Saturday, 21 May 2011

A Time Of Peace

I must confess recently i have enjoyed the memories of my childhood again. Mainly TV shows that were around in the 90's and i do believe life is truly wonderful.

I look out of the window and see the beauty of nature; the colours the shapes, how can any of this be accidental? It was all made, sculpted perfectly by the One who created us and all things.

You must know by now. You are not 1 in 7 billion, not even 1 in 100 billion. You are one of a kind model 1 of 1. God only made 1 of you then started again for someone else. Sure we can look like other people but i firmly believe that the physical is a small part of our overall existence. Your soul, your mind is completely different from those around you. And if you don't spend your life being you, who will?

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Show Them You Care

I know that if I just randomly dropped out of contact with everyone I know I would get a fair few question thrown at me. Worried people may just text or call me, but those who truly cared would come round to my house and ask me face to face what is happening.

Given that, why do we accept it as part of everyday life when people just stop coming to groups/meeting or social events? Surely it is the same thing?

Does compassion go beyond the physical? Or is it just being stuck in an emotional state? I think it has a lot more to do with the soul. Yeah that old thing, threaded into your body. It is having the mindset to care about others - even those that may not care about you - and how you can help them achieve a fuller, more beautiful life. Even when you are at a low point in your life. True compassion, grows from within, and is a pure gift from God. It is a keystone of Love, without it there is no care or support.

So what do we do when people just stop coming or stop caring? We set out to show them how much their friendship and contact mean to us and others; and we go to not take no for an answer. They must be shown that they are not alone, or that there is more to life than this, or that there is someone listening.

If you pause because you are thinking of consequences...don't! Just go, if you feel they need some help, then God will deal with the resolution, but it's up to you to start the action.

Timewise

In reference to time how long is too long?

Is it a lifetime? Is it seven years? is it even a second? Of course, it depends entirely upon the subject. Take Love for example in truth you can never spend too long in Love. If both parties are loyal, humble, faithful, passionate...in Love, it may as well last for ever. Just to completely wrap this example up...
Point 1: 1 John 4:8 God is Love
Point 2: Jeremiah 10:10 God is the eternal King
So...Love is eternal so has no time limit.

However; when we are talking about something smaller, something like contemplation, "how long is too long?". If you experience a major incident, you are going to think about it for a while. It may have shocked you, or helped you, but it will keep popping up in your head for a while. But you can't let it get in the way of the rest of your LIFE! Sure things happen, but that is life itself. And you are alive after all, so put on a brave face and walk outside. Think about the future for once, of what could be. Remember what it felt like as a child and stretch to your goals.

Growing up was only ever created to be a physical progression, it shouldn't make you forget about LIVING YOUR LIFE! So in answer to the question of contemplation; any amount of time that stops you living is too long...remember that.

Monday, 4 April 2011

Apology

It is true what your parents have told you. Saying sorry is one of the hardest things to do. You may think it seems quite easy, it sounds quite easy, it has been easy. But that has only been in VERY small situations.

Saying sorry, when you want to mean it most, when you have been moved in your heart and you have found no other way to apologise, is almost impossible, but necessary and most definitely worth it in the end.

Why is it almost impossible? Because you know, you have done wrong. You know that you have upset the balance, you can feel it. And you understand that saying anything else may hurt the other party more. Something beyond human, is telling you that asking for forgiveness is a VITAL part of life. But you just want them to know you are sorry.

How can you be sure that apologising is the right thing? If you have created a wrong, then it has to be corrected...BY YOU! No other person can undo the damage you have done. It IS your responsibility, so that person can have a happier life.

Could it make things worse? I have considered this in my own situations. Too much time has passed, bringing it up may do more harm than good. But they need to know what you have been through. Maybe not the details, but certainly that you understand where you put them and how sorry you really are now.

are you going to let LIFE pass you by, without an apology? Life IS short, get over yourself, if your not saying sorry because of pride...it is not worth the PAIN! Drop the facade, become your own person and accept your mistakes and learn from them. At the very least, learn from your past. So that it can be avoided in the future. Not speaking to someone you care about has torn the world in two. There are too many lives lost to solitude and pain. Too many voices have faded into the darkness because of selfish actions from selfish people who don't know what harm a single word can do. So GO and make that phone call, GO and tell that person what a fool you have been, GO and show the people why you came back!

At the end of the day in our own little situations, there can never be enough advice; you can never be fully prepared. Just take a chance, it may save your life.

Monday, 28 March 2011

Where Will It End?

