This morning in my Eastern Philosophy class we discussed a brief history behind Confucianism and Daoism. For any that don't know, Confucianism focuses on personal morality, while Daoism focuses on our commune with nature. Both of these philosophies consider respect for elders of utmost importance.
When my (adorable 75 year old) professor was in the Peace Corp she taught in a Korean middle school where there was also a nearby high school and college. One afternoon, one of her close friends brought over a bowl of thinly sliced cucumbers and explained that after being placed on your face, the skin will be moisturized.
So, my professor took her advice, placed them on her face, and and went back to grading papers.
A little while later, a knock sounded at the door. She stood up, quickly brushed the cucumbers from her face, and opened the door; A student from the college was dropping by to ask for assistance with his English. So, Dr. Kraus helped him. Afterwards, she walked him to the front drive (or an area like this) and said goodbye; as she was walking back inside, she immediately saw it--one thin slice of cucumber remained on her forehead.
Two things: 1) The boy didn't say anything to Dr. Kraus because he didn't want to disrespect her and cause and embarrassment. 2) Sometimes you just need a good laugh at yourself.
This is my blogging prompt from yesterday, that I just didn't have enough time to finish: "What we should be doing..." I'm going to start this out by saying that I have been guilty of this at times, so I am truly including myself in the "we" instead of casting any blame on others. But what we should be doing is ending our judgments of people and communities (read: impoverished people) and actually doing something to help...or at least try to find a better system. I get tired of hearing people in Christian circles saying "The decisions they have made landed them on the streets." Or ""I'm tired of my hard earned money being given as a handout to people who don't try to better their situations. They just use it on drugs and alcohol." Or one of my favorites: "They just need to get off their butts and find a job." In case anybody hasn't noticed, we are in tough economic times, and "another 2.6 million people slipped into poverty in the United States last year, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday, and the number of Americans living below the official poverty line, 46.2 million people, was the highest number in the 52 years the bureau has been publishing figures on it. (Tavernise, Sabrina [2011]: "Soaring Poverty Casts Spotlight on ‘Lost Decade’"). With the number of people below the poverty level rising and the number of decent paying jobs lowering, people can't find jobs. And sure, there are some people who abuse the system. They use their welfare money for things like drugs and alcohol, but not all of them, and stereotyping everybody who is impoverished is wrong. This past summer I read Tim Keller's book Ministries of Mercyand at the very beginning Keller gives statistics on those below the poverty line. (This book was written several years ago, so numbers would have changed by now.) I was shocked to read though that a large percentage of people below the poverty line were working--or at least working for a job. The problem, though, is that these jobs weren't paying enough for these people to rise above the poverty line. Or else, they were looking for a job, but because they don't have a car (or because of other extenuating circumstances), they can't make it to job interviews. Finally, there's such a stigma with homeless people, that certain companies are unwilling to hire the individual, labeling him/her as "untrustworthy" or "questionable." So you see, it can be a cycle at times, and rather than stereotyping these people and communities we should get out and do something. Sure, there is still so much to be done to better these statistics, but one person intentionally serving others--rather than trashing them--can make a huge difference. Serve at a community work day (United Way of Greenville has a day like this), serve in a soup kitchen and personally get to know these people and their stories, but whatever you do, stop stereotyping and judging these people based on situations that could possibly be out of their hands.
I recently found some blogging prompts on another blog I was perusing, and thought it would be fun to try my hand at some of them. Who knows! Maybe I'll blog a bit more frequently. So as I sit here in the campus coffee shop, sipping on a very diluted (yuck!) vanilla latte, I bring you prompt 1: "Do you believe the saying that with great risks come great rewards?" Yes, I do believe this saying. Obviously every great risk doesn't lead to a great reward. Hello?! Think of all those people who make bad investments and lose the entirety of their fortunes. But on the other hand, think of all those people who make investments into those little unknown companies that eventually skyrocket. They've ended up taking a big risk with their money, and it's paid off. I think that more often than we realize the decisions we make are risky...even if the decision is basically a non-decision. What if I decide that to take a risk would end up hurting me in the long-run...but what if I also see later that someone else has taken that same risk and it has majorly paid off. I'll always wonder "what if?" it's almost as if there's an invisible risk. This fear of the "will the obvious risk pay off? Will my non-decision be a risk?" reminds me of a line from an article my mom sent me recently. The journalist shares how whenever she was scared to do something--for fear of other's judgments, fear of mistake, etc--the tiny voice of her mother would pop into her head saying "Fear means go!" So rather than the fear of taking a "visible" risk (or possibly even the "invisible" risk), maybe that fear means "GO!" And who knows...the payoff could be huge.
