help lead us closer to Christ.

Being aware of these comings of Christ can help us recognize the way that He works in our lives, which helps us to grow in virtue and appreciate the gifts and blessings and graces that we receive on an everyday basis.

This can also help us to do as Jesus would do, and to live our lives like He did, treating everyone we meet with love and respect. When we are aware of the arrivals of grace that Jesus brings to us, we can't help but grow in virtue as we know that Jesus is with us always, helping us and supporting us.

How has Jesus come to you today?

Scripture Sunday: James 1: 2-4

Every Sunday on this site I will take some time to look at a passage from the Bible that I like and think is great... though they could obviously be presented by themselves without further mention, I will throw my two cents in on what the verse(s) mean to me.

Today we look at one of my favorite and one of the most comforting passages in the Bible, in my opinion, and it comes from the start of James.

"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1: 2-4)

Through this passage James tells us not to despair or get down when we go through various trials in life (as we all will), because if we let it, it will simply be a test of our faith that will produce perseverance, and allow our faith to grow stronger.

Often there is no real growth unless we go through some type of hardship and struggle to get there. This will allow us to see what we are truly made of, and the amazing things we capable of and able to endure. However, we will only be able to grow properly from it if we have the right attitude, which is why James says to let our perseverance be perfect. If we take the lessons from the hardship, our faith will strengthen and we will become better people.

This passage has been a great help for me in times of difficulty, and has given me the courage and strength to move forward and try to become a better person because of the difficulty. I hope it can do the same for you!

Sarah Kay: "If I Should Have A Daughter..."

Great speech by Sarah Kay, founder of Project VOICE... she is a great and exciting speaker. I really enjoyed this speech! Very inspirational and powerful. It is 18 minutes long, but time goes quick... I wish it had been longer.

"You will put the star in starting over and over, and no matter how many land mines erupt in a minute, be sure your mind lands on the beauty of this funny place called life."

100 Reasons To Love Spring

Spring is upon us. Temps are warming up, outdoor activities are increasing, and we have officially been in the season of spring for a few weeks now.

Spring might be my favorite season of them all.... How do I love spring? Let me count the ways...

