| | So, I find myself writing these entries with no set frequency
or regularity. If anything, my bouts of typing and punching in my life
story are spontaneous and unpredictable--unaffected by momentous events
and immune to all things of magnitude whatsoever. I think the only
factor that dictates my writing regimen is the amount of free time I
have on my hands: the more leisure I have, the more likely it is I will write. Other than that, there are no certainties.
That said, today was an interesting day in that my brother, my dad, and
Josh's family (minus Jjagun Umma) went to Six Flags Magic Mountain
together--somewhere I haven't been in a while. We rode Tatsu which is a
free suspension roller coaster--supposedly the best ride at Magic
Mountain, but I disagree. It was fun and thrilling, however, I don't
think that amusement parks cut it for me anymore. I hate to think of
the possibility that I'm simply getting "too old" for that kind of
recreation (seeing as how I'm only 18 years old), but I can't help but
consider that possibility. Perhaps I am getting too old.
Why is it that the objects of life that used to give me so much
pleasure now hold so little meaning for me? The allure of video game
worlds, sleepovers, and now even roller coasters has all but waned away
and what has replaced it instead is a cold and rigid apathy towards all
things that were formerly exciting. I guess it's all part of the
double-edged sword called growing up.
This treacherous sword's blade is both beneficial and detrimental in
that it lifts the veil of naivety which used to dictate my desires, but
at the same time, it quells my childlike vision of the world that used
to make being happy as simple as getting an extra scoop of ice cream at
Baskin Robbins. Now, happiness has come to be measured in unattainable
grades, complicated relationships, and material possessions. It has
become everything but simple. Why? Because we have allowed it to.
I believe that we have conformed to the patterns of this world by
allowing things like money to control our thoughts. Though Americans go
to work to earn money--to put money under their power and
submission--the complete opposite has occured in that money has become
the tyrant and we its powerless peons. We don't control the money; it
controls us. Thus, by working for the sole purpose of making money in
order to live a "comfortable life" we strip ourselves of any
opportunity to renounce our materialistic lives in exchange for lives
of simplicity defined not by how big our houses are, how fast are cars
go, or how many hidden functions our cell phones have, but instead, by
how many genuine friendships we have, what good we have done in the
lives of others, and most importantly, how much we have dedicated our
lives to God.
So, why am I writing this? Why would I even take the time to ramble on
about life and what it's supposed to mean for the individual? Well, for
one, this is what God has called me to do.
I know in my heart that God has commanded me to have a very real impact
on the lives of everyone around me by reminding them that they don't
have to live by the rules society has created. Why define how good your
life is relative to how much stuff
you have? Why torture yourself with the unending possibility for more
and more ephemeral material goods (such as that one dream job, the one
dream home, that one dream neighborhood, that one dream lifestyle...the
list goes on and on...) when there's a much brighter path shining right
in front of you? Why should you measure your life out in coffee spoons,
always wondering whether you are really fulfilling your life's calling
and purpose? Why?
Well, I can't tell you why because quite frankly, it doesn't make any
sense to me to live life according to "their" rules. The only rules I
abide by are God's rules, and in that set of rules, He has told all of
us to live life that is glorifying to Him by "making disciples of all
nations" (Matthew 28:19) and by "loving the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy
6:5). This is how we are to live.
So at this time, I challenge you to reflect upon your life, your
aspirations for the future, and your life goals and think about whether
or not you will be happy with your future. If your answer is no, then
you have a lot of reflection left to be done. If you say yes, then it
is my sincere hope that your happiness will be based upon how much your
life is centered around God and not around how awesome your job is or
how comfortable your life is. The latter of these two extremes will
lead only to disappointment whereas the former is the key to life
everlasting. I leave you with this:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads
to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and
narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew
7:13-14).
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| | Posted 5/29/2006 10:25 PM - 14 views - 5 comments
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