Monday, January 28, 2013

The Color Purple

I just finished reading Alice Walker's book, The Color Purple. Wow! What an amazing story. It is a bit difficult to read at times but the messages in the book far outweigh the painful parts. If you have ever seen the movie, it follows the same plot lines but, like most books (except for the Twilight series) there is so much more detail in the book. I highly recommend reading it if you haven't yet.

In part of the story, the main character, Celie struggles with her relationship with God and there are many passages that I identified with. So, I want to share two with you.
“Celie, tell the truth, have you ever found God in church? I never did. I just found a bunch of folks hoping for him to show. Any God I ever felt in church I brought in with me. And I think all the other folks did too. They come to church to share God, not find God.”

 
 “Here's the thing, say Shug. The thing I believe. God is inside you and inside everybody else. You come into the world with God. But only them that search for it inside find it. And sometimes it just manifest itself even if you not looking, or don't know what you looking for. Trouble do it for most folks, I think. Sorrow, lord. Feeling like shit.

It? I ast.

Yeah, It. God ain't a he or a she, but a It.

But what do it look like? I ast.

Don't look like nothing, she say. It ain't a picture show. It ain't something you can look at apart from anything else, including yourself. I believe God is everything, say Shug. Everything that is or ever was or ever will be. And when you can feel that, and be happy to feel that, you've found It.

 
And so, today I have found God in a book. I will continue to search and be happy when I feel Him. 

 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

What is wrong with this?

I am... I guess, still lost. I was doing well in my search for finding God daily but, then I got sidetracked. I started reading some of what people were thinking about Newtown being a hoax. (If you haven't heard this or seen it, search for the video. I refuse to post it here) Also, lately my skin has been crawling with the hatred I am reading online. How can people have so much hatred for the President and First Lady just because they were shaking hands with people on the tour of the White House. I saw comments of hatred towards them, not for the policies they have but against how they look and what they are wearing. And not just, "I don't like her hair.", but things so mean I can't bring myself to share them. So, I guess I have lost my way again.

It makes me sad to know all the hate my girls are going to witness in this world. I think part of my struggle in finding God these days, is there is just so much hate being flung at everything. When I was younger, I didn't hear abut how partisan the government was and Fox News and other news organizations weren't there spreading a total disrespect for the office of the President. New stations would tell the facts without bias. Maybe that is what is wrong with our country and why we are having all the shootings. There is no respect for anything, parents, teachers and people in positions of authority. If there is no respect for these things how can we expect people to have respect for life.

While I love the age in which we live where information is available at our finger tips, I find the use of technology has removed us from being able to interact with others and see how our words can hurt and wound. It is too easy to marginalize people and the human spirit to just a website, e-mail address or phone number with no feelings to be hurt or minds to twist. I can't help but wonder where our world is headed.

I would love to know your thoughts on this. Why do you think things are so evil now? Or do you think I am over thinking this and our society has always had problems and I am just more aware now.



Thursday, January 10, 2013

Seek And You Will Find

I have made it my mission to search for God. And it has surprised me, when I started to look for Him I found him! For me it isn't always hearing God's words spoken or religious conversation, it is seeing him in action.

Many non believers question how the faithful can believe in something they can't see or hear or have with undeniable proof that God is there. And I can only answer that there really is no proof. It must be faith. It is faith that I believe God made the earth. Seriously! When I think about the human body and all the things that have to be perfect for the body to work the way that it does... I have to believe that didn't happen by accident. And if evolution is part if it, I believe God was in charge. While I have no proof, it is something that I have faith in. And while I may have questions about what I believe, I don't for one minute doubt that God is real and in charge.


So with that said, I continue my quest! There are lots of articles that I have come across that are pretty cool. Here are three:

Church Sign: 'God Wants Spiritual Fruits, Not Religious Nuts' Gets Strong Reaction
This is a nice article about the use of church signs to make people think!

Pray For Civility: Faith Leaders Want Americans To Come Together For Common Good
I wish that everyone would do this.  I worry about the future of our country.  I feel we are so polarized that we will fail to find a common ground to make a difference in the US and in the world.

God Is Not A Christian: Desmond Tutu And The Dalai Lama's Extraordinary Talk On God And Religion
This last article, is my favorite!! Wisdom comes from life and listening to others.  I hope one day to be half as wise as these men.

Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Bringing Joy To Your Life


I found this on Buzzfeed.com.  It is fantastic!!! The pictures are awesome!

26 Moments That Restored Our Faith In Humanity This Year

Sometimes you need a reminder that people can do wonderful things.
 
1. The parents who made their son's wheelchair into the best Halloween costume ever

2. The terminally ill man who loves receiving mail... and got more than he ever expected

Scott Widak has Down syndrome and suffers from liver disease, and he loves receiving mail. His nephew Sean posted his P.O. Box on Reddit and the site's users responded with hundreds of letters, packages, and gifts.

3. A kind stranger who stopped a day from being ruined

4. The doctor who offered free medical care after Hurricane Sandy

5. And the people that helped out any way that they could

Hospital employees make a human chain passing containers of fuel up 13 flights of stairs to the backup generator at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.

6. The older couple who saw themselves in two young parents

7. This Libyan child who doesn't believe in hate

8. The parents who tattooed insulin pumps on their bellies so their diabetic son wouldn't feel "different"

9. The police officer who bought shoes for a barefoot homeless man

Jennifer Foster was visiting Times Square on Nov. 14 when she snapped the heartwarming moment. Here's her account of what happened:
“Right when I was about to approach, one of your officers came up behind him. The officer said, ‘I have these size 12 boots for you, they are all-weather. Let’s put them on and take care of you.’ The officer squatted down on the ground and proceeded to put socks and the new boots on this man. The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching*. I have been in law enforcement for 17 years. I was never so impressed in my life. I did not get the officer’s name. It is important, I think, for all of us to remember the real reason we are in this line of work. The reminder this officer gave to our profession in his presentation of human kindness has not been lost on myself or any of the Arizona law enforcement officials with whom this story has been shared.”

10. And the police officers who made blind 13-year-old Gage Hancock-Stevens' dream of being a cop come true

They even gave him a cake

11. The Michigan soccer team who gave their team manager with Down syndrome an opportunity to start

12. The Texas A&M students that blocked Westboro Baptist Church protesters with a human wall

When students heard that Westboro Baptist Church planned on protesting the funeral of a soldier, they formed a human barricade around the funeral service to block them out.

13. And this brave kid who stood up against hate

14. The woman who kept a homeless man dry during a downpour

15. The Disney security guard who is amazing at his job

16. The Icelandic heroes who rescued sheep during a major snowstorm

17. The quick-thinking little girl who saved her mom's life by slapping her with a piece of pizza

19. The famous rugby player who visited his biggest fan in the hospital

20. The bros who worked together to save a cat

21. The community that came together to make Caine's dream a reality

You can watch the full story here.

22. The football star who gives children in need a shopping spree each year

This is a receipt for $19,000 in toys.

23. The man who comforts the old dog that saved his life

When John Unger had suicidal thoughts after a breakup, it was his dog Shoep who brought him back from the brink. This photograph shows Unger cradling his friend in lake Superior to soothe the dog's arthritis.

24. These candidates for parents of the year

25. The amazing couple who stuck together through unbelievable odds

26. And every single time anything like this happened.

And every single time anything like this happened.