Thank you to all who helped, contributed, or came to the Benefit Concert. God definitely provided and because of your support, we sent $387 to Blood:Water Mission!
If you're interested in getting involved yourself, go ahead and visit: bloodwatermission.com. There are a lot of great resources and information available on that site.
Continue to keep the people of Africa in your minds, hearts, and prayers. They are our neighbors; they are our friends.
You've now become a part of something bigger than yourself. As humans, we have a calling to go beyond this mediocre life of self-indulgence; we must go forth and show love, be examples, and give ourselves (and our resources) to a greater purpose. Although we may never meet these people, they WILL know that: We, the people of St. George, Utah, love and cherish the lives of our brothers and sisters.
Blessings!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Futuristics
"It's probably best we don't know a lot about the future, because if we did, we'd be too consumed on getting there and making the right choices."
This is how I see it, if we could see into the future, we would be so focused on what is going to happen rather than living life one day at a time, making mistakes, and growing. In "Troy," Achilles says to Perseus, "The gods envy us because we are mortal. Because every day could be our last, it makes it all the more beautiful."
Basically, everything happens for a reason. We make a choice that takes us one step closer to what is going to happen in the future. If we knew what was to come, we would take different steps, avoid certain mistakes in order to get to the desired point. Problem is, the things we do lead to other events, therefore if we knew what was going to happen, we would choose differently, and ultimately risk getting to the exact point we were aiming for. Thus, knowing the future would be futile because it would change with each "wrong" choice we make. Our lives are paths laid out with different checkpoints. If we fail to meet those checkpoints, we fail to learn, grow, and make it to our desired future (of course, we'd have another outcome, but not the one we knew). Pretty much, it's a big, messy web that's too complicated to even comprehend.
(This next part is pertaining to reality: not being able to see into the future) The image that comes to mind when I think about our choices and how they affect our future is a spider's web. The center is the desired ending point. With each event, there are multiple choices and options. No matter what choice you make, it ultimately leads to the center. Each choice affects the next choice we are presented. For example, we have to choose what college we want to go to. There are thousands of different options. If we choose the state university, we would be presented with different opportunities (such as friends, groups, classes) than we would if we chose Harvard or Yale.
I love to think about the possibilities in my life; the different opportunities I may be presented with in the long run. I like to know that no matter what choice I make, it will ultimately lead me to the same place. Some choices may be harder than others, and some may take you a few steps back, but that's the beauty of being a human. We have the chance to live and learn!
This is how I see it, if we could see into the future, we would be so focused on what is going to happen rather than living life one day at a time, making mistakes, and growing. In "Troy," Achilles says to Perseus, "The gods envy us because we are mortal. Because every day could be our last, it makes it all the more beautiful."
Basically, everything happens for a reason. We make a choice that takes us one step closer to what is going to happen in the future. If we knew what was to come, we would take different steps, avoid certain mistakes in order to get to the desired point. Problem is, the things we do lead to other events, therefore if we knew what was going to happen, we would choose differently, and ultimately risk getting to the exact point we were aiming for. Thus, knowing the future would be futile because it would change with each "wrong" choice we make. Our lives are paths laid out with different checkpoints. If we fail to meet those checkpoints, we fail to learn, grow, and make it to our desired future (of course, we'd have another outcome, but not the one we knew). Pretty much, it's a big, messy web that's too complicated to even comprehend.
(This next part is pertaining to reality: not being able to see into the future) The image that comes to mind when I think about our choices and how they affect our future is a spider's web. The center is the desired ending point. With each event, there are multiple choices and options. No matter what choice you make, it ultimately leads to the center. Each choice affects the next choice we are presented. For example, we have to choose what college we want to go to. There are thousands of different options. If we choose the state university, we would be presented with different opportunities (such as friends, groups, classes) than we would if we chose Harvard or Yale.
I love to think about the possibilities in my life; the different opportunities I may be presented with in the long run. I like to know that no matter what choice I make, it will ultimately lead me to the same place. Some choices may be harder than others, and some may take you a few steps back, but that's the beauty of being a human. We have the chance to live and learn!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
LEARN
I am having a strange urge to write. Well, I suppose it's not really strange, just an urge.
I've always had a longing in my heart to be a traveler. I want to discover the unknown, reopen the past, and know the secrets of the world. My thirst for knowledge is sometimes insatiable. All I want is the ability to understand and comprehend the things of history.
