It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”
It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.
-Oriah
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
All you need is love?
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love.
Oh, the Beatles. Such philosophers! This song does bring up some good questions, though. Is love really all we need? In what sense? And is it enough for a relationship? I think that we do need love, but in many forms: love for life, love for something we do in life- a hobby, our work, our religion, mutual love between friends and family, and the unconditional love of those closest few. As for in a relationship, I have grown away from this idea of one true soul mate. I just think that love works differently for everyone. I also believe that choosing to be or not be in a relationship with someone, as a friend or romantically, is a reflection of what you want from your life as well as a reflection of your feelings towards that person in particular. For example, there are people that I like or even love, and without doubt wish them the best in life. However, I choose not to spend time with them because their paths are so different from mine or because their personalities bring me down rather than up. (Think that ex- bestie from middle school. I still truly care about her, but I can't help her to fix her problems if she doesn't want them to be fixed, so I just have to distance myself for my own mental health.) As for romantic relationships- sacrificing for love sounds so romantic in the movies, but how much should one sacrifice for a person they love before they sacrifice too much of what makes them, well, them?
"Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be." -I'm not sure I buy that. Is that just optimism? Or is it that pre-destination idea so that it doesn't really matter what you do, it's all just God's plan unfolding? If we regret something, wouldn't that mean we weren't where we were meant to be? The things that I regret, and they aren't big things, but they were times I know I wasn't being true to myself- that I wasn't acting as the person I want to be. I've learned more from those times then the average day of routine, that's for sure. So is that full circle, and that's why I was meant to be there?
Can we be where we're not meant to be? And what is "meant to be"? What love do we need? What are your thoughts???
-Meg
What are your thoughts everyone?
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love.
Oh, the Beatles. Such philosophers! This song does bring up some good questions, though. Is love really all we need? In what sense? And is it enough for a relationship? I think that we do need love, but in many forms: love for life, love for something we do in life- a hobby, our work, our religion, mutual love between friends and family, and the unconditional love of those closest few. As for in a relationship, I have grown away from this idea of one true soul mate. I just think that love works differently for everyone. I also believe that choosing to be or not be in a relationship with someone, as a friend or romantically, is a reflection of what you want from your life as well as a reflection of your feelings towards that person in particular. For example, there are people that I like or even love, and without doubt wish them the best in life. However, I choose not to spend time with them because their paths are so different from mine or because their personalities bring me down rather than up. (Think that ex- bestie from middle school. I still truly care about her, but I can't help her to fix her problems if she doesn't want them to be fixed, so I just have to distance myself for my own mental health.) As for romantic relationships- sacrificing for love sounds so romantic in the movies, but how much should one sacrifice for a person they love before they sacrifice too much of what makes them, well, them?
"Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be." -I'm not sure I buy that. Is that just optimism? Or is it that pre-destination idea so that it doesn't really matter what you do, it's all just God's plan unfolding? If we regret something, wouldn't that mean we weren't where we were meant to be? The things that I regret, and they aren't big things, but they were times I know I wasn't being true to myself- that I wasn't acting as the person I want to be. I've learned more from those times then the average day of routine, that's for sure. So is that full circle, and that's why I was meant to be there?
Can we be where we're not meant to be? And what is "meant to be"? What love do we need? What are your thoughts???
-Meg
What are your thoughts everyone?
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Why is there suffering?
I very much enjoy anthropology and like most, find myself watching people in public, noting behaviors and listening to the conversations of others. One of my favorite ways to study popular thinking of others is to Google common phrases. If you enter the beginning of a phrase or question in the Google search bar, it will pull up the top searched items starting with that phrase. Here are some interesting search topics that your fellow human beings are pondering about...
Why do...
...men have nipples?
...dogs eat grass?
...dogs eat poop?
...cats purr?
...cats knead?
...men cheat?
...my eyes twitch?
...we dream?
...we yawn?
...mosquito bites itch?
What are...
...the symptoms of swine flu?
...the primary colors?
...seven deadly sins?
...capers?
...michael jackson's kid's names?
...the seven wonders of the world?
...carbohydrates?
...hemroids?
...these strawberries doing on my nipples I need them for the fruit salad
How to...
...tie a tie
...kiss
...get pregnant
...lose weight
...make a website
...lose weight fast
...solve a rubix cube
...write a resume
...draw
...get rid of stretch marks
One of the most popular searches was "why do we suffer?". There was an array of explanations, several of religious foundation, including one that prompted my response.
The authored explained:
"Indeed the question is often asked, "Why does a loving God allow anyone to suffer?" This tract seeks to answer these questions.
Psalm 119:67 is applicable to believer and unbeliever. It says, "Before I was afflicted I went astray..." Often God uses suffering to draw the unbeliever to Himself."
I am confused by this statement and disagree because it seems to give God a egotistical trait of mortal human nature. I also find it disturbing that God would cause people to suffer for this reason. I believe suffering exists for as many reasons as there are types of suffering. However, I do not think it needs to exist nor is it caused on purpose.
