Money in the Bank > Human Life?

Dear friends,

Sorry I haven’t posted since before spring break. We all know how life is, and evidently there has been a lot of life to deal with lately. That being said, I miss writing my thoughts down! So, while this is a little messy, I’d like to post something that has been on my heart lately. These thoughts actually came to be because of a short paper I was assigned, that questioned what I was passionate about in life and why, and what I was going to do about it. Well, I had no idea how to answer any of these questions, but this is what was produced… I’m posting sections of the paper on here (I’ll save all the boring school stuff out of it, haha) because I’d like to know what I can do with this. I have not a clue about where I could take this passion and produce something productive out of it.

Sincerely, Amanda

P.S. Have mercy… I’m a college student, which means we all know that I wrote this in 30 minutes well after midnight the night before it was due :)

While I feel that there are many things in life that I would say I enjoy, or that I am greatly interested in, there are few things that I would comfortably declare that I am ‘passionate’ about. Until this year in fact, when trying to figure out the pressure of choosing a major (harder than it sounds, turns out), I had never really given serious thought to what things I would consider myself truly passionate about in life. This scared me, because I think that without passion and drive for something life has little meaning. What else are we here for if nothing more than to be passionate about life? As I began to reflect on my own life I was led to also think about what America as a whole seems to be passionate about. On the outside our country seems to be passionate about freedom and individuality and equality (whether those things are even a reality is a whole other topic), but we are evidently also passionate about anything and everything superficial, especially entertainment. When looked at through a financial lens, our society values entertainment over education, poverty, politics and other substantial issues that are immeasurably important to our future. This angers me, irks me, and disturbs me. And while at this point in time there is not much that I can say or do to influence this issue, this is something I am truly passionate about. I am passionate about how media and entertainment has tainted our morals as a society and about how high on the list of priorities it is compared to other issues. I am upset that my generation worships celebrities that will never touch our lives in any physical way, and yet we often do not know the name of our current governor who enacts laws that may directly change the way we live. And I also am passionately angry that the president of the united states, while not always making decisions that I will agree with, makes less than half a million dollars per year to make vital decisions each day that affect millions of people inside and outside of our own country, while a vast majority of averagely-educated athletes get dozens of millions of dollars a year to throw a football around. Where is the logic in this? This isn’t to say that I don’t contribute to entertainment profits or that I think that entertainment is invaluable. I love being able to watch a movie or sporting event to de-stress or spend time with friends. So entertainment isn’t necessarily the issue; the problem is that entertainment and the revenue it generates for this country is valued higher than the lives of those in our country and in the rest of the world who are struggling to survive in even the most basic sense of the world. It makes me sick to my stomach that the projected cost needed to end world hunger is only $30 billion dollars a year (less than ½ of 1% of the worlds combined gross domestic products) and we proclaim that we ‘just don’t have the money’ to do it. This is not true. That money is simply going to places it doesn’t need to be. Last year the U.S. spent twenty-three times this amount to bail out Wall Street. The United States alone could have fed the world for 23 years, and yet we ‘don’t have the money’? There were $14.7 billion that the NFL raked in during the 2010 season, plus another $20 billion in the basketball and baseball industry. Another $10 million was spent out of American pockets on beauty products. Not to mention the $300 billion that was spent on sports gambling. The money spent on sports apparel, make-up, and bailing out already-rich bankers in 2010-2011 could have fed the world for 43 years… without aid from any other country in the world. How is this okay? In the 21^st century, when the world is richer and more technologically and medically advanced than ever before in history, world hunger shouldn’t even be a problem. But it is a problem, because we don’t have the courage to realize that there is a need around us that we could address, but choose not to. I don’t know what I can do to make a difference at this point in time, although I hope someday to be able to contribute to the solution, but feel that with a Christian worldview these thoughts are definitely congruent with the values that Jesus himself preached on, which are the same that I try to live by. One verse in the bible states “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land’” (Deuteronomy 15:11). This is in line with exactly what I believe. Jesus taught to love one another and not to build up earthly treasure, but to give to those in need. We are not living in a culture that does this in any sense right now, and that is a scary thought.

For I believe that the moment that a human life is of less worth in our minds than the money we could have in our pockets, if we chose to ignore their need, we have failed in the worst way possible…

I would love to hear feedback. If anyone has a wonderful idea about how to turn this frustration in to anything productive please let me know. What are you passionate about? Why? What are you doing about it?

