A Facebook Conversation About God and Gratitude

Apologies for the formatting issues on this.  I just copied and pasted (other than taking out the names), so it's weird spacing and stuff.  Also not great grammar.  But that's not what matters, yes?   My friend and I were talking and I just thought this turned into a great conversation, so I wanted to post it.  Enjoy!

C

Hey, really random question.

L

yes

??

C

So, I know I do this when I pray, and my friend who prays does it, but I'm wondering if it's a thing even for people who don't pray. I know you're consciously grateful for things because like, duh you are a good person. Do you think about the things you're thankful for at the end of each day?

Or would you find that weird?

Also, I really hope that didn't come off as snobby or rude. Just most of my friends are Christian or don't believe in God lol so I already know how the first group goes about it.

L

I don't think that's weird at all. So, ever since my Dad died, I try to do that more actually. I regretted how ungrateful and how much I took my dad and the things we did together for granted, so when he passed I told myself 1) I'd live every day to my fullest because you never know when it will be your last (super cliche, but true) 2) Always tell your loved ones that you love them and 3) have many adventures. Things I'm still working on include being more thankful for things, even when things are rough. When things are going well I tend to be more positive, but if I'm stressed, I'm hella negative and put myself down and just end up not thinking about how good I already have it.

For a while I used to write in my journal every night 1) one positive thing about me and 2) things I'm thankful for. It's just good practice, religious or not

I'm not thanking god or anything though

it's more of a positivity and good energy exercise

C

Yeah I think it's good too, regardless of whether it's aimed at God or not. I just wanted to make sure I didn't sound like I was trying to be all high and mighty lol. I also actually used to write it down, but they were prayers. But yeah, word. Super good to do, I think.

L

yes, agreed. It def does not sound high and mighty. It's really important in my mind. You also end up learning a lot by doing it.

C

word.

I'm just brainstorming a post I want to do on things to do in order to survive every day lol and was hoping the things I write aren't only applicable to religious people, you feel me?

L

I need to start doing that agin

again*

C

yeah.

I don't write the things I'm thankful for, and I don't think of one thing I like about myself (though you're right, that's a good thing to do), but I do try to thank God for the things I'm grateful for every night. I don't go over every single thing, but the big ones. I suck at praying though lol.

L

lol that's good though

confession: I've prayed a few times in my life. But it's really only been when my grandma has been sick or if I'm worried about her. And I do pray to God.

It's a little weird. It's usually in moments where I feel I have no control

C

lol you don't have to call that a "confession." Before I started really thinking about/seeking God, I never prayed except for in times of desperation. I used to remind myself of that quote, "no one is an atheist in the fox hole" or whatever, which is kind of a cynical quote. But I don't think it's a bad thing.

L

word. It's just something most people don't know about me. And I mean. I'm not an atheist. I'm agnostic. Which basically is "God? Idk. Maybe, maybe not."

C

Yeah I feel you. Do you ever think about trying to..idk the word. Trying to find out what you feel to be true?

C

Also, this quote: And I imagine that a careful examination of all of our stories would reveal the subtle and grand gestures of a God in pursuit of us because against all odds, He loves us. And he will never stop seeking to draw our hearts to Him, though we may “wander to the ends of the world.”

Reminds me of myself because I've been such a doubter and still fall into doubt/confusion A LOT.

L

hmmm. So I guess I went through that a bit, but not so much in terms of God. Like, I feel reincarnation is to be true. But once I got older, I started to realize that it didn't matter as much. Even the things that I believe. Sure, sometimes it helps me get through certain things and definitely adds a lens to how I view the world, but in general, I focus on the here and now. I focus on learning as much as possible and experiencing as much as possible because I think that's important for personal/soul development.

C

Yeah, I agree. Although for me, I'm not religious and don't believe in God because it helps me get through life. Actually, in a lot of ways, it makes it harder, because I have such a tendency for anger, so when things go wrong it's hard for me to accept that bad things happen while also believing God is good.

It's just something I feel to be true.

L

that's cool though.

When I was younger, in my gut I used to believe there was something. Idk about God though. Especially the idea of one God. That didn't sit right with me. Then again, I also believe in the multiverse sooooooooooo yeah lol

C

lol it's so nutso. I really do think God is real. I mean, I get sooo confused as to what God is, what he looks like, what his role is, etc. But I think I've had that gut feeling forever, despite all of the horrible things I've been through, and I think that's a testament to probably the Holy Spirit and I probably should stop ignoring it, you know? Humans are great, and I think gut feelings exist for a reason. Does that make sense?? idk. And I believe the universe/space/whatever else there is is infinite, but I believe God is infinite and has infinite power.

