Today, according to a few Facebook events and groups, is the second annual "To Write Love on Her Arms" day. TWLOHA is a foundation centered on bringing Love and Hope to those who are contemplating. Having seen what suicide can do to a family or to a group of friends, I am in full support of TWLOHA and any other anti-suicide group. However, while reading the Walls for one of the events, I read some very negative comments, akin to:
"So, you just write 'Love' on your arm? How does that save anybody?"
"Loving people is not a fad."
"Writing something on your arm does not make you a savior."
"It's funny; people join this Facebook group and think they're actually saving someone's life."
Now, I understand the reasoning behind all of these comments, and I mean no ill will towards anyone who has said/agrees with these statements. I am simply trying to offer my own rebuttal to these, so people will understand why I am writing Love on my arms today.
Writing Love on my arm does not save anybody, nor does joining a Facebook group or telling someone I Love them or wearing a T-Shirt. But the reason I am taking place in TWLOHA Day is to get the word out about TWLOHA and their cause. It is the same principle behind wearing a college or band shirt, or the "I gave blood" shirts the Red Cross gives out - propaganda. That has become a dirty word in our culture, and justly so. Propaganda just seems to ooze of establishment and all those other nasty words no one wants to have anything to do with. However, when it comes to a company whose job is saving people's lives, I will gladly be the biggest propaganda-whore I can for them. It is kind of like Christ...He is not cool (by today's standards), His T-Shirts are often cheesy, but we talk about Him and portray Him to get the word out...see where I am going with this?
As for Loving people being a "fad," if you want to accuse me of this, just look at the way I live my life. I try to Love and interact with as many people as possible. God gave me a spiritual gift of Loving. Even people I really want to hate end up deserving Love in my book. So while taking one day out of my year to physically write Love on my arm may be a fad, do not assume that all of my Love for the year is boxed into this single section of 24 hours. I do not keep Love physically written on my arm for a few reasons, most of the aesthetic and personal. But I do keep Love written on my heart, so when I see people, I Love them (even though lately some people have taken more work than others).
So what am I doing? I am writing Love on my arm so if someone says, “Hey, Yeti, why do you have Love written on your arm?” I can point them towards TWLOHA. Sure, they do not need help (now or ever), or know anyone that does. But someday, they may hear of someone needing help and if TWLOHA rolls off their tongue and saves a life, then Praise Him. Just like when people ask me why I have Love written on my heart, I can point them towards Christ.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Musings from the Hill - 9-27-08
Its been a good day. I've done absolutely nothing.
Now I need to head back to campus and start cleaning/organizing my new room. It sucks, but it'll be better than walking around boxes every day.
I plan to throw on some loud music and just do my thing. Lord willing not too many people are in the dorm so I don't disturb them with my heathen music.
I don't know why I got on here. I was gonna' write a big post about hip-hop and theology...but no. I'm just gonna' change my pants and hit the road.
Now I need to head back to campus and start cleaning/organizing my new room. It sucks, but it'll be better than walking around boxes every day.
I plan to throw on some loud music and just do my thing. Lord willing not too many people are in the dorm so I don't disturb them with my heathen music.
I don't know why I got on here. I was gonna' write a big post about hip-hop and theology...but no. I'm just gonna' change my pants and hit the road.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Musings from Campus - 9-9-08
Well...life is what it is.
Which isn't too bad at all. The first three (or is it four...) weeks of school have been a roller coaster. Stress, drama, more stress, sleeplessness, fear, drama, sickness...that about covers it.
RA training week went just fine, and then Welcome Weekend started. Everything went according to plan (assuming the plan was "Expend yourself until there's no end and then not sleep before doing the same thing tomorrow"), and then school started. Miscellaneous drama with friends and students and everyone in between led to a few sleepless nights.
All the while, I have been trying to figure out what I'm going to be doing with my life. I finally, and albeit reluctantly, took it to God in prayer. And I decided there was only one thing I truly felt comfortable with...thus, I have a girlfriend now. She goes to school here with me, is a fellow RA, and a stagehand. More on her in another post.
