Words are important because they can divide hearts and trap feelings. Sometimes, you should be patient with the things you say stemming from the way you feel. Your words can make those feelings permanent. However words can also unify hearts and pour life into people too. I want my words to belong to the latter.
Today, I told a brother about how his words have affected me negatively. Ironically, I didn't use my words well to let him know this. Irony is the worst thing ever.
Anyways, what did I conclude?
For me: Let me be one who can take light things lightly, and serious things seriously!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Freedom for a Few Dollars
Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.
But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.
"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me ... hey, you're more than welcome.
"You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help," Diaz says.
Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.
"The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. "The kid was like, 'You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'"
"No, I just eat here a lot," Diaz says he told the teen. "He says, 'But you're even nice to the dishwasher.'"
Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?"
"Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said.
Diaz asked him what he wanted out of life. "He just had almost a sad face," Diaz says.
The teen couldn't answer Diaz — or he didn't want to.
When the bill arrived, Diaz told the teen, "Look, I guess you're going to have to pay for this bill 'cause you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you."
The teen "didn't even think about it" and returned the wallet, Diaz says. "I gave him $20 ... I figure maybe it'll help him. I don't know."
Diaz says he asked for something in return — the teen's knife — "and he gave it to me."
Afterward, when Diaz told his mother what happened, she said, "You're the type of kid that if someone asked you for the time, you gave them your watch."
"I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It's as simple as it gets in this complicated world."
http://www.npr.org/2008/03/28/89164759/a-victim-treats-his-mugger-right
But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.
"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me ... hey, you're more than welcome.
"You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help," Diaz says.
Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.
"The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. "The kid was like, 'You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'"
"No, I just eat here a lot," Diaz says he told the teen. "He says, 'But you're even nice to the dishwasher.'"
Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?"
"Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said.
Diaz asked him what he wanted out of life. "He just had almost a sad face," Diaz says.
The teen couldn't answer Diaz — or he didn't want to.
When the bill arrived, Diaz told the teen, "Look, I guess you're going to have to pay for this bill 'cause you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you."
The teen "didn't even think about it" and returned the wallet, Diaz says. "I gave him $20 ... I figure maybe it'll help him. I don't know."
Diaz says he asked for something in return — the teen's knife — "and he gave it to me."
Afterward, when Diaz told his mother what happened, she said, "You're the type of kid that if someone asked you for the time, you gave them your watch."
"I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It's as simple as it gets in this complicated world."
http://www.npr.org/2008/03/28/89164759/a-victim-treats-his-mugger-right
Hoopful Hearts
Today, jca boys hooped it up. There was good fellowship and good basketball. Looking forward to things to come!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Things Past
I cannot help but say that I have seen my pathetic self over the past few days.
I did not go to my internship fair that I had prepared minimally for, but nonetheless prepared for. I have not been applying for internships although many of the deadlines are this week. I did not go to my first family group meeting. I went to another, less good, meeting instead. I've been sleeping everyday very late, almost helplessly because I am enslaved to my body in that sense. I have not been doing my homework in the time that I have been allotted each day. I push it until I am under pressure of having it due the next day. I have not gotten my resume edited at career services like I have been planning to for the past week.
However, there is an internship fair coming up in two weeks with IIE, I will apply for internships this week, I will go to fg today, I will sleep earlier from now on, I will allot my time better to do homework, and I will have my resume edited tomorrow.
These things that continue to test me for character are for the better.
I know I am talking about things I will do this week, but my "will" is weak, actually. I hope I can learn what it means to seek God's will over mine.
This is a process of getting humbled, and it stings a little.
I did not go to my internship fair that I had prepared minimally for, but nonetheless prepared for. I have not been applying for internships although many of the deadlines are this week. I did not go to my first family group meeting. I went to another, less good, meeting instead. I've been sleeping everyday very late, almost helplessly because I am enslaved to my body in that sense. I have not been doing my homework in the time that I have been allotted each day. I push it until I am under pressure of having it due the next day. I have not gotten my resume edited at career services like I have been planning to for the past week.
However, there is an internship fair coming up in two weeks with IIE, I will apply for internships this week, I will go to fg today, I will sleep earlier from now on, I will allot my time better to do homework, and I will have my resume edited tomorrow.
These things that continue to test me for character are for the better.
I know I am talking about things I will do this week, but my "will" is weak, actually. I hope I can learn what it means to seek God's will over mine.
This is a process of getting humbled, and it stings a little.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
This race wasn't meant to be run alone.
Lord, please bring good brothers in my life that will keep me going to love JESUS as much as I can.
Fellowship
There is nothing like fellowship after the filling of the Holy Spirit. It fills people with an immeasurable joy that cannot be bought, so precious but at the same time so readily poured out for others to have as well.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Passion is endurance
I find that knowing is half the battle. Experiences in themselves are not enough. LIVING is where it's at. I want to be alive.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Father's Love
Just as a father calls his son on the phone, just to hear his voice for even a moment, so our Heavenly Father calls out to us and desires to hear us speak to Him, if even for just a moment. His love is so patient, it is so gentle and kind. This is the Father's love for us, His children.
My dad called me today. Thank you daddy!
My dad called me today. Thank you daddy!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Scrub
Today, I got my stuff rocked.
I was planning on getting my resume together for an internship with deloitte consulting... problem is... the application for the BTA (business technology analyst) position was DUE today.
An older brother who had been helping me through the process, didn't know I was so far behind on my resume.
Boy, did I get a lesson when he found out.
There's always something to learn from mistakes, so I will learn from these and look forward to the next time I can forgo repeating them.
Lord, thank you for the opportunities to learn and grow.
I was planning on getting my resume together for an internship with deloitte consulting... problem is... the application for the BTA (business technology analyst) position was DUE today.
An older brother who had been helping me through the process, didn't know I was so far behind on my resume.
Boy, did I get a lesson when he found out.
There's always something to learn from mistakes, so I will learn from these and look forward to the next time I can forgo repeating them.
Lord, thank you for the opportunities to learn and grow.
A Quote i heard today
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another:
“What! You, too? Thought I was the only one.” - C.S. Lewis
“What! You, too? Thought I was the only one.” - C.S. Lewis
School
Today's the first day of school.
The sun is shining brightly today.
After a 3 day hiatus due to some 'massive' amounts of snow, we're finally going back...
I'm secretly excited for classes hehe.
First day always sets the tone for the rest of the semester :)
Posted via LiveJournal app for iPad.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
First but not last
I like to state the obvious. This is my first livejournal post :). For one, I know I'll be needing a place to place the matters of my heart this upcoming semester, so I have turned here. On another hand, sometimes my prayers are better thought through written words instead of uttered words.
Purify my heart, help me to see with eyes of faith.
Purify my heart, help me to see with eyes of faith.
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