L

kewwll

What a profound response lol

my kewlll that is

C

hahaha

good convo

L

yes! I haven't had a convo like this in a while. Last time was with Ange a couple years ago, I want to say.

C

haha yeah

I read stuff relevant to this a lot but yeah, most people don't usually want to talk about it

L

I like talking about it once in a while

I used to talk about this stuff all the time in HS and like freshman year

C

Yeah. That makes sense.

*The quote included above can originally be found here: I Bribed My Children with LEGO so I could Read this Book - Carrots for Michaelmas

__

Charlotte

The Hunger Games vs Harry Potter

I'm sure this discussion has already taken place on several blogs, but there's no such thing as too much book talk.  Right?  Right.  

I love both The Hunger Games trilogy and the Harry Potter series.  I think both are well written and have great themes.  If I were in charge of education policy in America, I'd make both mandatory reading.  Alas, I am not.  But I am in charge of this blog, so I can blather all I like about the two here.  Lucky readers!  (All three of you.) 

Anyway, instead of writing all of these in one very long post, I thought I'd break them up into a little series of posts.  I'll link each one I finish up to this post, which can be found under the "books" section on the blog.  Hopefully the first one will be up later tonight.  Get excited. 

*Disclaimer: I've only read The Hunger Games trilogy twice... I've read all of the Harry Potter books at least six times.  While it doesn't mean Harry Potter automatically wins, it probably means I can delve deeper into it.  We shall see.

Posts:

The Hunger Games vs Harry Potter: Female Characters

Daily Mug Shot 5/18/14

No mug shots 5/15-5/17 because stupid health. 

Weekling: W.2

For previous posts in this series, go here: Weeklings

Happenings 

This week knocked me out.  All that blood work I got done last week?  Well, this week I finally got the issue resolved and am gallbladder-free.  So it's a good thing, but the process sucked.  Until this week, I only had bad memories of surgeries and hospitals in general.  Lungs collapsing, excessive bleeding, bad doctors - you get the idea.  Well, this time I had a killer surgeon and wonderful nurses.  (Now that I think about it, describing a surgeon as "killer" is probably not the best idea.  Let's change that to "awesome" surgeon.)  It was still far from fun, but it was less traumatic.  Also, I wasn't allowed to eat.  Anyone who knows me is aware that I like to eat.  A lot.  So every time a nurse or doctor asked me if I had any questions, I basically just asked, "Do you know when I will be able to eat again??"  Classy.  Priorities.  To sum up the whole experience: 

So yeah.  Since I had that going on, this week was pretty slow.  The exciting things this week?  I joined this movie club thing and got four movies for a dollar.  I can't wait to watch Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, and Dumbo.  Also, the season finales of my favorite shows were all pretty awesome.  (The Mindy Project, Grey's Anatomy, and Once Upon a Time.)  I need to binge watch Cosmos. 

Oh, very important update: pulled pork quesadillas are my new favorite food.  Favorite favorite.  I want one now. 

I'm working on this post about the Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games trilogy and I just... I just want to write books.  ah.  

Speaking of books, a very exciting thing of excitedness happened this week.  The "mother's day gift" I got myself (yep) came in the mail.  Look:  

My friend Liz helped me pick it out and I've been admiring it since I got it in the mail.  I think I'm equally excited about the package it came in... is that weird?  Brown paper packages tied up with string OMG THAT IS MY FAVORITE THING.  Other than pulled pork quesadillas.  But really, it's so quaint.  Swoon. 

Thankful for

My not-killer surgeon.  And the anesthesiologist.  And everyone else who had to listen to my ridiculous questions (This air bubble in my IV won't kill me, right?  I'm not gonna wake up during surgery, right?  CAN I EAT NOW?) and answered with kindness instead of eye-rolling, which is how I would have handled myself.  

My friends Alison, Liz, Ade, and Kayce for going to the hospital and staying there for so. many. hours.  And for helping me drink ginger ale when I couldn't lift the cup up (pathetic).  And for helping me get dressed, which I wouldn't have even asked for if I wasn't heavily medicated.  And for buying me French onion soup.  Food.