Basically, if I was to travel the world, I would discover new ways of life, thinking, and doing. It's baffling when you think of the American Mentality: we have it right, our way is right. Who says we're right (other than us, of course)? There are ways of life out there completely contrary to what we believe and what we do. I want to completely reconstruct my view of life and way of thinking. In traveling, I would do just that. To be immersed in another culture would give me perspective on why people do what they do.
Also, if I travel, the opportunities of research would automatically increase. The libraries! The museums! The collections! There are so many, it blows my mind to even imagine the beauty of it all.
Knowing, learning, and understanding is a dream I've had for a long time. Sometimes, I almost want to drop out of school so I can travel. I just want to experience life. Knowledge and learning go hand-in-hand with life lessons. How can we learn if we don't experience?
I've always had a longing in my heart to be a traveler. I want to discover the unknown, reopen the past, and know the secrets of the world. My thirst for knowledge is sometimes insatiable. All I want is the ability to understand and comprehend the things of history.
Basically, if I was to travel the world, I would discover new ways of life, thinking, and doing. It's baffling when you think of the American Mentality: we have it right, our way is right. Who says we're right (other than us, of course)? There are ways of life out there completely contrary to what we believe and what we do. I want to completely reconstruct my view of life and way of thinking. In traveling, I would do just that. To be immersed in another culture would give me perspective on why people do what they do.
Also, if I travel, the opportunities of research would automatically increase. The libraries! The museums! The collections! There are so many, it blows my mind to even imagine the beauty of it all.
Knowing, learning, and understanding is a dream I've had for a long time. Sometimes, I almost want to drop out of school so I can travel. I just want to experience life. Knowledge and learning go hand-in-hand with life lessons. How can we learn if we don't experience?
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
June to July
June: showing love through not losing my temper and acting out in anger. I did fairly well. It's always hard for me because, like I said, I am a bit of a hot-head.
It seems like while I'm at home, I don't pick up on a lot of the signs that God gives me. For some reason they are a lot more apparent at school.
July: forgive and forget. I know where I'm going to start. This is going to be a good month.
These keep getting shorter and shorter. Sorry to those who actually read this.
It seems like while I'm at home, I don't pick up on a lot of the signs that God gives me. For some reason they are a lot more apparent at school.
July: forgive and forget. I know where I'm going to start. This is going to be a good month.
These keep getting shorter and shorter. Sorry to those who actually read this.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Campaign for Clean Water for Africa
The History of Blood:Water Mission
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STORY. We're a group of passionate people who have been inspired by our friends in Africa, friends who face unbearable challenges from the HIV/AIDS and water crises. We creatively and thoughtfully raise awareness and the necessary funds for the provision of clean blood and clean water in sub-Saharan Africa.
Hear ye, hear ye! I have wanted to do something like this for a while, but haven't gotten around to it. But as the saying goes, "there is no time like the present." I want to not only raise awareness, but also money for B:WM and the people of Africa through a benefit concert showcasing a few local bands (if you are interested, please message me unless I haven't already messaged you.) I don't know when it would be, I just decided I have to do this tonight..like 5 minutes ago. I'm going to need people to help with all kinds of stuff and if no one volunteers, then I will seek you out and force you to help...well, not really, but kind of. This is an incredible opportunity to help people across the world, people that are suffering, people who you may never meet, people who need to be shown love and compassion, people who are so full of joy despite their less-than-joyful circumstances, people we can learn from!
Basically, it will be a benefit concert (as I already stated) featuring local bands/artists (you don't have to be a band, you could just be an awesome soloist). I won't charge admission (sooo, if you have a problem with that, we don't really need you), but will ask for donations while raising awareness of the conditions people are actually living in. I'm going to need creative people, tech-savvy people, talented people, organized people, or just...people. I would love if you helped me out. This is still in the planning process, so no absolutes yet, but I promise, THIS WILL HAPPEN!!!! Even if one person shows up and donates $1, they will be helping provide water for 1 African for 1 year (incredible, i know!).
If you want more info on B:WM, you can visit their site http://www.bloodwatermissi
I really, really, really hope you want to help me out. I'll buy you ice cream or something. I'll also be contacting some people personally via phone/email/fb/any other form of technology.
(P.S. this is generally regarding the people of St. George, but hey if you're not a Georgian and you want to help out, feel free to jump on a plane and fly down to the hottest place you'll ever visit!)
Just take a look at these beautiful photos! If that doesn't pull at your heart strings, I don't know what will.
For updates on this whole process, please visit: www.serviseistheword.blogspot.com
Thanks all!!