Jesus & Santa Claus

The above quote is one of my absolute favorites. The idea expressed in this short poem is such a beautiful one, in my opinion, & one that I think is so overlooked in our world these days. It isn’t very often that we run into a situation where we are taught to ask for nothing in return for something that we have done. When we think about those who have given their all & humbly received nothing for their gifts we think of Jesus… & maybe Santa Claus… & that’s about it. While it may be true that most people have (hopefully) been raised to share, &  to mind their manners, & to treat others with respect, those values are usually accompanied with the promise that one day those actions will catch up with them. The hope is that even if you don’t receive instant gratification for recycling someone else’s paper cup, or writing them an encouraging note, or lending them a kidney, that at some point down the road the favor will be returned in one way or another. We hope that someone will notice our good deeds, & be impressed by them & compliment us on our honorable character. We want to know that after we put in the effort to care for another person or take time out of our incredibly important & unbelievably busy lives, that we will receive something that will make it all “worth the while”. We want recognition, & thanks, & good karma to come our way.

It isn’t often that we are inclined to do a good deed for someone else, when we are certain that no one is watching. We love having an audience there to notice what a good person we are, & to see how loving & selfless our actions are. And of course this isn’t to say that serving in a soup kitchen, or helping someone push a stalled car across the road, or buying a coffee for someone in line behind you is a bad thing. Public acts of service are wonderful as well. If everyone did their good deeds in private we would never have anyone working at food banks & or cooking meals for a neighbor going through a tough time, or hosting group homes to get kids off the streets. So of course, service of any kind is a beautiful thing. But I was once challenged by a mentor & friend to spend a whole week, going out of my way do perform as many little acts of kindness as I could… a not telling a single person about it. I was challenged to keep that warm & fuzzy feeling (the one you get when you know you are acting for a larger reason than yourself) to myself. She told me that even if I had an amazing experience performing this act of service & I wanted to humbly tell someone what happened, that I should challenge myself to keep it inside completely. To dwell on that feeling & truly experience what it is like to do something for someone else, & know that you will never be thanked for it. Needless to say, this wasn’t easy. To be honest, I can’t tell you now whether or not I was successful in my endeavor to make someone’s day a little easier without anyone else knowing. It is not an easy thing to lower your pride enough to give your precious time or money, freely, without blurting out your achievement or excitement (which I’m almost positive I did every time), or whatever other feeling you have as a result.

My friend had explained it to me along these lines… Even if your intentions are humble & truly brought on by a genuine giving spirit, & you aren’t expecting a single “thank you”, or gift, or good thing to come your way, most people will instinctively feel obligated to pay another person back in some way or another. Pride is a trait that most of us have instilled deep into our very being, & because of this there is a general tendency to want to give back whatever we can to those who help us out, whether we have the means to do so or not, so that we don’t feel as though we can’t provide for ourselves or our families. Most people are not comfortable simply accepting help or encouragement without returning some kind of thanks.

Sometimes people really do need a friend to physically be there, who can offer nothing more than a shoulder to cry on, or a listening ear. But at other times, an anonymous note of encouragement or helping hand in some way or another is more than enough to help someone get through the day.

This week I’m going to try and actually take on this challenge, successfully this time. Obviously I won’t post about how it goes, because that completely defeats the purpose of keeping things quiet :) But if you made it all the way through this rambling post, I’d challenge you to try it, too! It’s a very interesting & eye opening process.

Happy Sunday everyone! And good luck on giving like Jesus & Santa Claus :)

Beauty Defined

For the last week, my school has been doing all sorts of events to address the subject of true beauty for National Eating Disorder Awareness week. I have been so pleasantly surprised at the level of involvement from everyone on campus, & so impressed with the events that the leadership team has put on. Also, it has been wonderful to see that this week’s events have not only been centered around the awareness of the “disease” but more an awareness of what true beauty really is, & also the fact that eating disorders are commonly just side effects of someone who is experiencing a much deeper kind of pain. It really turned into a week of learning how to love yourself, how to be healthy in body & mind when it comes to self-image & habits, & how to love & support those around you who may be struggling.

This video was made after students were asked what the definition of true beauty was in their minds. Some of these answers are pretty amazing. I’m truly impressed. Thank you Whitworth University, for an awesome week of awareness! I love my campus.

Snow & Life are a lot Alike.