And life...seems much better now. I've not discovered the secret or planned the next 5 years...but its better. I smile when I wake up and I smile when I go to bed. I smile during the day and I lift hands and prayers to a God who loves me.
I do miss my Michigan folks, however. I love Kentucky, I love my family and my friends here on God's side of the river. But I also enjoy sitting at B-Dubs or the Rock or just Panera and laughing and talking and bullshitting with my boys. I live a torn life...and I couldn't be happier.
Well, I'm going to get off of here now and do some writing. Until next time...
(PS - This post skips. Sorry. My mind isn't organized for blogging at the moment.)
Which isn't too bad at all. The first three (or is it four...) weeks of school have been a roller coaster. Stress, drama, more stress, sleeplessness, fear, drama, sickness...that about covers it.
RA training week went just fine, and then Welcome Weekend started. Everything went according to plan (assuming the plan was "Expend yourself until there's no end and then not sleep before doing the same thing tomorrow"), and then school started. Miscellaneous drama with friends and students and everyone in between led to a few sleepless nights.
All the while, I have been trying to figure out what I'm going to be doing with my life. I finally, and albeit reluctantly, took it to God in prayer. And I decided there was only one thing I truly felt comfortable with...thus, I have a girlfriend now. She goes to school here with me, is a fellow RA, and a stagehand. More on her in another post.
And life...seems much better now. I've not discovered the secret or planned the next 5 years...but its better. I smile when I wake up and I smile when I go to bed. I smile during the day and I lift hands and prayers to a God who loves me.
I do miss my Michigan folks, however. I love Kentucky, I love my family and my friends here on God's side of the river. But I also enjoy sitting at B-Dubs or the Rock or just Panera and laughing and talking and bullshitting with my boys. I live a torn life...and I couldn't be happier.
Well, I'm going to get off of here now and do some writing. Until next time...
(PS - This post skips. Sorry. My mind isn't organized for blogging at the moment.)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
I am a Writer
I am a writer
Not a singer, lyricist, or painter, thought sometimes I dabble
I bring words to life
Some envy what I’ve been blessed with when others simply don’t get it
Books, ink, and paper
I don’t require much to live, even food I oft go without
Coffee, sunlight, peace
A place to ponder existence or word rhyme and placement
God, life, love, my craft
No matter how complicated, it always boils down to some basic essentials
Form is not freedom
I do not lock my words into cages or rhyme or construction
Let the meaning shine
Mostly use the conformity as a game: just see if you can do it
Don’t force the message
When the ink no longer talks you cannot for it to speak
This is your life line
This keeps you alive, sane, and helps define your views
You are not speaking
Let that deepness in you rise up and be heard
I am a writer
So I cannot be limited by anything but myself
I bring words to life
So I will continue to until my syllables no longer breathe
He Loves Us All
Welcome to Christianity
Grace and forgiveness preached
But condemnation and hate practiced
Jesus washed away my sins
But the church took pictures so we can look over them again
I once was lost, now I’m just confused
I thought Christ loves us all…why has He just forgiven you?
My Write Hand's Worth
In centuries if someone should stumble onto my art
Will they be able to see into my heart?
What pictures will words draw?
What conversations will a sketch provoke?
Will the years of pain and absence dominate the scene?
Or will grace and forgiveness be my central theme?
Would I write so I’m remembered?
Or so a message is conveyed?
Is my creativity therapeutic?
Or simply to get paid?
Would hours be wasted, along with ink and trees?
Or would one poem bring a grown man to his knees?
Do I talk about Father more than I do the pain?
Or is the picture of sunlight intensified by the rain?
Would they even decipher the flow of my pen?
Would the half scribbled letters let anyone in?
Would my lack of form be the purists’ disdain?
Or do I fall in the list of the beautifully insane?
Will I die before it’s discovered; will I know my works fame?
Will the art be lifted up, whilst no writing remains?
Will God let me see how His gift is at work?
Or will I always question my write hands worth?
