Innate Human Dignity

I just had a mini epiphany in the idea of human dignity. 

For some background, yesterday I received an email from the "social justice committee" from my church. They are reading books and becoming semi-active politically in fighting for rights for the imprisoned and against capital punishment. I read an article included in the email about people who claim to be Catholic, but support the death penalty and how those aren't compatible. 

Then just now I was rereading a section of a book ("How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People") that said: "You would automatically practice god human relations if you would remember that every individual is important, because every individual is a child of God." And I noticed a very puzzling inconsistency with a large number of people.

Words are POWERFUL!

Wow wow wow wow. Words are POWERFUL! :) Today, I was reminded of that. 

I love complements. And for some reason, I don't think I'm in the minority here. Lol. I have this strange feeling that everyone enjoys being noticed and recognized. Everyone, from the murders to the saints, from the slaves to the kings, love to be complemented and praised for their work. 

Today and yesterday I received a few complements and words of appreciation that made a major impact for me. Sometimes... you just need some reassurance that you're on the right path, that you are capable, that you are improving, that someone also believes in you. 

Faith Without Works?

I was listening to one of my favorite songs on youtube: Who Am I? By Casting Crowns when I noticed the first quote shown in the video from the bible. It is the probably one of the most quoted versus in the bible. It is Ephesians 2:8-9 saying: "For it is by grace you are saved, through faith... not works, so that no one can boast. For me it raised the age old question of "Are works required to enter the kingdom of heaven?"

Before we begin, some definitions I'm using that will help understanding of my writing:
1.) 'Faith' means claiming to believe: 'Jesus is my Lord and Savior'
2.) 'Works' means spreading the Gospel with words or actions, making your faith in Christ known in the physical realm.

And I think I've answered it in a way that would actually make both sides of the arguing happy. Let's see if it makes sense once I write it... (and if it is unsatisfying or inaccurate, please tell me!)

Problem Solving via Stream of Consciousness

For some reason, I am constantly surprised when I tend to react the same way every time when I go on vacation. After being ecstatic for a break, I immediately hit a wall and start doing nothing... Unfortunately I've never planned to do nothing for a break so I feel disappointed... which makes me not plan, do nothing, and feel more disappointed!!! Whoot! Lol. Fun freakin times... haha.

Sooooo... WHY IS THIS?!?!?!

***Now I'll stream of conscious write and see what I come up with. I apologize because my stream of conscious tends to jump around and not make a ton of sense... :) ---> After writing it, I think it made sense and will offer insight into life. Make it to the end, the conclusions are pretty solid. :)

Oh life... :)

A friend of mine wrote on her blog how she doesn't know what decision to make from all the different stresses falling on her. "A vacation from her vacation." And wishes "that a lot of her decisions didn't affect so much of everything else!" I laughed reading it because I have recently felt the same thing! And the funniest thing was that I thought of a potential solution, but for some reason I couldn't think of a solution when I was trying to figure it out for my own life. Have you ever noticed that in your own life? That you can easily offer advice or suggestions to other people but couldn't advise yourself the same way? 

I can see why my mentor Carlo Cipollina doesn't actually answer most of my questions anymore. He knows that if he literally just asked me the same question I ask him that more often than not I can answer it myself! It's just one of those weird things I guess... 

But now for the actual advice that I need to apply for my own life that I could only think of when trying to help her. Don't take yourself so seriously. Recently, I've been overanalyzing myself, my actions, and my life to the max. It is getting kind of ridiculous. It's something I repeatedly struggle with, the idea of permanentness in decision making. There are very few things that are the end of the world or the end all be all. Just pick something and go with it for a while. See what happens. :)

That 1 Thing

Yesterday I was challenged. The challenge was extraordinarily straightforward. It sounds easy. It was a mere question. In dreaming about all the things that we want or are striving for in our life, there is an oft forgotten or avoided question. This question I was asked to take action on is my current hardest challenge. For the last 2+ years, I have struggled with it. It is so PAINFUL that I have tried and failed and given up a myriad of times. My struggles are comparable to those who "just can't seem to keep it off" when it comes to weight.

The question was: "What is that one thing that if you would do it, that it would dramatically improve your life?" And "What are you not willing to change that you have to in order to get what you want in life?"