Oh, and donations are gladly accepted :)
Late One...again
Well, May went well. I struggled at times. I can't think of any "braches" God taught me this month, but I'm sure there were some, just less visible. I can be a pretty selfish person at times, but thankfully, I really tried.
June: I must control my temper. Yikees! I will admit, I am a hot head at times, but I think I can do this. Count to ten, right? 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10...then scream into a pillow. Awesome.
Pray for me, please!
June: I must control my temper. Yikees! I will admit, I am a hot head at times, but I think I can do this. Count to ten, right? 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10...then scream into a pillow. Awesome.
Pray for me, please!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
May, May, May, May I Please?
May's challenge: put others before me. Thus far, I've done fairly well. Off and on. I'm a selfish person, I know that, so I knew this month would be slightly difficult. And opportunities always present themselves, but even though I recognize them doesn't mean I'll actually take that opportunity and run with it. I'm trying, I really am, but it's hard and sometimes I just want to think about me.
April was "don't be rude." That did not work out so well. I failed in the nice department. I got very irritable (which also means I failed in the patience department, as well) and would let my sarcasm get out of hand, to the point where it wasn't really sarcasm, I only passed it off as that so I wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings. I feel bad. So really, May is all about being nice and putting others before me.
Even though it really doesn't have anything to do with...anything, I'm learning how to apologize. Ever since I was little, I hated apologizing. My pride has always been a problem in that area. SO I guess what I'm saying is that month of no pride really worked out for me...even if it IS a few months late.
I'm home. It is fabulous and I have so many jobs lined up. God definitely provides. Unfortunately, I was unable to donate at BioLife because of low iron, but hopefully I get that up before the end of summer so I can donate my plasma at least a few times.
This summer is going to be a summer of overcoming fear and becoming more independent. How I'm going to do that, you ask? Well, first of all, I got a job at a call center. If you know me even slightly well, you know I HATE to call people. I hate calling anyone, even my family sometimes. It terrifies me. It is an irrational fear that I am so excited to get over. Not only will it help me this summer, but it is also going to give me the experience I need to become an admissions counselor so I can take after Tessa. :)
Needles are another fear I have. Donating plasma requires being stuck...many, many times. Like I said, hopefully I'll have the opportunity to overcome that fear.
And finally, I'm terrified of heights, immobilized even. I am not positive on how I am going to rid myself of this disease (yes, I consider it my disease), but I will. Hiking, jumping, standing, anything to get rid of it. Next year at school I am DETERMINED to climb that wall. I will! I will! I will!!!
p.s. God is totally watching out for me. I only got a B- in Intro to Psych. I expected at the most a C-. A B- isn't fabulous, but it's college, my grades aren't as important and God has control (something I've had to learn quite often this past year).
April was "don't be rude." That did not work out so well. I failed in the nice department. I got very irritable (which also means I failed in the patience department, as well) and would let my sarcasm get out of hand, to the point where it wasn't really sarcasm, I only passed it off as that so I wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings. I feel bad. So really, May is all about being nice and putting others before me.
Even though it really doesn't have anything to do with...anything, I'm learning how to apologize. Ever since I was little, I hated apologizing. My pride has always been a problem in that area. SO I guess what I'm saying is that month of no pride really worked out for me...even if it IS a few months late.
I'm home. It is fabulous and I have so many jobs lined up. God definitely provides. Unfortunately, I was unable to donate at BioLife because of low iron, but hopefully I get that up before the end of summer so I can donate my plasma at least a few times.
This summer is going to be a summer of overcoming fear and becoming more independent. How I'm going to do that, you ask? Well, first of all, I got a job at a call center. If you know me even slightly well, you know I HATE to call people. I hate calling anyone, even my family sometimes. It terrifies me. It is an irrational fear that I am so excited to get over. Not only will it help me this summer, but it is also going to give me the experience I need to become an admissions counselor so I can take after Tessa. :)
Needles are another fear I have. Donating plasma requires being stuck...many, many times. Like I said, hopefully I'll have the opportunity to overcome that fear.
And finally, I'm terrified of heights, immobilized even. I am not positive on how I am going to rid myself of this disease (yes, I consider it my disease), but I will. Hiking, jumping, standing, anything to get rid of it. Next year at school I am DETERMINED to climb that wall. I will! I will! I will!!!
p.s. God is totally watching out for me. I only got a B- in Intro to Psych. I expected at the most a C-. A B- isn't fabulous, but it's college, my grades aren't as important and God has control (something I've had to learn quite often this past year).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
