The Joy of Being

Tis a path we all must travel...

Bruce Wayne played by Christian Bale

(Batman Begins)

I'm a believer that actions speak louder than words. Except, of course, when you are God. God speaks His words and they become action. He spoke "Light, be!" and light became. I speak "Pepperoni pizza with extra pepperoni, be!" and nothing happens. Hmmm....

Would to God that I could be the same! But then life would lose its factor of interest. I think the struggle to be true to oneself and to make one's actions match their person & words is one of the great struggles of life. I'm always intrigued by how my words or actions effect others. Sometime I mean my actions or words for good, but others receive it negatively. Other times (I don't MEAN for my words and actions to be negative) I'll act or speak in a way that is based on my tiredness or frustration, but miraculously others perceive and recieve goodness from it. Actually, I think it's because they are being compassionate.

It is something I think all human beings should do, having a spirit of understanding and compassion that is. There were times when I knew adults in my life were having a rough day and they acted very stressed out (perhaps from the rough day? duh...). So when they dealt with me and my co-workers or friends, their demeanor was a little...well....rough. Did I fault them for this? Did my opinion of their character fall off the Niagara Falls? Did they transform into some untouchable beast that we could never reach again?

Of course not.

They were human. In fact, seeing the people who I look up to in life (and even those younger than me) has helped me to realize that we're all in this thing called life together. And we need encourage one another along the way. Now, encouragement doesn't always come from words. Let us remember the parable of the 2 sons and the father. One said he'd go and work, but didn't. The other said he wouldn't work, but he did. Point #1?....

...sometimes we have to give people the benefit of the doubt.

The second son probably had an attitude when his father asked him to do work. "What??! Dad, why do I always have to do it? *arg*....I'm tired...can't I do it tomorrow?...no? blah blah blah" No where do we read the father getting angry or replying to the son. All we know is that later, the son did it. And Jesus justified the second son rather than the one who gave lip service. Point #2?....

....don't always judge or react to people based on their words or countenance.

They may be tired or stressed, but if they are doing and working, leave them be. I mean, can you imagine people saying to Jesus, "Boy, you look tired and stressed, Lord. You should rest more," as he was carrying the cross to Golgotha? When Jesus overturned the tables in the market because of the selling and buying, would anyone dare say, "whoa, whoa, there Jesus! Just calm down, Lord. Relax, la..."

I've seen people in churches I've been to who were such hard workers that they always looked stressed or "frantic". But they did the most extraordinary things....with love, with diligence, with a heart of worship to the Lord. Others would say to them, "Hey there, why are you so stressed? Take it easy, blah, blah, blah," and I'm sitting there thinking, "why don't you help if you're so concerned." That's why when someone looks busy, either I help or stay away...they know what they're doing. Sometimes too much help doesn't help either. Yup...learned this the hard way. So, ladies and gentlemen, what's Point #3?....

..."Doubters do not achieve, Skeptics do not contribute, Cynics do not create." - Calvin Coolidge

*sigh* So many points, so little time! The time fails me to adequately express that which I find so interesting about human nature. So, yall who are reading this, take this to the bank with you: give people the benefit of the doubt when they act out of character, when they speak out of frustration or tiredness, when their actions are doing the task at hand even though they may be stressed out, and recognize when they need a helping hand. Help not with your mouth only, but with the hand. Let your prayers and words be matched by your action and compassions...we are all under construction.

...Sore dewa, ima kara mo minna san isshouken mei ganbatte kudasai... Kami-sama ga ZEHI kuru...zehi.