Saturday, February 28, 2004
Suki Desu
Do you ever have moments where familiar things seem different suddenly? It makes you feel a little disoriented. Maybe its the way you really study a person;s face instead of just glancing at them, or seeing a commonly visited location from a new perspective.
I had such a moment Friday. While walking on the campus of my community college, Iowa Western, the clock struck noon. The clock tower in the center of campus began to play a melody. I had never been outside at noon, so it was the first time I have ever heard it.
Over the years I have grown to resent the IWCC campus, because it can seem dreary to look at, and because it represents my life being placed on hold while I wait to be accepted to Creighton Pharmacy School. But for a brief moment, it was beautiful. The rest of the day I spent at IWCC was nice; as I noticed how there were so many beautiful trees around, how the students were friendly, and how the clock tower was a unique feature of the campus. I even ate lunch in the school cafeteria for the first time in the 4 years I have taken courses at the college.
In my Japanese studies I have learned that suki (soo kee) means "like." So "suki desu" means I like. This can mean a wide range of things. On Friday, I suddenly found myself saying "watashi wa IWCC suki desu." (As for me, I like IWCC).
There is beauty everywhere around us, and sometimes we fail to notice. Maybe it is a friend or even stranger that you cross paths with. Maybe a small park near your house that you never visit. Maybe this week you can try to find something beautiful you missed, and take a moment to enjoy that thing! If it is a person, maybe you can get up the nerve to share with them how you feel.
Make a list of people, places, and things that you like. anata wa suki desuka? Have a nice week!
I had such a moment Friday. While walking on the campus of my community college, Iowa Western, the clock struck noon. The clock tower in the center of campus began to play a melody. I had never been outside at noon, so it was the first time I have ever heard it.
Over the years I have grown to resent the IWCC campus, because it can seem dreary to look at, and because it represents my life being placed on hold while I wait to be accepted to Creighton Pharmacy School. But for a brief moment, it was beautiful. The rest of the day I spent at IWCC was nice; as I noticed how there were so many beautiful trees around, how the students were friendly, and how the clock tower was a unique feature of the campus. I even ate lunch in the school cafeteria for the first time in the 4 years I have taken courses at the college.
In my Japanese studies I have learned that suki (soo kee) means "like." So "suki desu" means I like. This can mean a wide range of things. On Friday, I suddenly found myself saying "watashi wa IWCC suki desu." (As for me, I like IWCC).
There is beauty everywhere around us, and sometimes we fail to notice. Maybe it is a friend or even stranger that you cross paths with. Maybe a small park near your house that you never visit. Maybe this week you can try to find something beautiful you missed, and take a moment to enjoy that thing! If it is a person, maybe you can get up the nerve to share with them how you feel.
Make a list of people, places, and things that you like. anata wa suki desuka? Have a nice week!
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Happy Ash Wednesday
Hello all! Today is the start of Lent, which is the 40 days observation of the last days of Jesus Christ. Mostly this is a time observed by Catholics. Being from Protestant churches, I have never given anything up for the 40 day period. I liked the main theme behind doing so... Making a fast-like sacrifice to focus on what happened 2000 years ago.
But what I always have had problems with is that people do not take it as serious as they should. They give up things that do not affect them (like me giving up smoking... I do not smoke!), or do not stick with it for 40 days. A lot of the time, people make a big production out of their sacrifices in the beginning, and lose ambition as Easter draws near.
This year, I thought before I judge this practice, I would take part in it. So, I am going to give up beef for Lent. For 40 days I am going to avoid beef at all costs. I am also issuing a challenge to all God-fearing Catholics to keep their sacrifice, and to observe Lent in a way fitting of the Lord they are celebrating. If even a lowly Protestant/agnostic as myself can observe Lent, how much more should the Pope's church be able to do so as well?
In summary: Carl + Lent = no beef for 40 days.
But what I always have had problems with is that people do not take it as serious as they should. They give up things that do not affect them (like me giving up smoking... I do not smoke!), or do not stick with it for 40 days. A lot of the time, people make a big production out of their sacrifices in the beginning, and lose ambition as Easter draws near.
This year, I thought before I judge this practice, I would take part in it. So, I am going to give up beef for Lent. For 40 days I am going to avoid beef at all costs. I am also issuing a challenge to all God-fearing Catholics to keep their sacrifice, and to observe Lent in a way fitting of the Lord they are celebrating. If even a lowly Protestant/agnostic as myself can observe Lent, how much more should the Pope's church be able to do so as well?
In summary: Carl + Lent = no beef for 40 days.
Aren't we all people?
Hello again. I hate to deal with such a heavy topic already on the second post, but there is a controversy in America that is bothering me. It concerns the rights of homosexuals to be married. It seems to me that those who wish them to be denied this are missing a few important points.
First of all, Christianity does not own marriage. Cultures since the begining of time have had marriage ceremonies. Therefore why is the practice limited to the morals of Christianity? If the USA is not officialy a Christian nation, then why do we let Christianity define our laws of appropriate behavior? Shouldn;t we be looking into such things in a more detached and scientific nature? Does homosexuality harm society? Does it harm individuals? I can only think that it can no more harm America that the many poor heterosexual couplings that occur daily. We MUST not allow our judgment on such matters be controlled by our religious romanticism.
Second of all, the state does not belong marriage. For whatever reason we feel the need to affix bureaucracy to the practice of joining married partners. This is fine, but marriage is more about the heart than a seal on an official document. It is the heart that links souls and lives together.
