That Offends Me!

I have a question for you, Reader: How many times (try to count) have you heard that? Five? Eight? Fifteen? Lost track?

Me? Yeah, I've lost track of how many times I've heard (or seen) someone say that something offends them. Have you ever said that about something? If so, let me ask you another question: What exactly do you wish to accomplish by stating that you're offended? I really would like to know. Or if you're not one to state how you feel about everything that ever comes up, have you ever thought about why people even bother to say they're offended? I mean, really, come on! What good does it do to notify everyone around you that something you disagree with upset you so much that you must make it known? What will it change?

You know what it will change?

Nothing. 

Because honestly, no one really cares that you are offended. Because everyone has a right to their own beliefs, their own views, their own opinions. And no one will ever always agree with anyone else. Even your best friend, your twin brother, your husband/wife, is different from you. That's the great thing about humans: we are all different from one another. It's a beautiful thing, really. Think about it. No one in the world who has ever lived or ever will live is exactly the same as anyone else. Do you know how many people have walked this earth? Do you? No. You don't. No one does. It would be like trying to count the stars. Or the grains of sand on a beach. It's not possible. Everyone is an individual. Everyone is beautifully unique. And that's a wonderful thing. So of course there are people who will disagree with you. So what? What's the big deal? Why get offended?

Here's yet another question for you: Do you like being disrespected? Do you like it when people are rude to you? How about when someone calls you names? How about when you share (politely) your view on something you feel is important and someone says, "How dare you say that!? That is offensive! I am offended!"? You see? You don't even have to be rude to offend someone. Maybe they're just overly sensitive. Maybe they hate being disagreed with because they think they're right about everything. Or maybe it's some other reason that no one knows about nor will ever find out about. Either way, getting offended about something really doesn't do anything at all. It's not like the offender is going to change their mind or apologize for having a different view.

Just like you have a right to your own opinion, so everyone else has just as much a right to theirs. 

If you're reading this, then I"m going to make the assumption that you are a human being. I'm going to say that that is a pretty safe assumption. And as such, you probably like when others treat you with dignity and respect. Right? I know I appreciate those things. So then it would seem that other human beings like to be treated with dignity and respect also. Makes sense right? So I think we can conclude that just because someone shares their views, which may not line up with yours, does not mean they are being disrespectful, hateful, or offensive. Yes, some people are rude and name-callers and jerks. But that doesn't mean that we should be rude name-calling jerks back.

Well, that's my opinion. I hope that you enjoyed reading it. If it offends you, that wasn't my intent or purpose, so you have no reason to be offended, in my opinion. And also, I don't really care.

I hope you come back. Until then, Reader, I say: Courage to you, and I, as we sally forth!

A Poem

With every breath I breathe
Every time my heart beats
And every thought that leads to you...
I don't know why it goes back through
Because the past is over and gone
But the track is stuck on this one song
And it's always at the part I hate the most.
I want to be able to forget
To stop and go on and leave that set
To welcome in the next scene that's waiting
Start anew and quit this hating
But it's just so hard when I feel alone
And I don't know how I'd let anyone know.
But can I really just keep going on this way?
I don't want bitterness to shape me
So won't You come and save me?
'Cause I don't know how to let this go
And I don't want these weeds to grow
To take up room where love should be
What will it take for me to see
This unforgiveness go and leave my heart?

Are You For Real?

There are a lot of things that a lot of people don't want to talk about, or even hear/read about. I'm no genius on the complex workings of the human brain, but I think it has something to do with the fact that no one wants to rock the boat. No one wants to take a stand and discuss the deeper topics. Why do people react that way to certain things? Why do you or I react that way? 

Do you ever stop and think about the root of it all? Do you think that maybe, just maybe, you're afraid? Now before you get defensive, stop and really think about it for a minute. Why else do we avoid certain topics at all cost? Why else do we shy away and try to change the subject, directing the conversation in a more comfortable direction? It's because you and I are afraid of standing up for what we believe and what we think is right. 

Okay, so that's it. That's what it is. We're afraid. But, then you might think, why are we afraid? What are we so scared of? Why is sharing our beliefs and opinions so scary? You know what? I think you already know the answer. You already know it, you just don't want to face it. The answer is this: you're worried about what other people will think of you! *Gasp* Yes, I said it! But it's true, isn't it? Everyone is so worried about what everyone else thinks of them that no one wants to truly be who they are. We all spend so much time trying to "fit in" that we don't even know ourselves anymore. And that's a real tragedy. 

