I've decided to skip Day 38 as I feel this is not relevant to me. However Day 39 asks how what I will do to stay on track with my life's purpose. While the chapter gives 4 ways to do so, I choose to keep my self in check by going over what I do. In other words, whatever work I do should have something to do with my life's purpose, and if not I need to evaluate why I am doing it.
Tomorrow's entry will be the last for my look at The Purpose Driven Life. After that there will be many secular articles, but some will relate to my new found purpose. I think the first article will be based on the criminal justice system and children...why are we spending so much more money on prisons than schools? Why would we rather throw them in prison than prevent it from the start through education? That's later this week. Stay tuned...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Day 37 Share
This entry comes quite late as I had some time to reflect on recent events. The question for the day asks who I am to share my personal story with. After I read this chapter, I wasn't sure who I was supposed to share my story with, or if I even had one at all. When I think of sharing stories of life, I think of people who go from living on the streets to becoming CEO's of multimillion dollar corporations through hard work, faith and perseverance. People who have stories that can be examples of rags to riches or going from darkness to light, are people that go from one extreme to another. They often write books on their lives or have movies made about them. My life hasn't been on either side of those extremes, but somewhere in the middle. I didn't think anyone would be able to benefit from anything I had to tell them.
Days after reading this chapter, as part of a leadership program I am enrolled in, I along with my classmates made a visit to a county jail/prison. We toured the facilities and heard from several speakers on programs to help current inmates and ex-convicts become productive members of society. Our visit to the jail also included speakers (I will discuss in another post- entitled Babies in Jail: The Plight of Young, Troubled Youth).
After the tour and speakers, we were told that we would also visit a nearby detention center for youth offenders, and be given the opportunity to speak with them. As we were informed of this, a feeling of apprehension came over me. I had no idea what to say to these kids. I had no idea what to expect of the living conditions, and I honestly did not want to go. As we drove to the detention center, the feeling of apprehension grew.
When we arrived at the detention center we were greeted with friendly administrators, that proved to really care about the children. We were then given a tour of the facility. As we had our tour, we could see the children in the television room. I didn't expect them to be happy and cheerful, after all they were in a detention center. What I didn't expect what to see them look so lost and hopeless. The more the tour continued, the more I wanted out. After our tour we finally were able to speak with the kids. As everyone sat down to speak with them, I walked towards the end of the dining hall with my head down, trying to avoid what was in front of me. One of my classmates called me over to sit with her and the kids she was in conversation with.
At first, I just sat and listened. I listened to their likes and dislikes, what they liked to do for fun, and their hopes for the future. While they seemed to enjoy our conversations, one kid bothered me. As he spoke of his hopes for the future, he let out a sad sigh; it was almost as if he didn't believe in his own dreams. We then left the center and want back to our daily routines, but the visit bothered me as much then as it does now. It was after this visit that I realized who I had to share my story with . While I have never been to prison or even jail, I realize that with he temper I had as a teen, one wrong turn could have landed me there. I won't go into my life story now, as it wasn't meant for you, but for them.
God really does work in mysterious ways. I originally had no interest in the program that led me to the detention center. In fact, I only went out of spite, because someone told me I could never be a leader and didn't want me in the program. I decided to prove them wrong and piss them off. I realize now what I am meant to do. Maybe I won't be able to volunteer at this particular center, or any other, but I know now that I am meant to do something with kids in the criminal justice system. While I thought about becoming a mentor to at risk youth, I have now decided to focus my time and attention particularly to kids that have been through the system. They need to know that regardless of what they've done people haven't given up on them.
Days after reading this chapter, as part of a leadership program I am enrolled in, I along with my classmates made a visit to a county jail/prison. We toured the facilities and heard from several speakers on programs to help current inmates and ex-convicts become productive members of society. Our visit to the jail also included speakers (I will discuss in another post- entitled Babies in Jail: The Plight of Young, Troubled Youth).
After the tour and speakers, we were told that we would also visit a nearby detention center for youth offenders, and be given the opportunity to speak with them. As we were informed of this, a feeling of apprehension came over me. I had no idea what to say to these kids. I had no idea what to expect of the living conditions, and I honestly did not want to go. As we drove to the detention center, the feeling of apprehension grew.
When we arrived at the detention center we were greeted with friendly administrators, that proved to really care about the children. We were then given a tour of the facility. As we had our tour, we could see the children in the television room. I didn't expect them to be happy and cheerful, after all they were in a detention center. What I didn't expect what to see them look so lost and hopeless. The more the tour continued, the more I wanted out. After our tour we finally were able to speak with the kids. As everyone sat down to speak with them, I walked towards the end of the dining hall with my head down, trying to avoid what was in front of me. One of my classmates called me over to sit with her and the kids she was in conversation with.
At first, I just sat and listened. I listened to their likes and dislikes, what they liked to do for fun, and their hopes for the future. While they seemed to enjoy our conversations, one kid bothered me. As he spoke of his hopes for the future, he let out a sad sigh; it was almost as if he didn't believe in his own dreams. We then left the center and want back to our daily routines, but the visit bothered me as much then as it does now. It was after this visit that I realized who I had to share my story with . While I have never been to prison or even jail, I realize that with he temper I had as a teen, one wrong turn could have landed me there. I won't go into my life story now, as it wasn't meant for you, but for them.
