I graduate today so let's travel with Kearney.
May 26, 2012
May 19, 2012
May 16, 2012
Umbrella
It's springtime and I have forgotten how much it rains in the spring time.
Whenever it rains I always look for my umbrella but then I remember that I left my umbrella in my car and question to myself why in the world I would leave it in there since my car isn't in a garage.
Anyways, umbrellas are a recent symbol of my life and here's why:
When it rains you use an umbrella to protect yourself from getting wet. So you open up the umbrella and put it over your head and if you follow those directions you should stay mostly dry. Everything under the umbrella is enveloped by the umbrella.
Now imagine the umbrella is a representative of your personality or identity and now ask yourself,
"What should be the main label of that umbrella?"
"What should envelope me at the core of my being?"
"What should be the center of me as a whole person?"
For me, I came to the conclusion that the umbrella of my life should be my spirituality. By spirituality, I mean essentially my relationship with God and the effects of that on my character or being. I found that at the center of everything I do should be spirituality. Every activity should be enveloped or defined around my spirituality. My identity should be rooted in my spirituality.
Everything else should fall under the umbrella.
So, I found that I do not always live my life this way. In fact, I seem to have multiple "umbrellas" at times. I define myself differently depending on the situation. When interacting with girls I defined myself by my abilities or assets. When I drove I defined myself by my skills and knowledge of the road. When eating I defined myself by self-control and smart habits. When playing sports I defined myself by being a leader and an all around good sport while still being good at it.
A lot of it was a pride thing.
And I can't say I am all better now or that I have drastically improved my life since I came to the "Umbrella Theory" but I will say that it is good to at least acknowledge it in my life and be able to remember it at times. I am nowhere near getting a solid grasp at it but changing how you view things takes time, prayer, and humility.
As I write this it is 2:00am and there is a cool breeze flowing through the window. In the sky there is lightning, some thunder, but no rain. Now I imagine it in a spiritual sense, and I think of heaven; and that it must be picture day and it is beautiful. Angels are getting there picture taken with every flash, and no one is crying because they have to dress up, or smile with braces, but rather everyone is applauding because everyone is making funny faces in the camera.
Whenever it rains I always look for my umbrella but then I remember that I left my umbrella in my car and question to myself why in the world I would leave it in there since my car isn't in a garage.
Anyways, umbrellas are a recent symbol of my life and here's why:
When it rains you use an umbrella to protect yourself from getting wet. So you open up the umbrella and put it over your head and if you follow those directions you should stay mostly dry. Everything under the umbrella is enveloped by the umbrella.
Now imagine the umbrella is a representative of your personality or identity and now ask yourself,
"What should be the main label of that umbrella?"
"What should envelope me at the core of my being?"
"What should be the center of me as a whole person?"
For me, I came to the conclusion that the umbrella of my life should be my spirituality. By spirituality, I mean essentially my relationship with God and the effects of that on my character or being. I found that at the center of everything I do should be spirituality. Every activity should be enveloped or defined around my spirituality. My identity should be rooted in my spirituality.
Everything else should fall under the umbrella.
So, I found that I do not always live my life this way. In fact, I seem to have multiple "umbrellas" at times. I define myself differently depending on the situation. When interacting with girls I defined myself by my abilities or assets. When I drove I defined myself by my skills and knowledge of the road. When eating I defined myself by self-control and smart habits. When playing sports I defined myself by being a leader and an all around good sport while still being good at it.
A lot of it was a pride thing.
And I can't say I am all better now or that I have drastically improved my life since I came to the "Umbrella Theory" but I will say that it is good to at least acknowledge it in my life and be able to remember it at times. I am nowhere near getting a solid grasp at it but changing how you view things takes time, prayer, and humility.
As I write this it is 2:00am and there is a cool breeze flowing through the window. In the sky there is lightning, some thunder, but no rain. Now I imagine it in a spiritual sense, and I think of heaven; and that it must be picture day and it is beautiful. Angels are getting there picture taken with every flash, and no one is crying because they have to dress up, or smile with braces, but rather everyone is applauding because everyone is making funny faces in the camera.
May 12, 2012
Song of the Week 5-12-12
Good song, semi-awkward video. I think it would've been interesting if instead of "roaring like a lion" they said something about God being like a sheep. Just a thought.
May 09, 2012
Confessions
While in New Orleans I was reminded of a way to pray. We went through the acronym A.C.T.S.. The same one I used in fifth grade.
Adoration. Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication.
My favorite so far is confession.
Because confession involves self-disclosure.
Self-disclosure leads to a more intimate relationship.
And if there is someone you should have an intimate relationship with it should be God.
It's interesting the level of comfort I receive just by expressing myself to God. I ask God questions like, "Why did this happen?" or "How do you feel about this?" or "Do you have a beard?" I also tell God about how I feel like "I'm crushing on this girl" and "I am unsure about my future" and "This made me laugh today." I find it very powerful not only in my relationship with God, but also with others.
I find that since my initiation of this prayer process I am able to self-disclose to others much easier.
It seems almost magical. I feel more confident in my personal relationships. It could be because I am more confident in my relationship with God or maybe God is just blessing me more and more because this is the story He wants me to follow.
It is nice sharing with God about life and in turn being able to share it with others more confidently.
There is this scene in the movie(and the book) Blue Like Jazz that involves confession and I found it very powerful, maybe you will too; not just in the movie, but in your own life.
Adoration. Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication.
My favorite so far is confession.
Because confession involves self-disclosure.
Self-disclosure leads to a more intimate relationship.
And if there is someone you should have an intimate relationship with it should be God.
It's interesting the level of comfort I receive just by expressing myself to God. I ask God questions like, "Why did this happen?" or "How do you feel about this?" or "Do you have a beard?" I also tell God about how I feel like "I'm crushing on this girl" and "I am unsure about my future" and "This made me laugh today." I find it very powerful not only in my relationship with God, but also with others.
I find that since my initiation of this prayer process I am able to self-disclose to others much easier.
It seems almost magical. I feel more confident in my personal relationships. It could be because I am more confident in my relationship with God or maybe God is just blessing me more and more because this is the story He wants me to follow.
It is nice sharing with God about life and in turn being able to share it with others more confidently.
There is this scene in the movie(and the book) Blue Like Jazz that involves confession and I found it very powerful, maybe you will too; not just in the movie, but in your own life.
May 05, 2012
Song of the Week 5-5-12
Started reading A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller again and I remembered this video. People love stories and I believe that is why we can get so "caught up" in a movie or a book and because of that is why we get scared, or cry, or laugh; because we engrain ourselves into the story.
Some of his points:
A character that wants something makes a great story.
If what we want is sacrificial, or for the good of others, makes a better story.
If what we want is difficult to attain, or there is a lot of conflict to get it makes a better story.
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