1) You can once again hear the birds chirping outside.
2) Apples are good all the time, but there is something about eating an apple outside in the sun that is especially refreshing. This is possible once again in the spring.
3) The baseball season begins...
4) It is lighter earlier and later in the day, meaning more time to play outside and enjoy the natural light.
5) Hearing the sound of the rain outside as you are trying to fall asleep.
6) The flowers have begun to bloom...
7) Great temperatures for things like running, hiking and biking outside... not too hot, but warm enough that you will be comfortable.
8) The beginning of barbecues, which means the smell of the barbecue.
9) Winter meltoff means you can see more flowing water and (better yet) waterfalls.
10) The excitement and anticipation that spring brings... there is the thought and hope of new life and of summer adventures.
11) The NCAA Tournament finishes up in spring... best sporting event of the year!
12) The smell of the outside world as things are starting to grow.
13) When in school, there was always spring break! Which meant different things to different people, but for me it meant the Pay It Forward Tour, which means going on a bus across the country with other students doing service projects. I couldn't recommend that highly enough!
14) Things start to turn green outside, and green is the best color ever!
15) The crack of a wooden bat on a baseball diamond and the snap of a baseball as it hits the glove.
16) When you wake up to leave in the morning to go to work or see the sunrise, it is actually an enjoyable temperature out.
17) Going outside on the deck and reading a book in the sunlight. No better way to read!
18) How you can even handle the occasional cold days, because you know that the warmth of the rest of spring and summer is coming.
19) Rolling down the windows in the car and letting your hair blow in the wind.
20) The Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C.
21) Going for a hike in the mountains and still seeing snow-capped peaks in the distance.
22) Shorts weather!
23) Wearing a baseball cap outside instead of stocking cap.
24) Planting flowers and a garden.
25) Opening the windows in the house and smelling the freshness.
26) Being out on a baseball diamond chewing sunflower seeds.
27) Going for a walk.
28) Finally being able to leave the windows open at night to hear the sounds of the world.
29) Seeing the birds flying across the sky and in the trees.
30) There is still a variance in the weather... some days will be chilly (but not too cold), and some days will be warm (but not too hot). But all of the unpredictably is still in a comfortable range.
31) Hiking to a lake and actually see the lake, not just the ice covering (though ice is cool too...)
31) The bugs haven't had time yet to make themselves comfortable all over your house.
32) The more sunlight will make you a happier, more vibrant person, especially if it has been a long and dark winter.
33) Don't need tennis shoes or boots if you don't want them, you can go outside in just your sandals.
34) Finally you can get thunderstorms again and enjoy the pouring rain, the awe of lightning, and the boom of thunder.
35) When you get off of work, it is actually still light outside!
36) Getting out and playing golf and tennis, if those are your sports.
37) Depending on where you live... since spring is when people start taking more vacations, you have a chance of being visited by friends and relatives.
38) No more days of wearing winter coats... at least until next year.
39) Instead of just watching basketball on TV, you can get outside and play it!
40) Longer days of sunlight mean more time to enjoy your favorite activities outside.
41) 0-0 records for everyone in the MLB. "Hope springs eternal..."
42) "Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." - Doug Larson
43) Sitting outside, drinking sweet tea, and enjoying the weather.
44) The start of softball season.
45) Simply the anticipation of summer puts people in a happier mood.
46) Knowing that the first day you can reasonable wear shorts (and even if you can't really do it reasonably), you will... just because that will make it feel more like spring!
47) Going to the park and tossing a football or frisbee around.
48) Being able to go to playground (especially the swings).
49) Just after the sun goes down, when it is still light enough to see, and the air is crisp and refreshing on a spring evening.
50) No more days of slick driving conditions.
51) Hearing the shouts of kids as they play the first soccer games and practices of the season.
52) How everything outside and even the clothes that people wear are brighter.
53) The celebration of Easter every spring, a time to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus!
54) The greater likelihood of seeing wildlife out and about (depending on where you live).
55) Being able to go for a bike ride and feel the wind blowing in your face.
56) Being able to play volleyball in the sand.
57) Going to the park and just walking around or messing around, having fun and getting the fresh air.
58) Opening the windows or shades in the morning to get natural light instead of turning a light on.
59) It actually sounds good to go out and get some ice cream.
60) "Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day." - W. Earl Hall
61) The smell of rain, either before or after the rain.
62) Taking pictures outside, capturing the beauty of the Earth.
63) Seeing people out going for runs, inspiring you to want to do the same.
64) The refreshing taste of water when you are out doing something in the sun.
65) It is the start of being able to go for a swim outside (and not freeze too much).
66) Being able to plant a garden or flowers.
67) Playing baseball - whether it is just playing catch, taking batting practice, or shagging fly balls in the outfield.
68) Being able to wear flip flops outside, giving your feet some needed fresh air.
69) Seeing a butterfly perched on a tree branch right before it takes off in flight.
70) "If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom." - Terri Guillemets
71) How you love a rainy day because you know the Earth needs it and it provides a nice atmosphere to enjoy the indoors.
72) How much easier it is to get exercise when you can go outside and do it instead of going to dreary inside of the gym.
73) If you have to go to work early in the morning, it will actually get light on your drive, waking you up for the day and inspiring you to get better work done.
74) Laying in the grass and watching the stars.
75) The start of camping season, getting out and enjoying the outdoors and embracing a more rugged way of life (if only for a night).
76) Planning vacations, knowing that you can plan a whole day doing stuff outside, and you won't get too cold.
77) Seeng wildflowers when you are out in the wilderness.
78) If you are a paper deliverer, you can walk or bike from house to house instead of having to drive from house to house!
79) The sound of crickets at night (as long as they are not in your house).
80) "[Spring is] when life's alive in everything." = Christina Rossetti
81) Seeing leaves back on the trees as they spring to life.
82) Pickup basketball games... outside.
83) If you are near the mountains, you can still enjoy the majesty of the snow-covered peaks in the distance, only without being in the cold yourself.
84) Everyone starts to get green grass, rather than brown, dead grass.
85) As long as you are not walking in a high traffic area (in which case I do not recommend this), you can go for a walk and read a book... at the same time!
86) Going for a long bike ride through the neighborhoods... nowhere to go or be, just seeing where the road takes you.
87) The NBA playoffs... when all the best athletes in the world show up to play.
88) Taking long drives and roadtrips, with the windows down, the roads clear, and the radio up.
89) If you are lucky enough to have a porch or deck, sitting out and reading a favorite book, drinking some lemonade.
90) "An optimist is the human personification of spring." - Susan Bissonette
91) You don't have to pile on all of the blankets when you crawl into bed at night.
92) Since people tend to be in a more joyful mood once the winter is over, and happiness is contagious, everyone is more joyful!
93) You can fly a kite! (or, perhaps more accurately, try to fly a kite...)
94) You can enjoy the myriad of activities that a lake or river offers, such as boating, waterksiing, going to the beach, or simply swimming.
95) The feeling of "newness" that comes with everything. With new life comes new hopes, new dreams, new ambitions, and new motivations.
96) Being able to see one of the most beautiful sights in creation, the sunrise... when it is warming enough that you won't be shivering with cold.
97) Playing two-hand touch or flag football.
98) Instead of having to drive everywhere, you can walk or bike to get from place to place. Being environmentally friendly and getting exercise at the same time.
99) If you live in a safe enough area, you can go for walks at night when the moon is out and the world is more peaceful.
100) Did I mention hearing the chirping birds outside? :)