I woke up this morning to the sight of another beautiful snowfall out my window. The view of the the world under a blanket of powder never ceases to take my breath away. I have always loved snow. LOVED it. I was the one of those little kids that heard a weatherman reporting even a mere 5% chance of snow, & then stayed up all night with my nose pressed up against the window in my bedroom, just praying that a few flakes would fall & school would be cancelled the next day so I could go explore in the winter wonderland (a.k.a. my backyard).

Until this morning, I had never put much thought into why I find snow so incredibly beautiful. Why am I still intrigued this much after witnessing 19 years worth of snowfall? While trudging through the snow with a friend this morning, & commenting on the different prints left by different kinds of shoes, I think I realized for the first time that I am fascinated by the way that snow molds to whatever shape you want it to. It’s so interesting to me that when you walk through snow you can look back and see exactly the path you took to get from one place to another, or that you can take something so fragile, that fell from the sky, & use it to build something that is completely unique to you. No one will ever make the same footprints, & no one will build the same snowman. And this led me to ponder another thought…

Snow is proof that you are an individual. It is proof that you were on this earth. Snow allows you to leave your mark on the world (literally), in a spot that no one else has. It allows you to clearly see that you are the only one to have tread where your feet are about to land on this particular day. You are a pioneer. Even on a busy sidewalk, where 100′s of people walk each day, if you are the first to put your footprint on that walk during that particular snowfall, it shows that you were the first one to conquer that path. And I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about this, just as I never really did until today, but it is rare to see snowy footprints far apart from each other in an open space. Almost always, after someone has laid the first pathway with their own steps, the footprints that follow are from people stepping in or near those first prints; in hopes that if the first person to walk that way made it just fine, then they must be able to follow without running into hardship as well. Maybe they’re afraid of getting their socks wet, or slipping on ice, or stepping in some kind of muck, or even getting lost. Whatever the reason, it seems true that most people are more comfortable following the first set of prints, than taking the risk necessary to make their own.

Sure you can see footprints in mud as well, but walking in snow is always a little more adventurous. Snow covers the ground beneath it, making the spot that you are stepping on next a complete mystery. You never know if your next step will lead you to slip a little on ice, or get stuck in the muck, or roll your ankle in a patch of uneven ground. With mud or sand, while you may leave a unique footprint, it is often without risk. You know exactly what the ground you’re trodding on looks like. You can see where there are puddles, or where you might find a rocky patch, & you know how to avoid it. The same cannot be said in snow. You may be walking into a complete unknown, & sometimes you may not even know how deep that unknown it. So in a sense, when walking on snow, you are an innovator. You, the leader for all these prints on the sidewalk behind you, have people literally “following in your footsteps”. It doesn’t matter  if you may just be crossing the street, or cutting corners to get to a class or meeting on time…

If there are footprints beside or behind yours, that means someone values the path you chose to take; therefore, you are a leader.

Life is so interesting.

Oh & while we’re on the subject of snow, I just wanted to share that I actually attend school at Narnia :)

A Seuss-like Thought on Beautiful; (for National Eating Disorder Awareness week)

Which one looks healthy to you?

Since when was beautiful defined by size?
Always? Maybe. But why the hell why?
Marilyn Monroe (The sexiest woman ever alive)
Wore her dresses size 12; full hips, thick thighs.
A size 12 in this day, is “fat”(some would say);
& yet Marilyn’s body made every mans day.

So when did a measuring tape start to decide,
Whether or not you could be desired?
Back in the day a full woman was a prize,
She symbolized wealth (& health) for her guy.
But apparently now, skeletons are most pretty,
Although last time I checked real men like healthy, not skinny.

This isn’t to say though to judge the other extreme,
Skinny is beautiful when by healthy means.
If someone is ridiculed for being too large,
We should know that not everyone’s small ’cause they starve.
Hard work can obtain you a healthy small figure,
When addressing true beauty, look at the whole picture.

So instead of thinking in terms of size,
And judging one’s health by the looks of their thighs,
Why don’t we check out the contents of her heart?
Instead of her stomach, at least that’s a start…
For a woman who loves with everything in her,
Doesn’t need to be judged by what she ate (or didn’t eat) for dinner.

Revolution.

Before there is religion, before there is politics, before there are stereotypes,
and before there is “I’m right, you’re wrong”;

there is love.

To my sisters (& my brothers).

