Contentment is a very difficult subject. How are you supposed to feel content in a world such as this? Are you content? How have you become so? In a world where you can be a success and be a failure, it's so easy to dwell on those failures. We know we shouldn't, but some dreams are harder to let go than others.
In the Bible, 1 Timothy 6:6, it is said that there is great gain with contentment, we have brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of this world, that's obvious. We mustn't fall into temptation and be roped into senseless desires of this world, that will only bring us to ruin and destruction.
It's easy to say, but hard to put into practice. What am I dreaming for, what is my real purpose for the goals that I have? Is it simply for personal gain? Do I want the stature and the reputation that comes with my dreams? Am I really doing what I do for the good of others? No. No. Yes. Should I just settle down and be content? I thought I made the decision a while ago, yet with one e-mail and one phone call, the dreams come back, the lure of my life's first intention.
I ran into a friend the other day who made my dreams of success true in his life. He started on his path after I did yet he has progressed farther than I have. Is the grass always greener on the other side? Maybe not, but I still dream.
I missed an opportunity to find out if I could reinitiate this dream tonight, it may have been my fault for not being more persistent, it may not have been my fault because I was supposed to receive a message and didn't. No matter what the cause was, I started dwelling on this topic and on the connected lesson I am writing for other men as well as myself for the near future.
My questions and reflections are for why I have this dream, why do I need it so much that it rules over my life? Can I be content? I've succeeded in many other things, acquired degrees is in many other subjects, why does this dream continue to depress me when I continually realize I have not yet succeeded. Will it ever end? Can it ever end? What will it take? I have asked my Lord God to answer those questions and to help me put aside my great need for this path. Maybe it's only because I, myself, have not yet become strong enough to give up this dream on my own. I'm going to think about these things throughout this week and you can comment if you like, I have a strange sense of contentment right now at this moment, but I know it won't last. It may not be God's path for me, I'll have to accept that, but when do I accept that? And then, will this haunt me for the rest of my life? It's a heavy burden and one at times I feel I cannot bear. I will bear it though, although I wish I didn't have to.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Strange Path Crossings
Have you ever been in a place where it seems that the goal of your life was just out of reach, where you had to settle for something just a little bit less than what you had intended, and you find it brings you no joy. It seems always like someone else is living your life and that you are living someone else's, but not your own. It's quite depressing, you feel trapped, walled in! And, it seems no amount of prayer, wishing, or work can get you out of this position. You try to break free over the years by earning degrees, volunteering, going in this direction, going in that direction, but the results are always the same. Your true goal is never reached. You feel like you want to run away, maybe even worse. But, there is no escape. You wish there was a way to reach your goal, but the world has not made a way for you. You keep waiting but it is the world that is behind the times. It is just too bad that you are the victim of the world.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Ground Zero Mosque? Now?
I am in New Yorker, I felt it was my duty to say something about what's
going on at Ground Zero at this time. September 11 is coming up fast and
it's true, for most people, especially those from New York, you cannot
forget exactly where you were at the time of the twin towers disaster. I
remember it as if it were yesterday. I was actually just starting school in
another country. It was first day of classes. A quarter of the class was
from New York. The talk was rushing across the campus very quickly that
morning. Some of us didn't even have TVs yet so we got the word by hearsay,
I remember for a fact that I didn't even get a chance to watch TV that
morning. The words came in slowly through each ear, bombing, New York, twin
towers, Muslims, Islam, is there class? There was confusion all over the
place. Most of us congregated in the public places and watched the TVs on
campus, it was devastating, planes hitting buildings, buildings falling
down, national treasures at that. People running all over the place in
familiar places I knew! I'll save you from the rest of the thoughts and talk
around campus for the morning and the rest of the day, the announcement that
we would all get free calls back home. I would just say and imagine it would
be like finding out your house had burned down while you were on vacation in
another country, but on a greater scale, a surreal yet devastating feeling
of helplessness. The news, pictures, years to come, visits to Ground Zero,
were a painful reminder. I can only imagine what those people who had loved
ones die in the area must have felt. To this day that pain must linger, and
it does, as evidenced by what is going on in New York today.