The nice weather. 

Books I'm reading now

I'm still working on The Twelve Tribes of Hattie and The Great Divorce.  I've added Little Women to the mix.  

Best kid quotes - I work part time with kids, and they're hilarious.

"Wow, Charlotte, I didn't know you could make me feel better by reading Dr. Seuss to me!  It worked, even though you stutter a lot!" 

Thanks, kid.  - nine year old girl 

"How do you finish word searches so fast?  Do grown-up eyes have x-ray power?"

- seven year old boy

Random

Good Lord.

Our gallery wall just keeps growing and I love it so much.  

We get Better Homes and Garden Magazine (it came with a pair of curtains), and in one of the issues there was an article about throwing a paint party.  Of course it was real fancy-like in the magazine, but my roommate and I decided we'd have one that would be low key.  We think we're going to have it in the nearby park, but we'll see.  

To-do

Cream cheese waffle sandwiches - myrecipes.com

Small compost bin - Young House Love

Political Tours

I'm not much of a breakfast person, but I love strawberries and cream cheese, so those look like a good idea.  I feel like it's not something you only make for yourself, though, so I'm going to have to figure out a day to have my friends over for breakfast. ;)

I'm a little bit obsessed with Young House Love.  Just a little.  We don't have a yard here, but we have a small deck, and I think a compost bin like that would easily fit and could be hidden with potted plants.  

Okay, so, political tours is a long-term to-do.  I've been wanting to go on one of these for years.  They're trips to places where there are political conflicts going on, and I think it sounds really interesting. 

Also, this (I couldn't find the actual article):

Links worth looking at

Lecker: The grass-roots movement for educational equality - Stamford Advocate 

The re-segregation of American schools  - Al Jazeera 

Both of these are pieces on education.  Especially relevant looking back on Brown. 

World Under Water - WorldUnderWater.org

This website allows you to type in your address and see what your home will look like with rising sea levels.  The house I used to live in: 

It's a two-story.  Yikes.

The Mother of God and the Scandal of Flesh and Dirt - Daniel Bearman

"These Church Fathers explain that Jesus did not just appear to have a body of Flesh and bones like us. Nor was his body created out of thin air. Instead, Jesus took flesh from Mary to form his body. Even more scandalous than the idea of God becoming flesh was this idea that his flesh came from a woman. This was a kind of reversal of the creation of men in the garden where the flesh for Eve was taken from Adam. Now, the flesh for the new Adam, Jesus, was taken from the new Eve, Mary." 

I've never thought all that deeply about this, so I really enjoyed the post. 

Why You Should Appreciate Being Told to Check Your Privilege  - Eric Krupke

"If you claim to be an ally, or someone committed to ending oppression, you should consider being asked to check your privilege an effort to better your activism. It’s not a personal attack, and it’s certainly not a request to apologize for your position of privilege, which you did not choose and have no control over. It’s a helpful appeal to reexamine your place in the fight to end oppression, which is often to do less talking and more listening."

Yes.

Heaven Changes Everything - Homecoming  - Pray for Ben Sauer 

Last week, I included a link to this blog.  This little boy, Ben, passed away on the 13th, and I really don't know what to say about his mom's blog other than I wish I could think the way she does.  Everything I've read on there has been amazing, even the heartbreaking stuff. 

Glenn Greenwald: from Martin Luther King to Anonymous, the state targets dissenters not just "bad guys" - The Guardian

"The opportunity those in power have to characterise political opponents as "national security threats" or even "terrorists" has repeatedly proven irresistible. In the past decade, the government, in an echo of Hoover's FBI, has formally so designated environmental activists, broad swaths of anti-government rightwing groups, anti-war activists, and associations organised around Palestinian rights. Some individuals within those broad categories may deserve the designation, but undoubtedly most do not, guilty only of holding opposing political views. Yet such groups are routinely targeted for surveillance by the NSA and its partners."

There's no excuse for government overreach. 

Do You Agree About These Motivations of the Upholder, Questioner, Rebel, and Obliger? - The Happiness Project

There's really nothing monumentally important about this link, it's just a bit interesting. 

Invisible Double Dutch  - Jimmy Fallon 

Skip to 1:40.  This looks like so much fun.  