 When you're in a group with your friends and a controversial topic comes up, what do you say when someone asks for your view on the subject? You freak out inside and start sweating and you get nervous and instead of stating how you really feel, you just go along with everyone else and agree, even though you don't. Am I right? Of course, there are those few people who are bold and honest with others about where they stand. And maybe that's you. If so, that's great! Good for you. But for the vast majority, we're worried that people won't like us anymore and won't want to be our friends if we don't agree with them and try to be exactly the way they are.

Now you might be thinking, 'Alright, so we've gotten to the bottom of things. Great. So now what?' Well, my friend, that is an excellent question! The hard truth is, if the people you call your friends genuinely care about you and like you for who you are as an individual, they will like you just as much when you stop trying to be like them and embrace your true self. And the thing is, if they don't, then you are much better off without them. You weren't meant to be a cheap copy of someone else. You were meant to be an original. Aren't originals worth way more than a replica? This isn't a masquerade! This is YOUR life. If you like something, wear it. If you have a certain view on a tough topic, share it! Find out what you love and do it! You've only got one shot at life, don't waste it by just being another face in the crowd. Be who you are, and be proud of it.

Courage to you, and I, as we sally forth! 

Brutally Honest?

Have you ever wondered what the point is? Ever wondered why you keep repeating the same thing day after day, month after month, and year after year? Have you ever felt like you were just wasting time, like your very life was wasting away? If not, that's great. It must be only me. But I doubt it.

You see, I'm going to be extremely honest here; I feel like my life is going nowhere. I feel like there's no point, no purpose to my existence. I know that's not true, of course, but right now, that's the way I feel. And the thing is, I don't know what to do about it. I mean, I've prayed, that's obviously the first thing to do when I start to feel hopeless and depressed. And it's not that I expect God to answer me right away or that the solution will come down from heaven and slap me in the face....but, I would like something. Anything.

Honestly though, I haven't really heard much from God lately. I haven't heard Him, haven't felt Him, haven't seen Him... Oh yeah, that's right. No one's seen Him. Never mind. But it's a little...okay, a lot...discouraging when I have no directions. I feel like I'm wandering around lost, not knowing which way I should go, what I'm supposed to be doing. I can't begin to count how many times I've prayed for guidance and direction. And you know what? Still nothing. Nada.

So what do I do? I can't keep on wandering around. I can't become depressed. Again. I can't lose hope, for as it says in Romans 4:18 "Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping..." And I bet Abraham sometimes felt the same way I do. I bet he had days where he felt like giving up all hope because he was really old and I mean, things don't exactly work the same way when you get to be that old, know what I'm sayin'? So, God's promise that he would have a son wasn't looking very reassuring. But he had faith that God would make good on His promise. And at the ripe old age of 100 years, Abraham and his wife Sarah had a kid. A son. Just like God promised. Took a while, and some mistakes were made along the way on the part of Abraham and Sarah, but it happened.

So, I guess I answered my own question, in a way. What do I do? Be patient. Have faith. And even when everything in my life (and in my mind) tells me that there's no reason to hope, keep on hoping. Keep believing that God, in His timing, not mine, will make good on His promises. That yes, everything does happen for a reason, even if I don't understand it at the time. And though these things are sometimes hard to do, it will be worth it. To everything there is a season.

So my friends, courage to you, and I, as we sally forth. 

First Attempt

Well, hopefully this will all turn out alright. I really have no idea what I'm doing. But I thought, 'Hey, why not just put it out there and see what happens?' Besides, if it doesn't work out or if I don't like it, I can always delete it and try something else. So, with that being said, welcome to my blog. :)

I'm not a stranger to having no idea what I'm doing. That's actually pretty normal for me. The way life goes, I guess. At least it is in my case. But we learn as we go, so I'm hoping to figure out this blogging business as I do it. Not that my life is super exciting and I have lots of things to share. Quite the opposite, in fact. But since I have so much time on my hands for thinking and contemplating the meaning of life, (haha), I decided that maybe it would be cool to blog about it and share my thoughts with anyone who is interested enough to read them.

So, there's a little introduction for you. If anyone decides to read, hopefully you'll enjoy, and maybe even get a new perspective on something, whatever it may be that I choose to write about. Courage to you, and I, as we sally forth.