On The Death of Bin Laden

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that" - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Where True Happiness Lies

In "Story of a Soul," St. Therese of Lisieux offers this insight on where happiness can be found. Rather, where happiness IS found.

"I realized very clearly that happiness has nothing to do with the material things which surround us; it dwells in the very depth of the soul." (79)

To take a look at this, all you have to do is to thing about the things which make you happiest. Odds are they will not be things like your TV, or your car, or your computer. If those are the first things you think of, be wary! Your happiness is very fleeting, because those things will not provide you with long lasting, sustaining happiness.

For truly happy people, their joy and happiness lies in their loved ones, their experiences, and the things to which they dedicate their life. These are the things which provide a more fulfilling happiness, one which cannot be taken away by the loss of possessions or circumstance.

For me, it is easy to find that the things that make me happiest are not my material possessions. They are things like going for a hike with my fiancee, reading a good book, getting a letter in the mail or writing a letter, coming upon a beautiful site in the outdoors, Adoring Our Lord, or making someone else smile or laugh.

None of these things are dependent on material possessions or wealth, but they come from the very depths of the soul. They come from those free gifts given to us by God, through the natural beauty of the earth, our friends and loved ones, or our own curiousity.

What brings you happiness?

Scripture Sunday: Philippians 2: 5-11

Every Sunday on this site I will take some time to look at a passage from the Bible that I like and think is great... though they could obviously be presented by themselves without further mention, I will throw my two cents in on what the verse(s) mean to me.

Today is one of the best passages in the Bible about Jesus that we find outside of the Gospels. It is from Paul's letter to the Phillipians.

"Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found in human appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father." (Philippians 2: 5-11)

There is much to be learned from here, more than could be explored in a simple blog post.

We know that Jesus is the ultimate guide for humility. Even though he was God, he still took the form of a human person and all of the suffering that came with it. He was obedient to the will of God, even though that eventually meant that He would die on the cross.

How obedient are we to God and His will for our lives? How often do we think that we can act as God, either by our thoughts or our actual actions, when try to do things that we know are contrary to what God would want for us?

We also learn that if we do the will of God, we will be with Him in heaven. The passage says that because of Jesus' obedience, he was greatly exalted by God. If we do the will of the Lord and become the best people that we can be, we too will be rewarded by the Lord.

Do we use Jesus as our guide in our decisions?