Because of this, I feel I must say something, for good or for bad, as far as
the state of Ground Zero goes. The future as of this point is unwritten for
the area, but forces are fighting for the property, the future, the overall
meaning of what and who will be remembered at Ground Zero in the future.
I feel I must weigh in. First, I'll give you my opinion short and sweet. It
is, that a mosque should not be built at Ground Zero or in the near vicinity
of ground zero.
Why? First I'd like to explain that I do understand the Muslim reasoning
behind why a mosque should be able to be built at Ground Zero. This country
was built on the precipice that freedom would be given in all things, for
example, speech and religion. Religion being key here, most people coming to
America in the past which probably includes your family and mine, came for
religious reasons, the right to practice their own religion without
prejudice and fear of death. Protesting and denying a mosque's right to be
built at Ground Zero does fly in the face of what this country was built on.
Seeing the protests and reasonings on TV every day does seem more like
hatred and less like the understanding this country was built on. I don't
deny that, and it's painful to watch. In truth, American citizens have done
this to others in the past. Other citizens mind you. To the Jewish, to the
African Americans, to the Japanese, to the Chinese, more, and now, to the
Muslims.
I would say that this time though, the reasonings are different, and they
should be respected. Underneath it all, this time, it's about remembrance
rather than hatred. On the surface, it looks like hatred, there is no other
way it can be seen in public. People yelling, people screaming, calling each
other names, fighting, it looks bad, but what are they really fighting for?
I'd wager that it is that they want to keep Ground Zero a place of sacred
remembrance, a peaceful, neutral place, that those who have lost loved ones
at the site can go to as to not be reminded of the radicals that took their
loved ones away, but a place that can give solemn peace. After such a great
tragedy, I think those who have lost loved ones have the right to ask for
that, and to receive it.
I can't speak for everyone, and I didn't lose anyone in the tragedy, but
just as someone who has New York in his heart, I truly believe that a mosque
on ground zero will bring more harm than good (at this time). On this side,
I do believe that most Muslims are very good people. I have many friends
that are Muslim, that speak of peace, understanding, but to a point. That's
fair, but I don't see the understanding here. This Ground Zero is still an
open wound, a sore, that has not fully healed. We all know that in human
nature it is easier to remember the bad over the good. We always remember
the wrong someone has committed against us much easier than remembering the
good that people have graciously given us. I am not against the building of
mosques and I believe a good percentage of the people of New York are the
same. It's just not yet the right time to fight to build one on Ground Zero,
Muslim understanding and sensitivity should be greater here. I imagine one
fear is that if the property goes to someone else now, Muslims may fear
losing that site forever. It's prime real estate! Perhaps, some Muslims are
truly wanting to build this mosque as a sign of peace and as a base of peace
at Ground Zero. I commend that. As we all can see though, from this local
issue becoming national and how strong the views are, it's just not the
right time. You can't force peace, Israel and Palestine should have taught
us that much already. If a mosque is allowed to be built there now, I see
years of hatred and anger and fighting and prejudice for decades to come,
truly, I foresee it! If given time to heal though, to a future, better time
and place, a mosque may be welcomed with open arms. For my idealistic view,
I imagine the time in the future when all faiths and houses of worship will
be allowed at ground zero as they should be anywhere else in America.
I can see, with a little patience and a little sensitivity, that time can
come. So to my Christian brothers and sisters and to my Muslim brothers and
sisters, we are all a family on this world, let's quiet our hearts and our
mouths, be respectful of each other, look toward peace and the future. I
hope as they say, cooler heads can prevail, and we can all work toward peace
before the riots that are more apt to come in America show their ugly heads.
Thanks for reading.
going on at Ground Zero at this time. September 11 is coming up fast and
it's true, for most people, especially those from New York, you cannot
forget exactly where you were at the time of the twin towers disaster. I
remember it as if it were yesterday. I was actually just starting school in
another country. It was first day of classes. A quarter of the class was
from New York. The talk was rushing across the campus very quickly that
morning. Some of us didn't even have TVs yet so we got the word by hearsay,
I remember for a fact that I didn't even get a chance to watch TV that
morning. The words came in slowly through each ear, bombing, New York, twin
towers, Muslims, Islam, is there class? There was confusion all over the
place. Most of us congregated in the public places and watched the TVs on
campus, it was devastating, planes hitting buildings, buildings falling
down, national treasures at that. People running all over the place in
familiar places I knew! I'll save you from the rest of the thoughts and talk
around campus for the morning and the rest of the day, the announcement that
we would all get free calls back home. I would just say and imagine it would
be like finding out your house had burned down while you were on vacation in
another country, but on a greater scale, a surreal yet devastating feeling
of helplessness. The news, pictures, years to come, visits to Ground Zero,
were a painful reminder. I can only imagine what those people who had loved
ones die in the area must have felt. To this day that pain must linger, and
it does, as evidenced by what is going on in New York today.