God really does work in mysterious ways. I originally had no interest in the program that led me to the detention center. In fact, I only went out of spite, because someone told me I could never be a leader and didn't want me in the program. I decided to prove them wrong and piss them off. I realize now what I am meant to do. Maybe I won't be able to volunteer at this particular center, or any other, but I know now that I am meant to do something with kids in the criminal justice system. While I thought about becoming a mentor to at risk youth, I have now decided to focus my time and attention particularly to kids that have been through the system. They need to know that regardless of what they've done people haven't given up on them.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Day 36: Why Bother?
Day 36 asks what fear has kept you from telling people about God. It took me a few seconds to think about this. The fact is, no one wants to be preached to. So many people have been preached to and in a way that its almost like forcing religion down people's throats. I don't know anyone who responds positively to that kind of teaching (if you want to call it that). I personally hate it. I can't stand visiting a church and the second I get in they want to make me a member. I had a recent experience where they asked me twice to go up to the altar. I've had instances when I've felt like I was being stalked. Its a major turn off! I refuse to be one of those people. I believe things should happen naturally. If I happen to get into a conversation about religion then I am happy to tell people about God (or at least what I know thus far). Everyone is not meant to be at the corner with a bible, yelling at people to be saved or burn in hell. While I understand that these are major extremes, these extremists make everyone who believes in God seem like extremists as well.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Faults and Weaknesses
Day 35: Am I limiting God's power in my life by trying to hide my weaknesses? What do I need to be honest about in order to help others?
Ok, so I had to take a few minutes to take a hard look at myself and admit to my weaknesses. Some are superficial and physical like the fact that I am not good at any sports, at all. Others are real weaknesses in my personality and I am not sure where the come from. I decided to do what the book says and be open and admit to some of them at least.
1. I have a bad temper, I have no idea why I have limited patience. I am mostly aggravated by other people's stupidity; what most people will let roll off their backs I sometimes harbor.
2. I can't do math...at all. I 've learned to live with it, that's why we have calculators.
3. I attempt to plan every detail of my life. I have to know the beginning and end to something, it might be why I'm so afraid of water, it just seems endless.
4. I am indecisive. I am always afraid of making the wrong decision and ask others to make my decisions for me... usually these are not major decisions.
5. My biggest flaw: I am afraid of failure. I think that if I try something and fail I'll look like an idiot and people will think less of me, mostly I will think less of myself. Yes I know failure is not trying at all but I can't seem to wrap my head around that concept. I have however learned to take more risks.
6. I am not the most open person on the planet. I am very independent almost to a flaw. Yes I'll tell you my opinion on something in a heartbeat but very few people get to know me. I am a private person and I don't like too many people in my life, space, face because I think they may use it against me. Yes I have a wall, and I LIKE IT!
Then again if I was that closed I wouldn't be telling the cyberworld all of this would I?
So there you have it, my flaws and weaknesses. You may look at my list and laugh or think I'm weird and need a shrink but I don't care. I'm just being real about me, you might want to try it and come back to planet earth.
Now as for how this posed be used to help others, I have no idea. If this helps you then great, let me know.
Ok, so I had to take a few minutes to take a hard look at myself and admit to my weaknesses. Some are superficial and physical like the fact that I am not good at any sports, at all. Others are real weaknesses in my personality and I am not sure where the come from. I decided to do what the book says and be open and admit to some of them at least.
1. I have a bad temper, I have no idea why I have limited patience. I am mostly aggravated by other people's stupidity; what most people will let roll off their backs I sometimes harbor.
2. I can't do math...at all. I 've learned to live with it, that's why we have calculators.
3. I attempt to plan every detail of my life. I have to know the beginning and end to something, it might be why I'm so afraid of water, it just seems endless.
4. I am indecisive. I am always afraid of making the wrong decision and ask others to make my decisions for me... usually these are not major decisions.
5. My biggest flaw: I am afraid of failure. I think that if I try something and fail I'll look like an idiot and people will think less of me, mostly I will think less of myself. Yes I know failure is not trying at all but I can't seem to wrap my head around that concept. I have however learned to take more risks.
6. I am not the most open person on the planet. I am very independent almost to a flaw. Yes I'll tell you my opinion on something in a heartbeat but very few people get to know me. I am a private person and I don't like too many people in my life, space, face because I think they may use it against me. Yes I have a wall, and I LIKE IT!
Then again if I was that closed I wouldn't be telling the cyberworld all of this would I?
So there you have it, my flaws and weaknesses. You may look at my list and laugh or think I'm weird and need a shrink but I don't care. I'm just being real about me, you might want to try it and come back to planet earth.
Now as for how this posed be used to help others, I have no idea. If this helps you then great, let me know.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Day 34
Am I usually concerned about being served or serving others?
What kind of question is this? If your'e a good person you like to help others in any way that you can, that doesn't mean that a Christian does not or would like to be helped, taken care of, or served as well. Its about treating others as you want them to treat you. However you don't do things for other people in the hopes of getting something in return.
What kind of question is this? If your'e a good person you like to help others in any way that you can, that doesn't mean that a Christian does not or would like to be helped, taken care of, or served as well. Its about treating others as you want them to treat you. However you don't do things for other people in the hopes of getting something in return.
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