Two weeks ago, I was sitting in a park with my roommate Autumn. Fall was coming and we could feel wind in the air. Time was moving and she felt the absence of comforts back at home. As the holiday seasons roll in, she feels anxiety dwelling in her bones. She cries. Then, she sits down and asks me with a serious face: “Should I move back home?” One day lies ahead until she is locked in for the schoolyear. She misses her friends, family, and things back in Colorado. I told her: “Its your decicion”. Right now, “you are living in a place where God will nourish you”. She came to learn about God in order to spread his word. But before the typical “spread the word of God” speech, I involved a book called “Rediscover Jesus” by Matthew Kelly. One thing stood out to me; …show more content…
Nobody is perfect, I thought to myself. Then I went on to explain the first chapter to her. It details Jesus’ radical lifestyle. He performed miracles confidently, with extravagance. Nothing he did was mainstream. The Son of God lives with no place to sleep, eat, or drink. After childhood, no home is documented for Jesus. He travelled the hot desserts and biting cities. The radical ways of Jesus allowed him to live in the unpredictable nature of this world. I told autumn this unfamiliar feeling is okay. Learning to live in a new place will mean leaving things behind. I think of a song with the lyrics: “I am not the only traveler whom has not repaid his debt. I’ve been searching for a trail to follow. Take me back to the night we met”. She is the traveler whom has taken great comfort out of this world. She is looking for direction in me. However when night rolls over, it is God that lights within her. I thought about Autumn with these lyrics in that “suffering is when we become strong servants of the Lord”. Sometimes we need to repay our debt to the world. We can take so much out of it and forget our paths. Suffering brings us on paths anew. For once I was driving in my car listening to 89.7.
Donald Kraybill’s The Upside-Down Kingdom does a wonderful job explaining the realities of Jesus’ life and teachings. Kraybill examines the literary text of bible and adds the historical and religious facts of that time to further show the true context behind the life of Jesus. Kraybill takes the teachings of Jesus and brings to light the importance of the political and social climate. Kraybill reveals that Jesus’ teachings directly correlated to the social conditions of his time. He addresses how the teachings of Jesus were directly influenced by the economic, political, and religious struggles that the people of Jesus’ time faced. Throughout the book Kraybill explores the ideas of Jesus, and examines the facts that Jesus’
>>>>>In "The Enormous Radio" and "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas," a question about suffering is raised. When
And indeed, suffering, lack of safety, is unavoidable, and also necessary for some things. "When I was downstairs before, on my way here, listening to that woman sing, it struck me all of a sudden how much suffering she must have had to go through. It's repulsive to think you have to suffer that much" (65). But we do. Everyone does. In fact, "There's no way not to suffer" (65). We are never safe from it.
those icy climes. Inspirited by this wind of promise, my day dreams become more fervent
...m all the materialism in the world. Being apart from all of the materialistic needs helped him focus and relax his mind to what was needed to be focused on which was to reach enlightenment and inner peace.
Like himself, Jesus was known as an extremist yet his actions were, and continue to be admired in society. King strengthens his argument regarding extremism by stating, “Was not Jesus an extremist for love…” (214). He is regarded as one of the most influential individuals in society, yet he pursued his actions in the same type of manner as King. Like King, Jesus Christ was motivated by, “love, truth, and goodness…” (214). King is able to defend his own actions and appeal to his audience by relating his civil disobedient acts to a well admired biblical
...e, of- ten not immediately made clear to the sufferer, but still effective in advancing missio Dei. In the book of Job, knowledge of his suffering spread throughout the Near East, brought "wise men" to his side, drew curious onlookers to witness his debates with the three friends, and ultimately resulted in a witness of his relationship with the Lord (Waters 33). Therefore, we can use our suffering experiences as a means for drawing people to Christ.
Suffering is one of the things that make us human, it is what lets us enjoy the good times and thank God for them. Because it is though suffering and trials of life that ...
The fall of 2007 dawned chilly and crisp, and stayed that way. The wind whistled through the thick forest that surrounded the house,
It was finally fall break. I was visiting my grandma for a few days. Well past dinnertime, I pulled up to the white stately home in northern rural Iowa. I parked my car, unloaded my bag and pillow, and crunched through the leaves to the front porch. The porch was just how I had seen it last; to the right, a small iron table and chairs, along with an old antique brass pole lamp, and on the left, a flowered glider that I have spent many a summer afternoon on, swaying back and forth, just thinking.
lower world and in the world above when it is wrapped in darkness . . . . She was
Loving people unconditionally was another aspect of Jesus’ worship lifestyle. The Gospels depict countless examples of Jesus interacting with people. Every interaction was filled with love. He met people’s needs when he healed the sick and the blind and the dumb. He met the needs of the hungry thousands. The marginalized of society were always on His mind. From the women to the children, the aliens and the outcasts, He was a...
We all remember these grey gloomy days filled with a feeling of despair that saddens the heart from top to bottom. Even though, there may be joy in one’s heart, the atmosphere turns the soul cold and inert. Autumn is the nest of this particular type of days despite its hidden beauty. The sun seems foreign, and the nights are darker than usual enveloped by a thrill that generates chills to travel through the spine leaving you with a feeling of insecurity. Nevertheless, the thinnest of light will always shine through the deepest darkness; in fact, darkness amplifies the beauty and intensity of a sparkle. There I found myself trapped within the four walls of my house, all alone, surrounded by the viscosity of this type of day. I could hear some horrifying voices going through my mind led by unappealing suicidal thought. Boredom had me encaged, completely at its mercy. I needed to go far away, and escape from this morbid house which was wearing me down to the grave. Hope was purely what I was seeking in the middle of the city. Outside, the air was heavy. No beautifully rounded clouds, nor sunrays where available to be admired through the thick grey coat formed by the mist embedded in the streets. Though, I felt quite relieved to notice that I was not alone to feel that emptiness inside myself as I was trying to engage merchant who shown similar “symptoms” of my condition. The atmosphere definitely had a contagious effect spreading through the hearts of every pedestrian that day. Very quickly, what seemed to be comforting me at first, turned out to be deepening me in solitude. In the city park, walking ahead of me, I saw a little boy who had long hair attached with a black bandana.
...in (A Girl in Winter, 128). While she walks around by the fields, she tries to warn herself concerning the ends this desire might lead to.
The darkness creeps through my curtains. Cool morning air laced with cinnamon and chocolate flow from the kitchen into my bedroom, and I can feel the seasons change as excitement for autumn wells inside me. The crisp morning mist coupled with the Ackee tree in my yard that sways in the tropical breeze wrap around me like a mother's hug, making me feel safe and loved. I love September, it's always been my favorite month.