Monday, August 18, 2008
Musings from Campus - 8-18-08
Here I sit in front of my window, overlooking campus, listening to pissed off rap music wondering why I’m so bitter when overall today has been a very good day. Is it Satan trying to set a piss-poor mood for this upcoming semester? Is it my own stagnant spiritual life that is finally catching up with my heart? Why am I forced to travel in such a crazy pattern of circles?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Just Try to Imagine
This is an old poem, from 2006. I like the message it conveys, and I think it is beautifully written...but then again, I am biased. ;)
------------
Imagine this
Even though you couldn’t possibly
Know what it was like
To have to sit in that place
With no lights on
The only comfort a God
Whom you doubted you believed in
And who couldn’t possibly believe in you.
But that’s why you’re here.
You’re supposed to be doing His work
But the only thing you seem to be doing
Is sitting here alone
Not really making an effort
To connect with anybody.
Not even allowing yourself the time
To have the chance to connect.
Then you step out of your shell
But that step, is more like a leap
Because you end up
Miles away
At a place you don’t even know
With someone who means nothing
Yet you claim she means the world.
But you’re back to your old ways
Making use of someone else
When you’re down
And out.
Then you see what you’re doing
But you don’t care, or even try to stop it.
Then one day, it’s like it all begins to come around;
In full, you realize that God is real
And not just real in a sense that He doesn’t exist
But real in the fact that He’s around you
And you get in tune
And you see Him
And you realize He’s real,
And all around.
You begin to follow Him
And He shows you things you hate
About yourself
About your school
About your friends
And about your enemies.
But He shows you something else
That He had already shoved into your face
And you don’t want to look
Because you know what it means.
You don’t want to leave
You’re comfortable
This is you.
“No it’s not,”
He says, assuring you this time it’s for real
So you follow Him
Which is something you never do;
At least not very well.
And it leads you to the most beautiful thing
He ever created
Or at least the beginning of that
That beautiful thing
Which He created.
And I tell you you’re currently at the start
Not because this Beauty hasn’t been realized,
Because it never takes a whole day
To recognize sunshine.
But this Beauty is more than physical;
It’s something you feel inside your soul
It’s something that makes you warm
And makes you whole.
You want to keep nurturing it
Even though it hurts you sometimes.
I hope this feeble attempt
At putting the ethereal
Into concrete
Relates, in some way
How I feel
And I want everyone to know it
For this joy is something special
And it’s something to be shouted from the rooftops
And if two things were to go down
As being my legacy
One, that I love Christ.
Two, that I nurtured a feeling
That ended in love
With one who meant the world,
And was a gift from God.
------------
Imagine this
Even though you couldn’t possibly
Know what it was like
To have to sit in that place
With no lights on
The only comfort a God
Whom you doubted you believed in
And who couldn’t possibly believe in you.
But that’s why you’re here.
You’re supposed to be doing His work
But the only thing you seem to be doing
Is sitting here alone
Not really making an effort
To connect with anybody.
Not even allowing yourself the time
To have the chance to connect.
Then you step out of your shell
But that step, is more like a leap
Because you end up
Miles away
At a place you don’t even know
With someone who means nothing
Yet you claim she means the world.
But you’re back to your old ways
Making use of someone else
When you’re down
And out.
Then you see what you’re doing
But you don’t care, or even try to stop it.
Then one day, it’s like it all begins to come around;
In full, you realize that God is real
And not just real in a sense that He doesn’t exist
But real in the fact that He’s around you
And you get in tune
And you see Him
And you realize He’s real,
And all around.
You begin to follow Him
And He shows you things you hate
About yourself
About your school
About your friends
And about your enemies.
But He shows you something else
That He had already shoved into your face
And you don’t want to look
Because you know what it means.
You don’t want to leave
You’re comfortable
This is you.
“No it’s not,”
He says, assuring you this time it’s for real
So you follow Him
Which is something you never do;
At least not very well.
And it leads you to the most beautiful thing
He ever created
Or at least the beginning of that
That beautiful thing
Which He created.
And I tell you you’re currently at the start
Not because this Beauty hasn’t been realized,
Because it never takes a whole day
To recognize sunshine.
But this Beauty is more than physical;
It’s something you feel inside your soul
It’s something that makes you warm
And makes you whole.
