September 11, 2006
As I was sitting in my Interpersonal Communications class today, the thought popped in my head. “Why in the world are we still here? Why has God not completely wiped the United States off the face of the planet?” But, I’m getting ahead of myself.
While it began innocently enough, Interpersonal Communications has quickly escalated from “The Science of Communication” to “Existentialist Tolerance 101.” The last two class periods have been spent defining and discussing “cultural perception” and how it can lead to stereotypes and prejudice. Ok, that’s fine. I agree with that. When I see people from other cultures, I judge them according to the standards and norms of my culture and vice versa. And that can lead to misunderstandings between different cultures. Sure.
It got weird when she oh-so-subtly transitioned from “culture” to “beliefs” over the course of a class period and a half. I didn’t even notice what was going on until she had already hooked me. I just looked up all of the sudden, and was like, “How the heck did we get here?!” But, all that to say, she was very tactfully and cleverly saying how our beliefs and “perception of reality” shape our thinking and can make us close-minded to other people’s “perception of reality.” “What is reality, anyways? It is what we perceive it to be.” she said at one point. She had moved the lecture to that point so skillfully, that I almost didn’t even notice what she had said.
Of course, most of the people in the class agreed with what she was saying, and they were throwing out examples and their own two cents to that extent. Subjectivity. Relativity. The religion of the United States. You can believe anything you want as long as it doesn’t keep me from believing what I want. Who cares what is actually true. We should embrace all beliefs and lifestyles. I’m sorry if you believe that a fetus is a child, but I don’t believe that, so I’ll have an abortion.
And that’s really the point where I really thought, How have we, as a nation, lasted this long? When the government assists in the murder of millions of unborn children every year. When we not only allow, but embrace, encourage and protect homosexuality. When people’s feelings and freedom are more important than the truth. The truth is an inconvenience. We have done everything that we can to exile God from our country. Yet, though we have declined to this point, through the incomprehensible grace of God, we still thrive. We have attacked God on all fronts, yet still He blesses us. His grace and love exceed anything that any of us could ever even conceive.
Thank God.
Posted in Personal | American Culture | College | Philosophy | Religion | Tolerance
August 21, 2006
Off to school I go.
Well, actually, I’m already at school. I’m in class, listening to this professor tell me the same things that I have already or will soon hear from each of my other professors. Course overviews, required textbooks, grading policies, and the obligatory threat against cheating. The consequences of cheating, by the way, have escalated from the slap on the wrist and possible “F” in the class of yesteryear to a slap on the wrist, instant “F”, rejection of your friends and classmates, and utter expulsion from your school, higher education in general, and society as a whole. They are kind enough, though, to provide you with a complimentary plane ticket departing from “DFW International Airport,” and arriving an hour and twenty minutes later in “Exile.” No peanuts, though.
I thought I’d make better use of my time by posting for the first time in a week or so. Today marks the end of Summer. In fact, it’s the end of my final Summer. Since I’m graduating in May, next Summer will be like any other time of the year. At least from a schedule standpoint. Not a complaint by any means, but it does mean something of a spiritual death of a prized time in any student’s mind.
Unfortunately, this Summer was extremely frustrating, and I felt that it was a monumental waste of time. I quit Starbucks in April so that I could devote all of my time to this new job with the “start-up” Eidon. As it turned out, though. Eidon had hardly enough work for one person, let alone all three of us. What this meant was lots and lots of time off. That’s usually not a bad thing at all, but when you don’t get paid when you don’t work, it’s not so great. On average, I worked two days every two weeks or so. Sure, I get paid really well for the work that I do, but that’s only when I actually work. So, working an average of one day a week (if that) all Summer meant that I was also broke all Summer. Only in the past month or so have I had any real expendible cash. For most of the first two months of Summer, I couldn’t even afford gas to go to work, let alone anywhere else I wanted to go.
But, I hate being negative, and this Summer did have some really great times. I spent lots of time with friends new and old. Took a few trips (most of the on business). Spent some quality time with various video games. But, mostly, I sat at home trying desparately to find something productive to do. And if, on the off chance that I actually did find something productive to do, I was rarely motivated to actually do it. All in all, while it could have been much, much worse, it was certainly not the best Summer I’ve had (that would probably be last Summer)
So, farewell, Summer. We may not have ended on the highest of notes, but we did have some great times. And, who knows? Maybe we’ll bump into each other again in passing. For now, Summer, I bid you adieu.
So, why is it still so friggin’ hot?!
Posted in Personal | College | Disappointment | Finances | Frustration | Regret | Work
June 14, 2006
Is it a sin to wish that school had already started again?
I hope not.
Posted in Personal | Anticipation | College | Summer