Overcoming Fear  - House Unseen 

"In the face of my fears, the Church, in her timeless wisdom, in all her beautiful knowing, throws this fact: I am called, obligated, to use MY talents, too.  No matter how nervous I am to share them with all of you or how ashamed I'm sure I'll feel the first time I'm turned down, I realize now that I have to do it anyway." 

I needed to read this, and I'd recommend it to basically anyone. 

Bible action 

The book of Jonah.

Bonus

 That's all I got.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday :)

__
Charlotte

Daily Mug Shot 5/14/14

I love my part time job.

Daily Mug Shot 5/13/14

5/13/14 (LATE) - Better Homes and Garden 

A Simple Way to Mitigate Some of the Problems of Adulthood

My friend Stephanie and I were roommates for our last two years in college.  We were suitemates a year before that.  We graduated, she moved to the south for nursing school, I moved to another apartment.  We went from talking every day to talking maybe once a month.  That’s no fun. 

It’s pretty common, though.  Most of my friends agree that one of the hardest things about becoming adults is maintaining friendships with the people you’ve grown close to over the years.  It’s one thing to grow apart from a friend, realizing you’re just not as interested in being friends as you used to be.  It’s another to never see your closest friends, to only ever hear their voices when you reach their voicemail.  (Phone tag.  We are never near our phones or able to talk at the same time.  Grrrrr.)

So then what?  Facebook.  It’s good for knowing when to congratulate a friend on some achievement.  “Hey, a picture of you receiving an award popped up on my newsfeed.  Congrats!”  “Whoa, you’re engaged?!  Wait… you’ve been engaged for three months now?” 

Yikes. 

So that’s one main struggle of being (sort of) an adult. 

Another?  Bills.  All of the bills.  I swear, there is at least one bill in my mailbox every day.  Copayment for this doctor visit, electricity went up, student loans.  You get the idea.  It’s so stressful.  Every day, this happens:

I was talking to a friend the other day about mail – how when we were younger, we would run to the mailbox hoping there would be something with our names in there.  

You may be thinking, “What would a kid get in the mail??”

I’ll tell you.  This, my friends: 

 

THIS.

Reasonable or not, running to the mailbox was exciting as a kid.  When you saw nothing with your name on it, you were disappointed. 

Well, that’s changed.  I avoid my mailbox like the plague.  If I pass it and there’s stuff in it, I pray that it’s for my roommate.  (Sorry, roommate, for wishing bills from hell on you.)  Retrieving the mail is just no fun anymore.

But guys, there’s a way to fix this problem AND the long distance friendship problem AT THE SAME TIME. 

PEN. PALS. 

I think Stephanie thought I was kidding when I first asked if we could just be pen pals from now on.  I was sick of calling her, getting voicemail, seeing a few hours later that I missed her call back, and then repeating that.  It’s like that God awful gym game from elementary school: never-ending tag.  Oh how I hated that game. 

But once we went back and forth, Steph was all, “this is fun!”  And I was surprised that we both stayed on top of it (at least for the most part). 

The first pay off of being pen pals is that you get to talk again.  When it’s a phone call, IF you ever actually achieve such a thing, it’s usually a limited amount of time.  Not so with a letter.  We talk about funny things: I was elected to the board of this club!  I’m so proud.  I mean, sure it was uncontested, but whatever.  We vent about stressful things:  Dude, I’m having job problems.  We think about what the future will look like:  Hey, maybe we’ll end up being neighbors!  (I hope so!)  Of course nothing is as good as actually physically being with friends, but getting to write long letters in which you can cover ALL OF THE THINGS is pretty nice. 

The second wonderful thing about having pen pals?  Retrieving the mail isn’t so depressing anymore!  Oh sure, there’s hundreds of dollars worth of bills in that box, but – but! – there’s also the exciting prospect of getting a letter from your friend.  (And let me tell you, even the more serious letters can brighten your day.)

So no, I don’t know how to solve all the problems of adulthood…

“Income taxes?  You’re taking a third of my income?!  When GE doesn’t pay anything?!”

“Wait, so like, when did walking up the stairs become a strenuous activity?”

“What’s transmission fluid?  More money?  Isn’t an oil change enough?!”

“Do I need to get out of bed… and make breakfast… and put clothes on?  Ugh.”

But, having a pen pal is a way-fun solution to the “We never talk anymore!” and “Oh my God, will I ever get a piece of mail that isn’t an advertisement or a bill again?!  EVER?” problems.  

Me and Steph

__

Charlotte