You want to keep nurturing it
Even though it hurts you sometimes.
I hope this feeble attempt
At putting the ethereal
Into concrete
Relates, in some way
How I feel
And I want everyone to know it
For this joy is something special
And it’s something to be shouted from the rooftops
And if two things were to go down
As being my legacy
One, that I love Christ.
Two, that I nurtured a feeling
That ended in love
With one who meant the world,
And was a gift from God.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
I Do Not Want to Cross
I have spent the last too long trying to force the happy
Now I sit trying to force words onto the page
Forcing the ink through the pen
The thought through the hand
But all it seems to get me is no where
I do not know why black on white comes so hard
Yet I know the gray feeling in my head all too well
I have been on this side of the fire before
But I do not want to cross through it again
So I force the words
And I force the rhyme
I force my thoughts
And I force my mind
To ignore the calling of the One from across
To ignore the need of the Love from above
I do not want to cross
But I know I need to
I do not deserve the Cross
But I know I need it
Now I sit trying to fight the urge to be mad
Fighting those happy memories together
The smile that shone so bright
But all it seems to get me is burned again
I do not know why color dreams hit so hard
Yet I know the grey feeling in my head all too well
I have been on this side of the fire before
But I do not want to cross through it again
So I fight the good times
And I fight the bad
I fight the hatred
And I fight my mind
Telling it to ignore the call of the One from across
Telling it to ignore the need of the Love from above
I do not want to cross
But I know I need to
I do not deserve the Cross
But I know I need it
Now I sit trying to crawl back to my Savior
Giving in to that glow of true Love
The Love that covers my despair
But all it seems to get me is peace and comfort
I do not know why the Lord did what He did
Yet I know the grey feeling in my head all too well
I have been on this side of the fire before
But Lord, take my hand, pull me through it again
So I step into the flames
And I hear my own name
I take another leap
And I feel the Savior’s grasp
Holding me close, pulling to the One from across
Whispering in my ear, the creed of the Love from above
I did not want to cross
But I knew what the Lord could do
I do not deserve the Cross
But I thank the Lord for doing it
Now I sit trying to force words onto the page
Forcing the ink through the pen
The thought through the hand
But all it seems to get me is no where
I do not know why black on white comes so hard
Yet I know the gray feeling in my head all too well
I have been on this side of the fire before
But I do not want to cross through it again
So I force the words
And I force the rhyme
I force my thoughts
And I force my mind
To ignore the calling of the One from across
To ignore the need of the Love from above
I do not want to cross
But I know I need to
I do not deserve the Cross
But I know I need it
Now I sit trying to fight the urge to be mad
Fighting those happy memories together
The smile that shone so bright
But all it seems to get me is burned again
I do not know why color dreams hit so hard
Yet I know the grey feeling in my head all too well
I have been on this side of the fire before
But I do not want to cross through it again
So I fight the good times
And I fight the bad
I fight the hatred
And I fight my mind
Telling it to ignore the call of the One from across
Telling it to ignore the need of the Love from above
I do not want to cross
But I know I need to
I do not deserve the Cross
But I know I need it
Now I sit trying to crawl back to my Savior
Giving in to that glow of true Love
The Love that covers my despair
But all it seems to get me is peace and comfort
I do not know why the Lord did what He did
Yet I know the grey feeling in my head all too well
I have been on this side of the fire before
But Lord, take my hand, pull me through it again
So I step into the flames
And I hear my own name
I take another leap
And I feel the Savior’s grasp
Holding me close, pulling to the One from across
Whispering in my ear, the creed of the Love from above
I did not want to cross
But I knew what the Lord could do
I do not deserve the Cross
But I thank the Lord for doing it
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
"It's For The Best" by Straylight Run
And it takes more time than I've ever had
Drains the life from me
Makes me want to forget
As young as I was, I felt older back then
More disciplined, stronger and certain
But I was scared to death of eternity
I was saved by grace
But destroyed by naivety
And I lie to myself
And said it was for the best
And now faith is replaced with a logic so cold
I've disregarded what it was
Now that I'm older
And I know much more than I did back then
But the more I learn
The more I can't understand
And I've become content with this life that I lead
Where I drink to much and don't believe in much of anything
And I lie to myself
And say "It's for the best."