Because of this, I feel I must say something, for good or for bad, as far as
the state of Ground Zero goes. The future as of this point is unwritten for
the area, but forces are fighting for the property, the future, the overall
meaning of what and who will be remembered at Ground Zero in the future.
I feel I must weigh in. First, I'll give you my opinion short and sweet. It
is, that a mosque should not be built at Ground Zero or in the near vicinity
of ground zero.
Why? First I'd like to explain that I do understand the Muslim reasoning
behind why a mosque should be able to be built at Ground Zero. This country
was built on the precipice that freedom would be given in all things, for
example, speech and religion. Religion being key here, most people coming to
America in the past which probably includes your family and mine, came for
religious reasons, the right to practice their own religion without
prejudice and fear of death. Protesting and denying a mosque's right to be
built at Ground Zero does fly in the face of what this country was built on.
Seeing the protests and reasonings on TV every day does seem more like
hatred and less like the understanding this country was built on. I don't
deny that, and it's painful to watch. In truth, American citizens have done
this to others in the past. Other citizens mind you. To the Jewish, to the
African Americans, to the Japanese, to the Chinese, more, and now, to the
Muslims.
I would say that this time though, the reasonings are different, and they
should be respected. Underneath it all, this time, it's about remembrance
rather than hatred. On the surface, it looks like hatred, there is no other
way it can be seen in public. People yelling, people screaming, calling each
other names, fighting, it looks bad, but what are they really fighting for?
I'd wager that it is that they want to keep Ground Zero a place of sacred
remembrance, a peaceful, neutral place, that those who have lost loved ones
at the site can go to as to not be reminded of the radicals that took their
loved ones away, but a place that can give solemn peace. After such a great
tragedy, I think those who have lost loved ones have the right to ask for
that, and to receive it.
I can't speak for everyone, and I didn't lose anyone in the tragedy, but
just as someone who has New York in his heart, I truly believe that a mosque
on ground zero will bring more harm than good (at this time). On this side,
I do believe that most Muslims are very good people. I have many friends
that are Muslim, that speak of peace, understanding, but to a point. That's
fair, but I don't see the understanding here. This Ground Zero is still an
open wound, a sore, that has not fully healed. We all know that in human
nature it is easier to remember the bad over the good. We always remember
the wrong someone has committed against us much easier than remembering the
good that people have graciously given us. I am not against the building of
mosques and I believe a good percentage of the people of New York are the
same. It's just not yet the right time to fight to build one on Ground Zero,
Muslim understanding and sensitivity should be greater here. I imagine one
fear is that if the property goes to someone else now, Muslims may fear
losing that site forever. It's prime real estate! Perhaps, some Muslims are
truly wanting to build this mosque as a sign of peace and as a base of peace
at Ground Zero. I commend that. As we all can see though, from this local
issue becoming national and how strong the views are, it's just not the
right time. You can't force peace, Israel and Palestine should have taught
us that much already. If a mosque is allowed to be built there now, I see
years of hatred and anger and fighting and prejudice for decades to come,
truly, I foresee it! If given time to heal though, to a future, better time
and place, a mosque may be welcomed with open arms. For my idealistic view,
I imagine the time in the future when all faiths and houses of worship will
be allowed at ground zero as they should be anywhere else in America.
I can see, with a little patience and a little sensitivity, that time can
come. So to my Christian brothers and sisters and to my Muslim brothers and
sisters, we are all a family on this world, let's quiet our hearts and our
mouths, be respectful of each other, look toward peace and the future. I
hope as they say, cooler heads can prevail, and we can all work toward peace
before the riots that are more apt to come in America show their ugly heads.
Thanks for reading.
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