We all long to belong to someone. In the beginning God created man & woman… Together. From the same dust, the same bone & flesh, we were created; and we continue to exist. So it only seems natural that we long for love & relationship from one another. In fact, we need relationship. Studies have found that infants are less prone to illness when they are nurtured through physical touch, & are in a loving environment. And someone told me once that the simplest key to a strong marriage is 5 healthy touches per day; even those as simple as is the brush of a hand against the other’s, or a kiss on the cheek. It is vital that we live in relation with other human beings. We have an innate want to be valued, & needed, and affirmed in even the smallest way.

This need though, has become so distorted in our world. Our society seems to have raised a generation of young men and women that have dangerously confused the need for emotional connection with one another as either a weakness or simply sexuality. Let me explain what I mean by both…

Media & stereotypes have screamed to young men in our society that possessing emotion is a sign of weakness. Crying is a sin, chivalry isn’t cool, and asking for support or encouragement during a struggle is basically pronouncing your woman-hood. The status-quo expects that boys will reject every emotion except bravery and lust, because both of these things are “manly”. Stand up for yourself using anything but your words. Look at a woman’s body, not her heart. Of course not every man in our society is like this. There are so many wonderful men in this world who have been raised, or have chosen, to live above this stereotype; I am blessed to say that I was fathered by one, I am friends with many, & I am very lucky to be dating one. So please don’t misunderstand my statements. It’s just that I have seen, too many times, the hurt caused by this twisted concept (in both guys & girls that I care about deeply). And although we all need to be responsible for our choices, I don’t necessarily blame these boys for their actions or words. What else do they know, if they have grown up in a world that teaches them these things? Not only does this raise up men who are confused, because of the lack of healthy outlet for the emotions they have been forced to repress their whole lives, but what does this say to our girls?

If little girls grow up watching their fathers, brothers, & friends being ridiculed for their healthy displays of affection & emotion, & praised for their aggressive power & their lack of emotional depth, what does that tell these girls to become? When a little girl grows older she will seek out men who are like her father, or her brothers, or any other male role model in her life. If those role models did not invest in her creativity, in her feelings, or in her interests, she will learn that her brain & her heart are simply not important. No one really cares what she accomplishes anyways, right? If she is not told that she is beautiful inside & out, using positive language, she will think that it is necessary for her to fight for attention, often using her body to show that she is in fact beautiful physically, instead of displaying talent, personality, & intelligence. Young women see that men do not value their brains or their heart, (even if this is just false projection of society) & so they use what they have left, their body, to beg for the love & affirmation that every one of us needs to survive. This then, creates a vicious cycle.

We live in hyper-sexual world. Society tells men to prove their manhood as early as possible, & even though this used to mean succeeding in school, or taking over the family business & starting to provide for a family of your own, “manhood” is often now just attributed with sex. And young women, too, feel the pressure to prove that they are worthy of love, & it seems that society has forced upon us this idea that the only way to do that is using your body. We have lost the sacredness of relationship with one another. What happened to the days where courting was a thing? That was pretty cool back in the day, right? What a more awesome way to ensure that your relationship with someone is truly built on the right foundation than to have your parents go everywhere with you… actually, yuck, that sounds awful. But seriously though, marriage & dating used to be so lasting… & how could it not be when you have no other choice but to put the physical part of your relationship last in priorities? I’m not saying that courting is the only answer to breaking this cycle for the next generation, & it definitely isn’t the most realistic thing to ask for this day in age. But what if people actually applied the values of a courting relationship to their present or future relationships. To look at someone & say, “You seem like someone I could like a lot. Let’s hang out for a while, & I’ll keep my pants on, & we’ll share in this awesome friendship fer dayz, before we share everything else”… that seems like a pretty sweet set-up to me.

“My sister, act always as though you belong to your husband,
whether present or some day soon.
And demand from the man you choose to love, that he belongs only to you.
Never settle for less than perfect respect; but show the utmost regard for him too.
Honor yourself and the one you’ll call ‘Love’,
don’t give what is his to another young fool.”

I guess all of this is mostly to my sisters. Really, I just wanted to say that I’ve been so discouraged lately watching one friend after another crumble in self-esteem, or relationships & marriages around me fall apart because of this problem alone. A physical relationship is supposed to be sacred. Let’s treat it that way. And it shouldn’t belong to anyone besides the person you decide to marry.

Well… That was much longer than it was intended to be. Bravo for getting through that all. I think I’m done venting.

…WAIT NO. I’m not. —–> ALSO, leggings are not pants.

Okay now I’m done. Just cherish yourself, & those around you, friends.