CHRISTmas

I'm a very positive and optimistic person by nature.  In fact, I'm so optimistic, that at times, it's hindered me in personal relationships.  I always look for the good in people.  However, if there's one thing that sets me off and I can't stay mum about, it's materialistic people.  Yes, every one is materialistic to a certain extent.  I'm certainly no different. For example, I have a love of european cars, but I don't let that define me as a person.

Something that greatly troubled me when I signed onto facebook today was seeing a number of people posting pictures of what they received for Christmas.  I can understand posting a pic of something silly, like a gag gift that mom or dad purchased for you, but when you're posting pictures of expensive merchandise on social media sites for your friends to see, who cares?  Call me crazy, but I thought once we graduated high school, we gave up the infatuation with "presents."  

Then again, we live in an age where people are so fixated on the exterior; we all put on facades, hoping to display to the world that that our lives are darn near perfect; that happiness never departs from us; and that we've all got it figured out.  The reality is these things couldn't be farther from the truth. The only One who has it together is our Creator.

I think the reason all this picture posting especially troubled me was the fact that today is the day we're supposed to be celebrating the birth of Christ!   But instead, Christmas has become a holiday of the glorification of mass accumulation.  People are more interested in the giving and receiving of gifts than they are of the giving and receiving of heart.  Instead of becoming fixated on who receives the most presents, we should be focused on who can shower grandma and grandpa with the most hugs and kisses.  

Christmas is about faith, family, friends, and making memories.  

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

--C.S. Lewis

Where was God?

Like everyone, I'm having a hard time processing the massacre that occurred in Connecticut. In fact, the devastation hasn't hit me completely yet. I know by sometime later this week, the after-math will all begin to sink in, but for right now I'm in absolute denial.

The innocence and trusting nature of a child is one of the most beautiful of God's creations. How a person could find it within himself to inflict any source of pain on a child is beyond me.

A lot of people are asking why this happened, and then the interest shifts to God. There's no denying that whether you are a follower of Christ, atheist, or agnostic, we all find ourselves asking, "But, why God?  Why would you allow something like this to happen?  Why didn't you show up?"

Well, a quick note: God did not allow this to happen; in fact, He tried to stop Adam on multiple occasions in the weeks leading up to the shooting, and the day of the shooting.  And furthermore, God was on scene the entire time of the shooting.

The amazing thing about having a relationship with God is that he has blessed us with free will.  What we choose to do with this gift is up to us: some people will choose to do good by this gift; and others, such as Adam Lanza will abuse this gift and choose evil.  

Last night my pastor, Doug, made a wonderful point regarding God's presence during the day of the shooting.  God wasn't curled up on the couch, asleep. He was up hours before Adam Lanza would get out of bed. He was in Adam's dreams, trying to convince him to stop the heinous crime he wanted so badly commit. He was in Adam's ear the entire drive over to the school, before the first shot, and every where in between.  Adam chose evil, but others, they chose good.

A perfect example is Victoria Soto, the darling 27 year old teacher, who hid her first graders in cabinets, and when confronted by Adam, was shot, and killed.  She could have chosen to exhibit her free will by hiding in the cabinets with her children, but instead, chose to shield the cabinets in an effort to protect the children.  She ultimately saved 20+ lives.  As far as I'm concerned God IS with Vicki, and all of the little children that lost their lives on Friday, and He WAS with them during the time of the shooting, reminding them that He loved them, and to be "brave."

I urge you to not lose faith in humanity as a whole.  Yes, there are many evil people in the world, but there are many more good natured people.  I leave you with a quote, a newsreporter on tv shared yesterday, that brings me hope: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” --Fred Rodgers

God bless Victoria Soto, and the other helpers of the world.

It's the little things

On Monday I took my final for microbiology. I thought it would be a silly gesture to purchase a mini hand sanitizer for my professor. So as I turned in my final, I handed it to him. The smile & laughter that ensued was priceless.

I absolutely love bringing joy into peoples' lives. Whether it be paying someone a compliment or surprising someone with a little trinket that reminded me of him, the reaction is always the same: a large smile forms on the lips & not only that, but if you look closely, the eyes will be smiling too.

That's the part I love most--the look of hope & sincere appreciation that forms in the eyes. The feeling that comes with implanting hope into another's heart is what my heart beats for.

Turn up the laughter!

So far today I've had two "mishaps."  And I'm about to leave for Microbio lab, so there's always the possibility of one more.  But if I do find myself in a dorky predicament tonight, I'll just laugh at myself & carry on.  I'm finally of the age where I realize that one of the best habits I have formed through maturation is the ability to laugh at myself.  I'm a serious person by nature, but you shouldn't always take yourself so seriously & besides, humor hardens life's blows.

Case in point: today I found myself walking into the shower & turning on the facuet while my bra was still on.  (I blame it on leg day).  I had to laugh at myself.  I mean, what a dorkomundo!

The second dorkus moment of the day occured when I needed to grab something out of my trunk. I must have forgotten to secure the lid on the protein powder container I keep in the trunk of my car because it's all over the place.

There is an upside, though-- my trunk now looks like a winter wonderland! And not only that, but the snow is edible too! Mmm, vanilla :D:)

Protein-infused vanilla snow comes for everyone!!