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| One of those days...You know that it's one of those days when it starts to pour, but you forgot your umbrella.
You know that it's one of those days when you try to erase your whiteboard, and it crashes on your face.
You know that it's one of those days when everything just seems to be going against you.
You know that it's one of those days when nothing you do works right at first.
You know that it's one of those days when you suddenly have a million tasks dumped on you.
You know that it's one of those days when you realize that you just don't care anymore.
*plays that limp bizkit song in my head* | | |
| Live, Learn, and then get Luvs?I wish I could just bypass the first two stages in life (according to that Luvs Diapers™ mantra), and just magically have all of the answers in life the first time around. Why is it that wisdom requires experience? Darn the fact that they are inextricably linked sometimes...
Sometimes it really takes something major to make you think 'Damn. Who the hell have I become?'
A couple of things in the past few weeks have forced me to question who exactly I have become. If I take on the state of mind I had just two years ago, I would not be able to recognize many things that I have done recently as being done by me. Things I took as canon back then just are not congruent with how I have lived. I have tried to pinpoint exactly where I have gone wrong, but that is hard sometimes. Luckily for me, however, finding the route back is far easier than pinpointing where I changed along the way. The thing is, I know the route, so now I must walk it. I just have to make sure that I take back goods from the journey, which in my case are a few lessons in morality, how to treat others, and how to be a real man.
I just hope that I can learn from my experiences because without growth, negative experiences in one's past simply become mistakes. And I don't know about you, but I don't like making mistakes. I do, however, enjoy being taught lessons and making myself a better person. The only thing that differentiates a mistake from a negative experience that instigated personal growth is the way one reacts to the experience and what he/she takes from it.
Without the silver lining of added experience, knowledge, and wisdom; I wouldn't like what I see.
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| Science and ReligionNow I rarely ever get into the topic of Religion with people I'm not extremely close with, and much less do I blog about it, but I felt that this story was definitely interesting. Perhaps it's the biased Christian in me. 
Disclaimer: I have no idea if this conversation actually happened, or the extent to which it is true, but it's still a fun read.
______
A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"
"Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."
The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!"He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's asick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would youhelp him? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't,does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"
The student remains silent.
"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of waterfrom a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From God"
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
"Yes."
"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according tothe principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."
Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"
The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."
"So who created them?"
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats hisquestion. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."
The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him."
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."
"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol,science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458degrees."
"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see,sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light,flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothingand it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."
"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."
"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."
"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."
The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.
"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir."
"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"
Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down. | | |
| So I check my email today and I see two security alerts.
Regular day as usual, being that the prestigious Johns Hopkins University is in Baltimore, MD (city with #2 crime in the US), right? WRONG!
Look closely at the "WANTED" sections...
Security Alert (1 of 2): Attempted Armed Robbery (Off-Campus)
WHERE: 1600 Block E. Madison Street at N. Broadway
WHEN: Tuesday, February 5, 2008; approximately 7:00 p.m.
HOW: A Hopkins employee was walking westbound on the north side of E. Madison at Broadway when two juveniles approached him. One of the juveniles displayed a knife and demanded money. The victim refused to comply and continued to walk westbound. The suspects fled the area. The crime was not reported to Hopkins Security until the following day. Hopkins Security notified the Baltimore City Police Department which took a late report.
WANTED: 2 African American Males, between 8-14 years of age; wearing dark hoods and dark pants. No further description.
Security Alert (2 of 2): Armed Robbery (Off-Campus)
WHERE: 1600 Block E. Madison Street at N. Broadway
WHEN: Tuesday, February 5, 2008; approximately 10:35 p.m.
HOW: A Hopkins student was walking westbound on the north side of E. Madison at Broadway when 6 to 8 juveniles approached him. One juvenile displayed a knife and demanded money. An unknown juvenile pulled the victim's wallet from his rear pocket and the victim grabbed it, ultimately giving them his cash ($40.00). The suspects fled westbound on E. Madison Street. The victim went home and called the Baltimore City Police Department which took a report.
WANTED: 6 to 8 African American males, between 8-15 years of age; wearing dark hoods and dark pants. No further description.
The Johns Hopkins Corporate Security Division is working closely with the Baltimore Police Department to identify the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to contact Corporate Security's Investigations Unit at 410-955-9140 (Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.), or Security Communications at 410-955-5585 (24 hours/7 days).
All faculty, staff and students are reminded to alert Security Communications immediately (5-5585) of any suspicious persons or activity.
'tis a sad day when you get mugged by 8 year olds... | | |
| Expectations...These pesky little things are everywhere, like Escherichia coli. And just like E. coli, everyone has them. And in fact, they're important parts of life because they make us strive for things which we have not yet achieved (well E. coli doesn't help you strive for things we need to achieve, but it is one of the primary facultative organisms in our GI tracts.)
Also, like E. coli, expectations have the nasty habit of contaminating everything they come in contact with. What do I mean, you ask? Just as expectations help us to determine what we want to achieve with our lives, they also set us up for disappointment when we fail to achieve exactly what we want, or when we achieve what we want in a time-frame that does not suit us. They contaminate an otherwise good thing that somehow has fallen in one aspect.
I see myself as being a person who is particularly prone to expectations, and their associated emotions. I have very high goals for myself, and stringent requirements for what I intend on doing to get these goals, but these requirements are not always possible. While they help me, sometimes they are my downfall. This also extends to my personal interactions with others in my life. While often good because I don't settle for less than I deserve, I often refuse to compromise or accept that others are 'flawed' and may not view me as the most important thing in their lives.
What are your expectations? Have you / others generally lived up to them? | | |
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