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| This year is definitely progressing...all I can say is that it is very different than last year. Not sure what to think of it yet. Most of my friends live off campus...definitely not so much of the "let's meet at this mediocre dining hall" anymore lol. It's "fun" I guess going on little adventures to people's apartments hehe. Definitely using the bike more often. I look forward to all the things to come. It'll be busy for sure, but I yearn to not busy myself in things for my own gain but to honor and serve God. Peace, Rach | | |
| Today I got to see my sister off at Washington University in St. Louis. I guess it reminded me a lot of what it was like to be dropped off at Baylor last year as a freshman, but at the same time really different. Well for one, the campus in St. Louis is really big, which I am not sure if I would be able to conjure up enough energy to get to my classes each day..haha. Also, compared to Baylor it is really ethnically diverse I guess..never seen so many asians lol. It doesn't seem that long ago when I started my freshmen year of college..and now heading off to my sophomore year. I guess you can say I am excited, but at the same time really nervous. I am excited to encounter so many different opportunities, academically, socially, etc. However, also nervous, being more aware of my responsibilities. It is kind of scary to think that I am going to have to grow up in so many ways. I am now 20..and it's not too long until I graduate, etc. I am still unsure as to what this school year will be like, but there's nothing to be scared of, knowing that God will provide and protect. May I find refuge in Him. Hopefully I have a smooth flight down to Waco. Rach | | |
| Can't believe summer is finally coming to an end. I have two more days till I head to St. Louis, then down to Waco. Started packing..and can't fit all the things I need in my suitcases...oh well. This school year will surely be interesting with school, work, and AFC intervarsity leadership. We'll see... Peace, Rach | | |
| Well of course it is always easier to accuse than to face accusation of others. But I guess what struck me the most today was when someone told me not to give them advice in a certain area because they felt I was also suffering in that area. Though it may not have been the right actions for either party, shifting blame, but what can you do in the situation, when both parties are clearly wrong? It really reminded me a passage in the Bible, though it may not be from the same context--John 8:2-11: John 8:2-11 (New International Version)2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." Though the passage refers to the people who are condemning this woman accused of adultery in the act of throwing stones and how Jesus tells them that they themselves have sinned and therefore shouldn't stone her, this passage sheds light in that even if someone does indeed throw stones at you, even if they've sinned themselves, don't throw the stone back. I know the passage doesn't exactly cover anything about throwing stones back and forth at each other, but the very act of what throwing stones is reveals the greater significance--our own sinful nature compared to God's perfect, purity. All we can do at the moment is to pray for ourselves--our (my) own sins and the renewal of our (my) own hearts. But a lot of times, people "throw stones" at us, revealing what may be our flaws and lacking behaviors. But what is at fault, I guess, is each of our pride. We don't like it when people say that we're wrong, especially when it's misunderstood or not true at all. It is not in God to act or react in anger. When someone "throws stones," whether justified or not, first we have to pray for ourselves, that maybe once we are ready to face our problems then can we act in God's love towards others. It is of no use trying to push your suggestions on others, when we are not clearly ready ourselves. I am not going to go into details of this, and if y'all want to further discuss this with me, don't hesitate. But this not only with pride, but with patience as well. I think what makes it exceptionally hard is some of the hurt I have faced with my closest family. But at the same time, I have to also consider the pain that I might have afflicted on my family and others. The pain or suffering doesn't justify my reasoning or behavior sometimes. What I can only ask for is for God's guidance and a willing heart to listen--break my pride and let God pour in. | | |
| So, recently, I have been youtubing more haha. It really puts our generation really into perspective. We're so blessed with these technological advances, even being able to blog right now hehe. These advances allow us to do many things, but at the same time I find myself using the internet, tv, etc. to kill time. Sometimes, I will encounter an actually fascinating show or video clip that may or may not have been intended to have a certain interpretation or intergration into life and how to perceive it. Often times, recently, I have found myself frustrated when I see certain things show up on the news or on tv shows in particular. For one, why do we find so much gratification in watching these shows? Is it something about them that makes us feel better, or allows us to avert the bad attention on others and not ourselves? One thing that I have noticed is that now whenever I watch a show, the scenes or things that strike me are things that I see we fail to recognize as a society. It's easy to point fingers or find enjoyment in other people's mishaps or trivial behavior. When I watch tv or listen to songs more and more, I become more and more invigorated to help address these issues, which I am sure when you think of "the media," you can instantly come up with a list. Why do we just watch, when we can try to find a way to help? Anyway, the two things I think I have viewed on youtube this week are this taiwanese drama called Green Forest My Home (which I stumbled upon when I was getting my hair permed lol) and this song called "Never Change" by Samuel Ock. Even though the drama was more of a way to entertain myself, one character really jumped out to me. Basically the synopsis is that there is this girl named Sophie who met this guy when she was in elementary school, who promised to be her prince and would come back and find her. However, her adopted sister, Susan, decides to use her name instead of her sister's, when the guy asks her for Sophie's, which in turn leads to a confusion of who he returns to find. Because os this, Sophie lives a life that is always under Susan's shadow. Whenever she really wanted to truly tell the guy, William, that she was the origianl girl he promised, she would decide not to--her reason being that she wouldn't want to hurt her sister, who has hurt her the whole time and has magnified the one little lie. Originally, it was easy to keep on watching to see what would happen to this somewhat twisted plot..but as I kept watching, I really was fascinated by both Sophie and Susan's behavior..but especially Sophie's. Even though she has basically let what belonged to her to her sister, who has not been nice to her and constantly trying to beat her in everything, she always finds the best things about people to focus on. She knows that if she suddenly takes William from her sister, that she will too be crushed, so in turn she declines William's offer and pretends to uphold the lie her sister created. I guess what I took from that was sometimes it is easy to act in revenge or hatred, but to seemingly take the wrongs of others as your own. Though this would be a ludacris conclusion, but is that not what Jesus did for us? Not sure if I will finish the drama, but I am glad I got something out of it besides excitement. And the other video was really enlightening. Though I don't usually listen to rap, the lyrics really hit me on this one. We are God's masterpieces and yet we are such sinners and need to take up our crosses. I probably listened to that several times, then I continued to listen to his other songs haha. But what I find remarkable is what other people can present in their own creativity. God has given us each a very unique talent, and I am thankful I was able to get this out of these two videos. Though I am sure the intent behind the drama was not necessarily what I got out of it, but that's what is so cool. Anyway, battery is about to die... Rach | | |
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