Is it funny that sometimes in life we seem to only complain about very trivial matters? It seems that the higher the degree of comfort we live in, the more we take for granted and as a result we moan about the smallest things. Of course we have to loose it ALL before we truly know what we had; freedom is only freedom, when you have been in slavery (of any form).
Is it right that we complain about the temperature of the shower, while other less fortunate people have to spend each day looking for enough food to survive? Even in this "More Economically Developed Country" there are people who can't afford to live.
The amazing part is; they know what they need to do so they don't complain or protest. Who would they talk to anyway? It's not like your going to listen to their small voices, while you turn up your ipod and rush off to some 'vital' meeting. You don't have time...YOU'RE BUSY! Yeah right! The world is busy, but charity still survives.
So far you have grown up in a world without a threat of death, where you can get whatever you want. It will all change soon.
Perhaps. perhaps there can be a difference if you change right now. It's not too late. Stop wasting money and time; live a simpler life and find fulfilment in what you do. Stand still, listen...that's the world calling. Can you here the voices that want to be heard?

Saturday, 19 March 2011

Faith, the brightest torch I know

There MUST be more than this right? You look around in life and you had dreams...but now your stuck in a dead end job, just because you needed a little bit of money once. What happened to those dreams? Where has the passion gone? It's not that you need a boost, because every time you arrive at the bottom, you somehow manage to pull yourself back up. BUT WHY DOES IT NEVER GO ANY FURTHER?

You just try to survive, to find a way to ignore the bad times. The times when all of life closed in on you and your friends turned their backs. Each time you survived. What was the cost? Does your heart ache less now each night? Do you ignore the desperate plea of another human in a situation you where once in? Where is the joy you once lived for each day? How could it all end like this?

When we were young, and all of life's issues were kept from our eyes we had happy lives. But as age gains on us, we see the truth. That family, friends put their own worries aside to let us have great childhoods. No one ever said life would be easy. Then again; did we ever have a choice? There will never be answers to every question. There will never be a human life of pure joy and no sorrow. We can kid ourselves and look past the pain, filling our lives with useless things to keep us from thinking...what if?

You are individual. You are strong. You have survived. When did you give up on yourself? How did doubt get past your guard? You CAN make it you know. That dream, sitting in sight, but out of reach. It can be yours. It will take more though. More than you want to risk, but as much as you have. Give it your life; give it all you have and see where you end up.

"But where do I get that confidence from?" Look past life. And ask.
He will provide, if you want it enough. Ask God each day for what it takes, what it needs. Then step out. Point your whole self in that direction and walk. Walk without fear, walk with God in your sight toward you dream. Then see where life can take you. And know why there IS so much more than this.

For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Friday, 25 February 2011

Life in General and My Agenda

It has always seemed strange to me that people could be so trust less. That any action taken could be perceived in so many threatening ways. Perhaps it once again comes from my past [as does everything that has shaped me] being surrounded by people who (i thought) had secret agendas [but probably didn't, they were just thinking about number 1], I decided to create my own agenda. Must admit as I write this it still sounds a little strange, but for me it is less selfish and more for peoples benefits than most agendas. But i am still fractured.

Here is a question and more altogether the topic of my blog for today. Is it odd that i take the future for granted? Or in fact does everyone?

I'm sure there are people who don't. People who are living in fear of loosing their jobs, or having to move away or any number of life altering events, but I do take the future for granted. And at times it scares me. Some people are given the impression that i don't care about my life or what happens. That was once true but now is not. I was just never fully aware of my responsibilities, and now i hope i am more sensitive to the people and understanding what is needed.

I hope in the far future some people come back and read this and understand where I have come from. But what is the future but hopes and dreams dreamt while we are still sleeping? It is more than that. It is our lives. It is what will happen regardless of time, of money, of feelings. Life goes on and we cannot dream when there is a future to build. So where do we go? What do we do?

I like the film 'A Christmas Carol' But the message never really struck me until last year. Humanity is our business. And we must try as hard as we can to show the people out on the streets, to show the people who don't understand, to show anyone who needs love; that there is Love, and someone cares for them. I once said we can only truly develop by embracing our past. Now I realise that although that is good, we must also embrace our neighbours and our families to grow into this world.

Many people would say the future is what we make it, or what we make for ourselves...I'm not yet convinced on this, but if it is then let's try our best to make it a good future; for the world.

Thursday, 24 February 2011

Steps on the Pyramid?

It is a rather odd thought to me, that my thoughts (go figure) would feel so much more ordered and understandable when i am the most tired.

Either you a trawling through the senseless ramblings of a tired 17 year old lad; or you are witnessing the well structured and proved prose of a keen young mind. But at times we are called to work with what we are given so...here we go.

Due to my young age, there are many things in life that i have not experienced; as of yet. One situation that has only recently reared it ugly head is, inequality. Sure we see it in films, on television; or hear of it in talk, but up until recently i have never been a victim of it.