Lastly, these people are being discriminated against. They have rights as citizens of this country to do everything anyone else can do. Vote, pay taxes, and marry. There are many benefits of marriage; it is a public declaration of love, a reminder of commitment, and of course, there are issues with taxes and insurance. These are things we should not be holding back from human beings.
So, if your personal morality sees homosexuality as sin, that is fine. We have the freedom to believe as much. But it is wrong to force that morality on others. As a Christian, I find this approach poor anyway. The true key to helping people is love, not exclusion. We need to allow these people to be a part of our normal society, and deal with them on a personal and real basis. We need to treat it in an anthropological way; they are a part of a society that we may not understand. We need to reach out and learn about these men and women, and truely care for their physical, mental, and spiritual needs. All of this must be done per Christ. What is not needed is a scarlet letter situation, where homosexuals are branded unnatural and unworthy of state recognition.
This a nation built on freedom, and I believe that sin or not, you cannot deny love. Sins have occurred between heterosexuals, but the state allows marriage to continue there. We are talking about real people, with families, feelings, hopes, fears, and dreams. Why do we see the need to deny them recognizable as couples? In the end, what we want is a society where people can be themselves. Where ideas can be exchanged, and growth can be achieved. If we continue to make policy that forces men and women to hide in fear of persectution, we have learned nothing. We are stewards of our time here on Earth. We should not be using the law of the land to force our personal understanding of morailty and sanctity. We should not be using our actions to hinder the happiness of our neighbors. A person is a person is a person. Let these men and women marry, and stop treating them as we treated African Americans in years past.
Christians: Do not crush these men and women with the Law. Allow them, as God has allowed you, to make your own way in life, and be responsible for your own actions. Do not deny them the right to love.
First of all, Christianity does not own marriage. Cultures since the begining of time have had marriage ceremonies. Therefore why is the practice limited to the morals of Christianity? If the USA is not officialy a Christian nation, then why do we let Christianity define our laws of appropriate behavior? Shouldn;t we be looking into such things in a more detached and scientific nature? Does homosexuality harm society? Does it harm individuals? I can only think that it can no more harm America that the many poor heterosexual couplings that occur daily. We MUST not allow our judgment on such matters be controlled by our religious romanticism.
Second of all, the state does not belong marriage. For whatever reason we feel the need to affix bureaucracy to the practice of joining married partners. This is fine, but marriage is more about the heart than a seal on an official document. It is the heart that links souls and lives together.
Lastly, these people are being discriminated against. They have rights as citizens of this country to do everything anyone else can do. Vote, pay taxes, and marry. There are many benefits of marriage; it is a public declaration of love, a reminder of commitment, and of course, there are issues with taxes and insurance. These are things we should not be holding back from human beings.
So, if your personal morality sees homosexuality as sin, that is fine. We have the freedom to believe as much. But it is wrong to force that morality on others. As a Christian, I find this approach poor anyway. The true key to helping people is love, not exclusion. We need to allow these people to be a part of our normal society, and deal with them on a personal and real basis. We need to treat it in an anthropological way; they are a part of a society that we may not understand. We need to reach out and learn about these men and women, and truely care for their physical, mental, and spiritual needs. All of this must be done per Christ. What is not needed is a scarlet letter situation, where homosexuals are branded unnatural and unworthy of state recognition.
This a nation built on freedom, and I believe that sin or not, you cannot deny love. Sins have occurred between heterosexuals, but the state allows marriage to continue there. We are talking about real people, with families, feelings, hopes, fears, and dreams. Why do we see the need to deny them recognizable as couples? In the end, what we want is a society where people can be themselves. Where ideas can be exchanged, and growth can be achieved. If we continue to make policy that forces men and women to hide in fear of persectution, we have learned nothing. We are stewards of our time here on Earth. We should not be using the law of the land to force our personal understanding of morailty and sanctity. We should not be using our actions to hinder the happiness of our neighbors. A person is a person is a person. Let these men and women marry, and stop treating them as we treated African Americans in years past.
Christians: Do not crush these men and women with the Law. Allow them, as God has allowed you, to make your own way in life, and be responsible for your own actions. Do not deny them the right to love.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Konnichiwa
Welcome to my first post. I hope my friends take the time to check in on my life. As a matter of fact, a friend of mine, Nate, was the one who directed me to this site. His blog address is here. For my first post I would like to talk about friends.
Friends are really the key ingredient to a fulfilled life. I have had decreasingly fewer friends as I grow older. I lose touch, change schools and jobs, even watch as friends move on in life without me. It is hard to keep a real friend, and in the past years, I have never been more sad than in the times I had no one to call a friend.
This year has been nice for me, because I have new friends. Through a pen pal service I met a couple wonderful people who I really enjoy having a friendship with. They make my weeks bright. I also have met a couple people at school who I really enjoy talking to, although after this semester, they too may fade away as did my other close friends.
Be sure to let your friends know how much they mean to you, and put lots of effort into a few strong friendships. With that in mind, I now launch my online diary. I hope we can stay good friends through it!
Friends are really the key ingredient to a fulfilled life. I have had decreasingly fewer friends as I grow older. I lose touch, change schools and jobs, even watch as friends move on in life without me. It is hard to keep a real friend, and in the past years, I have never been more sad than in the times I had no one to call a friend.
This year has been nice for me, because I have new friends. Through a pen pal service I met a couple wonderful people who I really enjoy having a friendship with. They make my weeks bright. I also have met a couple people at school who I really enjoy talking to, although after this semester, they too may fade away as did my other close friends.
Be sure to let your friends know how much they mean to you, and put lots of effort into a few strong friendships. With that in mind, I now launch my online diary. I hope we can stay good friends through it!