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
Drains the life from me
Makes me want to forget
As young as I was, I felt older back then
More disciplined, stronger and certain
But I was scared to death of eternity
I was saved by grace
But destroyed by naivety
And I lie to myself
And said it was for the best
And now faith is replaced with a logic so cold
I've disregarded what it was
Now that I'm older
And I know much more than I did back then
But the more I learn
The more I can't understand
And I've become content with this life that I lead
Where I drink to much and don't believe in much of anything
And I lie to myself
And say "It's for the best."
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
We're moving forward, but holding ourselves back
And we're waiting on something that will never come
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Wow
It has been a long time.
I'm currently trying to get ready for my hiking trip this week, which includes doing laundry. No biggie deal, but I wonder how I am going to stretch this last three quarters into seven? Oh well, I have singles.
I am stressed. And I am really only blogging because I need a distraction. Time to get back to work.
I'm currently trying to get ready for my hiking trip this week, which includes doing laundry. No biggie deal, but I wonder how I am going to stretch this last three quarters into seven? Oh well, I have singles.
I am stressed. And I am really only blogging because I need a distraction. Time to get back to work.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The Untied Shoelace
Don't you love those little things in life that normally stress us out, but because of our present situation, we don't fuss over them?
Today for example: I was walking back from the cafeteria when I looked down and noticed that my shoelace was untied. But, seeing as I was barely 45 feet from my dorm, I didn't stress over it.
How awesome is it that we can take faith in the goals we have in life, and ignore the distractions? Ok, fine, a shoelace and sitting in my room are kind of far-fetched "goals" and "distractions." But, if we look at the bigger things in life, we can see where God provides us with a clear pathway, but then Satan will throw a distraction at us. If we are following fervently after God, we may not notice the distraction at all. And, if we are coming close to the goal, we will ignore the distraction and keep on keeping on.
Always remember the lesson of the untied shoelace.
Today for example: I was walking back from the cafeteria when I looked down and noticed that my shoelace was untied. But, seeing as I was barely 45 feet from my dorm, I didn't stress over it.
How awesome is it that we can take faith in the goals we have in life, and ignore the distractions? Ok, fine, a shoelace and sitting in my room are kind of far-fetched "goals" and "distractions." But, if we look at the bigger things in life, we can see where God provides us with a clear pathway, but then Satan will throw a distraction at us. If we are following fervently after God, we may not notice the distraction at all. And, if we are coming close to the goal, we will ignore the distraction and keep on keeping on.
Always remember the lesson of the untied shoelace.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Ahh...finally, good Christian rap
Yes, yes, you read correctly. Good Christian rap music.
I got the hook-up from my brother on a TON of music over Christmas break. But, I recently decided to search out the Christin Hip-Hop mix he got from one of his boys. And LO, I found quite possibly the best Christian rappers ever, not to mention that these guys rank in the upper-echelon of any rappers I've heard.
Ok, I've geeked out about that. It's Crawlathon weekend, meaning I finally get to go back underground. Laurel/Horn Hollow/Rimstone tonight, Bat Cave tomorrow and Sunday. Should I kilt it this weekend? (Outside the caves, obviously) I guess we'll decide later. It's about time for chapel (which I am not kilting it to, pending the 7 degree weather) and I need to finish getting around.
G'day y'all.
I got the hook-up from my brother on a TON of music over Christmas break. But, I recently decided to search out the Christin Hip-Hop mix he got from one of his boys. And LO, I found quite possibly the best Christian rappers ever, not to mention that these guys rank in the upper-echelon of any rappers I've heard.
Ok, I've geeked out about that. It's Crawlathon weekend, meaning I finally get to go back underground. Laurel/Horn Hollow/Rimstone tonight, Bat Cave tomorrow and Sunday. Should I kilt it this weekend? (Outside the caves, obviously) I guess we'll decide later. It's about time for chapel (which I am not kilting it to, pending the 7 degree weather) and I need to finish getting around.
G'day y'all.
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