Earthquake Flavors

ONE.

I hope I'm doing the right thing by not giving the homeless people on the street money. I feel so bad for them. How many people have past them by, not giving them a second look. I can't imagine the despair that goes by every time every person leaves them with nothing but a cold shoulder. How their chests might tighten by every look and clamp up at every brush off?

Okay, maybe I'm thinking too much but it still must suck so much.

But I'd like to think I'm actually helping them more by not giving them money. They being homeless could only mean they did not know how to manage their money well enough. Not being able to do anything but beg means to give them money is to let them waste it. It's much better to donate the money to organizations that help them with food and clothes. I believe that if they truly wanted to get out of their situation, there are plenty of opportunities in the U.S. for them. Charity organizations, churches, etc. are there to help them get on their feet. Giving them money would be giving them money to buy beer or drugs. Sure, they're not all like that but how can I know. I suppose the same argument can be applied for the opposite. I can never really know what they'll do with the money, so I shouldn't judge and give it to them?

I suppose this thinking just makes me feel better about myself.


TWO.

It's important to be yourself. It's hard at first when you're meeting new people, but I've come to realize this more and more.

I realized that as I was trying to get to know these new people in college, I was hiding parts of myself, hiding the things that I like or don't like in order to fit in more. That's not what I wanted to do but found myself doing anyway.
Be yourself. Be you and don't be ashamed. I know it's hard to leave yourself open to rejection, but it truly is the best and only way to know people and make friends. I'm bringing myself out more; I'd like to think I'm not hiding who I am.

I am Christian.
I read a LOT of manga.
I stay up late.
I love to eat.
I take pictures of everything.
I love Japanese, Korean, classical, rock, and all kinds of music.
I love to read.
I love to talk.
I am weird.
I make random sound effects.
I hate chairs.
I am Christine.
I am me.


THREE.
Make sure to have fun. I really must enjoy life. I should also enjoy studying! Enjoy what I decided to study, enjoy the classes I chose, etc. Then, make sure to share your happiness with others. Don't ignore people who need a friend because you feel tired or lazy. Reach out to them and help them. You might change someone's life that way. I need to make sure to always keep this in mind.


FOUR.
Trust in God. Believe that He is guiding you. Don't judge things too quickly beforehand. Make the best of every moment and every opportunity. And with all things, trust in God.


FIVE.

While on the note of God, I feel that we should not follow God blindly. Having faith is not being blind. Having faith is seeing the huge cliff ahead of you, knowing that there is no physical, tangible, concrete, scientific proof of His existence, and still jumping, trusting God to catch you and give you wings. God gave us eyes for a reason. [[edit: 6/27/09 ]]

It's okay to have questions. It's okay to ask them. Only when they are voiced can the doubts be addressed and erased. It's best to have more questions than nonbelievers do. Don't just accept it. Want more. Desire more. God wants you to know Him more and more and more. That can only happen when you ask questions and seek to answer them. When you get to know a person, you ask him/her questions. Do the same with God.