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Simplicity.

When I was growing up, my house was in front of 2 acres of woods and a big overgrown field that was great for any type of game or sport you could think of. There was a fence that lined the south side of the woods, and on the other side of it was another field that was abandoned and overgrown. My mom always said that I wasn't allowed to go on the other side of the fence... but one day, I did, and I hopped the fence to discover a huge pile of different kinds of used old tires. "WOE! That's so cool!" It made the coolest place to build forts and obstacle courses, as long as you didn't mind the bugs and getting dirty.

I loved going to the pile of tires. I could stay there for hours, with or without friends, building things and discovering fun things to do with old tires. It was truly a care-free time in my life. I wasn't concerned about anything. I didn't have any responsibilities other than getting home in time for dinner. I didn't have to worry about school, or work. The only concern I had was just to make sure I didn't hurt myself... and even that I only cared about to a certain degree.

Growing older, graduating highschool, entering college, and considering marraige has made me think a lot about these memories... memories of times in my life of care-free simplicity.

Thinking about these times has made me realize that the older you get, the harder it gets - and there's no going back to when it was easier.

I remember thinking when I was younger that everything would be so much better when I got older because I wouldn't have rules anymore. I grew up to find out that I wasn't entirely correct.
Each year, if not each day I got older, more responsibilities were added to my life. It's like learning to drive. I remember thinking that I couldn't wait until I could drive so that way I wouldn't have to ask my mom's permission to go places. Then I got my license and I wanted a car. But guess what had to happen before I could get that car... I needed a job. More complication and stress was added to my life. The same was with all other growth points. I thought that after I graduated highschool, things would be better... but again, I was wrong. College ended up to be a rather rude awakening, and added even more responsibility and stress to my life. I thought that things would be better if I had a boyfriend... after a few heartbreaks, I learned that this wasn't always the case. More stress and complications were added to life.

Sometimes I get so stressed out that I wish I could just go back to that abandoned field with the pile of tires, and build myself a little hide-away back in the woods somewhere. Do you ever feel that way?

Several years ago, the property where the woods and tires once were was bought, and a housing development was built in its place. It really sadened me as I watched them tear down the trees each day that I came home from school, even though I was a teenager and really didn't go back there much anymore. It was just depressing to think that I couldn't go back there to relive those memories of a stress-free time. My child-like faith believed that those woods would always be there, so that when I had children of my own, I could take them there - to grandma's house - so they could play, learn, and create in the same woods that I did as a child.

Sometimes I wish that I could make life simpler... but I have realized that the best way for me to "get over" life's stresses, is to look toward the positive aspects of the future. Even though I am sure that life will only get harder as relationships grow and responsibilities grow in number, I can choose to not worry about it. I can choose to not let stress get the best of me.

Perhaps simplicity is a choice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtwGyxzxBDg

Fire

Several nights ago I was sitting in the backyard around a campfire with some friends. Ever notice how when there's a camp fire infront of you, something about it just puts you in a trance? I took a second to look up at everyone else... everyone was in a deep stare at the flames. Why do we watch it so intently? What are we thinking while we're looking at it?

I began to think about the irony of how a fire, like a camp fire, can be helpful to a person in that it keeps them warm, perhaps cooks food, or provides light. However, at the same time, fire is a powerful, dangerous, deadly thing that can hurt just as much, if not more than it can help.

Children around a campfire are one of the greatest reminders about the power and pain of fire. I swear my pulse doubles in speed when there's a toddler wandering around and there's a campfire nearby. This beautiful, useful, helpful thing could cause so much pain to this naive child, and everyone that's emotionally connected to the child.

But not only can fire cause pain when it's touched by a human hand, it can completely destroy a whole forest in just minutes. Fire can turn into an uncontrollable monster that will quickly devastate a city.

Is fire something that should be feared? This thing that's become a sort of backyard summer tradition? A tool of human technoloy? Certainly, it should at least be understood and respected.

I tend to lean toward the fear end of the spectrum... yet, the beauty and the utility of it draws me towards awe each time I encounter it.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/guiberson-fire-3.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire

Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy. Something I'm tired of, yet equally guilty of.

All these Christians that preach Jesus... do they walk it?

I'm sick of judgemental Christians. Did Jesus judge? The one who all "Christians" follow and try to be like?

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." -John 3:17

Why can't Christians do that?

Remember the woman caught in adultery? When she was brought to Jesus, he didn't confront her about her sin and demand that she turn from her evil ways. He simply said, "Go and sin no more." He didn't disown her. He didn't punish her. He just spoke the truth and sent her away. He forgave first and foremost.

Why do Christians feel they need to condemn others about what they do when Jesus, the one who has all the right in the universe to do so, didn't. Humans have no right to judge, and I'm tired of seeing it in churches.

Ghandi saw this concept early on.

He heard about Jesus, was intrigued, and wanted to follow. It wasn't until he came upon the doors of a church, and was denied by a "greeter" at the door. Ghandi wasn't allowed in because of the color of his skin. Would Jesus do that?

One of the greatest philosophers in world history wanted to follow Jesus... and a bunch of "Christians" - the term that so conveniently means "little Christ" or "Christ-like" - shut him out. Ghandi was innocent, yet judged, and unwelcomed.

When asked why he so often quoted Jesus but refused to become a follower, Ghandi spoke the famous words: "Oh, I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Hypocrits. Look at what we have done. Look at what we missed. One of the most intellectual, philosophically powerful men in all history could have been on your side... but you blew it.

And though this story is told over and over, nothing seems to change. It's been nearly 100 years since the happening, yet the same thing still continues. Hypocrisy. Sickening.

I guess we can't learn from our mistakes as easily as I thought.

"Christians" continually push people away from the Lord by their actions - by how they treat others, by how they live. When you're life is ugly and you're labeled Christian, people don't want to share that label with you.

How can we fix it? I don't know if we can. In fact, I know that we can't.

Lord, help us.

Ghandi's experience with Christian hypocrisy:

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/552.htm