I must say, I think that Michelle Dockery is probably one of the most naturally beautiful, graceful women. She's a fantastic actress, and she has the absolute best fashion sense...or at least she has an awesome team of stylists dressing her. I love everything about her Oscars look from this week.
This dress...perfection. Maybe I'm biased, maybe I love it just because Michelle is wearing it, but nevertheless, I do love it. It is unique and stood out from all of the other gowns. It was traditional, modern, and so sophisticated all in one.
Also, her hair and makeup were perfection. Just love this whole look!
Monday, December 17, 2012
A good friend of mine shared this post that she read earlier today, stating that it's one of the best posts she's seen since the shootings on Friday. I would have to agree. Take the time to read... "In this life, in the muck and mire, in the sweat and tears, we too don’t always know who is winning. It seems very likely that the Evil One prevailed on Friday. If the grief and pain in our hearts is to be believed, he certainly did. But he did not. Instead the grief and pain must remind us that we grieve precisely because things are not as they should be; and the fact that things are not as they should be promises that one day they will be. The fact that the Evil One acts in such deranged, malicious ways proves that he is helpless; his very struggles testify to a prevailing and conquering God. Because in battle,only the winning side has the capacity to be generous, to spare the lives of its enemies; the losing side cannot risk it."
As Christians, i think we often forget that we're allowed to lament. We think somehow that by crying out to God in the midst of our great sorrow and pain, we are questioning his power, might, or goodness, but lament is not blame. Numerous godly men and women lamented in the Bible. It's okay! God hears our cries. These cries draw us deeper into His grace, and love, and comfort. We can lament in times of tragedy.
This morning, as I was thinking about lament, I remembered this song by Jars of Clay. I always took this to be the singers' cries of grief, but I read something earlier in which somebody stated that they always believed this was supposed to be "God's lament" in a way. Either way, it's a powerful song. (Below are the lyrics)
"Oh My God"
Oh my God, look around this place Your fingers reach around the bone You set the break and set the tone Flights of grace, and future falls In present pain All fools say, "Oh my God"
Oh my God, Why are we so afraid? We make it worse when we don't bleed There is no cure for our disease Turn a phrase, and rise again Or fake your death and only tell your closest friend Oh my God.
Oh my God, can I complain? You take away my firm belief and graft my soul upon your grief Weddings, boats and alibis All drift away, and a mother cries
Liars and fools; sons and failures Thieves will always say Lost and found; ailing wanderers Healers always say Whores and angels; men with problems Leavers always say Broken hearted; separated Orphans always say War creators; racial haters Preachers always say Distant fathers; fallen warriors Givers always say Pilgrim saints; lonely widows Users always say Fearful mothers; watchful doubters Saviors always say
Sometimes I cannot forgive And these days, mercy cuts so deep If the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep While I lay, I dream we're better, Scales were gone and faces light When we wake, we hate our brother We still move to hurt each other Sometimes I can close my eyes, And all the fear that keeps me silent falls below my heavy breathing, What makes me so badly bent? We all have a chance to murder We all feel the need for wonder We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the thunder
Sometimes when I lose my grip, I wonder what to make of heaven All the times I thought to reach up All the times I had to give Babies underneath their beds Hospitals that cannot treat all the wounds that money causes, All the comforts of cathedrals All the cries of thirsty children - this is our inheritance All the rage of watching mothers - this is our greatest offense
Today is one of those tragic days. (And a day that reminds--at least reminds me--that every day around the world some people go through tragedies like this, while others of us are just going about our normal days)*. Today is one of those days that reminds me that this world is so, so fallen and that it needs Jesus. It needs a Redeemer and a Restorer. Only Jesus can bring peace and lavish grace. And I pray for the family and friends that have lost children, siblings, aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, friends today in the Connecticut school shooting. I pray that God will rain down his overwhelming grace and peace on these people. I pray that somehow, some way, God will shine down his glory during this terrible time. Because in times like this, it seems like the world's about to fall to bits. It seems like there is nothing good any longer. And in times like this, I know that the only way that people can get through a is by the grace and peace of God. *This is in no way to take away from what has happened, but it does remind me that stuff that is shocking like this happens all over the world, every day, and we don't ever hear about it. And it should make us just as terrified and sad.