On this count i would consider myself blessed, because inequality IS a horrible thing. As just mentioned I did experience it quite recently from someone who is equal to me, and being that I am still young, and forming of opinions and views are not yet set in stone, it shook me up a fair bit.

Now I really know what injustice feels like, and it's only from our own emotional experiences that we can create opinions and perspectives on situations in life. What then, am i going to do?

I am going to give this person and peoples the same respect i give to everyone else. I would consider us equals and try to help, as I have helped others. I would wish them, well and long lives, and show them that I care for their future. Even if they do not.

I'd hope any person reading this would be challenged and also give it a go. For it is not the depths of our wallets, nor the height of power of our acquaintances that make us friends of the people. It is the sacrifices and time, and equality shown to the people. That earns true respect, and that is hard to break.

Monday, 21 February 2011

Ramblings

For some strange reason I'm finding writing quite hard at the moment [so bear with me]; stories, poems, blogs have slowed down. Perhaps it's due in part to this emotional journey I'm on. Some things have changed, I've grown...and the shifting of life from one area of comfort to an unknown is looming [University]. A question I have always wrestled with is "Am I ready?", but that's just being selfish of me, I'll never be completely ready for anything. I may as well give it a go rather than spend an entire lifetime being fully prepared. Life cannot develop without unforeseen consequences and challenges that we have to overcome. Shame no-one i talk to seems to feel the same way.

And if I am sure of what i have to do, then by a 'little help from above' and with my love for God and his plan [and all the rightly deserved respect there] then surely [Romans 8:28-31] 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

I will go for it, rather than waste a lifetime in contemplation. Why? Because i want to try for God and I have faith. I want to enjoy myself and make Him smile, at the same time. So if I appear a little random, a little loud, a little crazy, a little unique...it's because I am and I know I am and I am comfortable with myself. And I'm doing it for the betterment of people so they have something to cheer them up rather than a year of sadness.

And now on to something a little less related. Yes, a tangent. I found it quite odd after writing a few poems that people and websites said "it's good to be surrounded in what you are doing", in this case to read poetry before writing it. I didn't find it hard to write poetry, and to me reading other peoples poetry was an optional step which I am yet to take. So where are my poems now? Well my friends are reading them, then i can bring in the 'system' and get them published. YAY!

Sunday, 6 February 2011

Overpopulation

Overpopulation is not a new thing, but at times can be regarded as a very taboo topic. As if thinkers and scientists are presenting racist tinted views, rather than common sense.
The last time [in England at least] that overpopulation was becoming a problem, was late 1800's early 1900's. Unfortunately in 1914 World War 1 broke out, thus [and i hate to use this sort of phrase] reducing the population considerably. Now we hear talk that it would take another good war to reduce the population enough*. But anyone who talks like this is small minded and a fool**.

I was once told [a very long time ago] that England is only a small country. This is true, we also have a moderate population density. But tell me this; in England alone, if the population keeps increasing where will they live? Yes we may go out, but what happens when we reach the shores of this island?

"We go up!" said a friend confidently. " and after that?" said I. "After we can go no higher?". To this he had no answer***, but the point is there. We will run out of space. More people. That means the same amount of resources being divided up with each person getting less. To force people not to have children would be wrong [It would not be a solution either, as no children means no future generations]. But to show them and learn them, that less people means everyone have a better quality of life; now and for generation to come. Is surely the better way.

To slow down that exponential growth of the global population, would mean each generation would eventually benefit more. More space, more resources, more time even in which to grow**** and be themselves.

Speed in this sense is not a benefit. If we could slow down the growth of the Human race with common sense, then surely the planet too would benefit. Less people means less of everything really. Less cars/planes/trains/boats to pollute the planet. Less water being used up in those expensive and unnecessary bathrooms. Less burning of fuels and other such pollutants for power and heat. Less mass production of non-recyclable items.

Yes there is also the argument of less creation, less new ideas, less original thoughts. But in a world of billions new ideas are swept away on tide, only to be forgotten and plagiarised. And perhaps as odd as it sounds, Humanity needs a break from itself once or twice and even a break from new tech. In order to reflect and remember The History, where we came from and how it all happened.

Every child should be cared for, but also made to know and care of their past. That is why there is a lost generation coming upon us. A group of children lost in the dark, who don't even realise there is darkness all around them. Not even searching for The Light.



* Enough for what I have no idea, people seem not to think of amounts.

**I must confess that i thought like that for a time, before I became more understanding

***I must confess my friend was put on the spot

****Grow mentally, physically, spiritually but not in terms of having 8 kids