The author goes on to state "Paul the Apostle suffered greatly in his life and yet he could say, "we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Perseverance, character and hope are all qualities which the Christian wants. We must accept that suffering is one method the Lord uses to build these. When we endure suffering we also give strong evidence that our faith is genuine (1 Peter 1:6,7)."
I do see the reasoning in this explanation, as those character attributes are very valuable. This is an optimistic way to view suffering, finding the rainbow in the thunderstorm. However, there exist other means and experiences by which people can develop character. Instead of learning to persevere through dealing with the loss of a loved one, one could learn perseverance by achieving a hard goal such as climbing a mountain.
Addition explanations of the purpose of suffering:
-We suffer now to later help others that suffer; "...when we are going through some sort of suffering or trial, we often feel that others do not understand, but when we hear words of comfort from someone who has been through the same circumstances, it is more comforting and easier to accept..."
-Suffering is a result of sin; Hebrews 12:7 says, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" I agree there is universal karma.
-We suffer because Christ suffered; "In 3:10, Paul says, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death...."
This brings to light the argument of original sin. I believe that a newborn baby is guilty of nothing that has passed, except perhaps morning sickness and back pain. Would Jesus want us to suffer as he did? Hang on a cross by nails? Be persecuted? Would you want others to suffer as you have with the intent of strengthening your relationship?
"...In verse 75 we read, "in faithfulness you have afflicted me." We can be sure that the Lord will do those things that are ultimately good and correct...Sometimes we may suffer for reasons that will not be apparent until we reach heaven. Yet when we get there we shall surely say, "It was good for me to be afflicted.""
Could it be possible that God does not control everything? That tragedy could occur, unpredicted, with no plausible explanation?
Is it scarier to believe that no one has control?
Why do...
...men have nipples?
...dogs eat grass?
...dogs eat poop?
...cats purr?
...cats knead?
...men cheat?
...my eyes twitch?
...we dream?
...we yawn?
...mosquito bites itch?
What are...
...the symptoms of swine flu?
...the primary colors?
...seven deadly sins?
...capers?
...michael jackson's kid's names?
...the seven wonders of the world?
...carbohydrates?
...hemroids?
...these strawberries doing on my nipples I need them for the fruit salad
How to...
...tie a tie
...kiss
...get pregnant
...lose weight
...make a website
...lose weight fast
...solve a rubix cube
...write a resume
...draw
...get rid of stretch marks
One of the most popular searches was "why do we suffer?". There was an array of explanations, several of religious foundation, including one that prompted my response.
The authored explained:
"Indeed the question is often asked, "Why does a loving God allow anyone to suffer?" This tract seeks to answer these questions.
Psalm 119:67 is applicable to believer and unbeliever. It says, "Before I was afflicted I went astray..." Often God uses suffering to draw the unbeliever to Himself."
I am confused by this statement and disagree because it seems to give God a egotistical trait of mortal human nature. I also find it disturbing that God would cause people to suffer for this reason. I believe suffering exists for as many reasons as there are types of suffering. However, I do not think it needs to exist nor is it caused on purpose.
The author goes on to state "Paul the Apostle suffered greatly in his life and yet he could say, "we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Perseverance, character and hope are all qualities which the Christian wants. We must accept that suffering is one method the Lord uses to build these. When we endure suffering we also give strong evidence that our faith is genuine (1 Peter 1:6,7)."
I do see the reasoning in this explanation, as those character attributes are very valuable. This is an optimistic way to view suffering, finding the rainbow in the thunderstorm. However, there exist other means and experiences by which people can develop character. Instead of learning to persevere through dealing with the loss of a loved one, one could learn perseverance by achieving a hard goal such as climbing a mountain.
Addition explanations of the purpose of suffering:
-We suffer now to later help others that suffer; "...when we are going through some sort of suffering or trial, we often feel that others do not understand, but when we hear words of comfort from someone who has been through the same circumstances, it is more comforting and easier to accept..."
-Suffering is a result of sin; Hebrews 12:7 says, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" I agree there is universal karma.
-We suffer because Christ suffered; "In 3:10, Paul says, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death...."
This brings to light the argument of original sin. I believe that a newborn baby is guilty of nothing that has passed, except perhaps morning sickness and back pain. Would Jesus want us to suffer as he did? Hang on a cross by nails? Be persecuted? Would you want others to suffer as you have with the intent of strengthening your relationship?
"...In verse 75 we read, "in faithfulness you have afflicted me." We can be sure that the Lord will do those things that are ultimately good and correct...Sometimes we may suffer for reasons that will not be apparent until we reach heaven. Yet when we get there we shall surely say, "It was good for me to be afflicted.""
Could it be possible that God does not control everything? That tragedy could occur, unpredicted, with no plausible explanation?
Is it scarier to believe that no one has control?
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