So much easier to ignore

It's so much easier to just ignore, and not bother, when someone does something wrong.
It's a lot easier to let it be, focus on something else, and not risk the camaraderie.

But that is superficial.
When deep down, I know that it isn't right,
When deep down, I'm cowardly to not try changing it.

Hate isn't the opposite of love.
Ignorance is.

Acting like how that person is doesn't matter is the opposite of love.

Of course, there are important matters, and less important matters.
But are you sure that this issue isn't important?

A relationship is only as deep as the level of honesty.

**

It's so much easier to ignore God and all that spiritual 'fluff' too.
But I find myself being very dishonest and superficial with myself whenever I do that, when my thoughts are focused on people and things around. All of which, will eventually die.

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8

Hunger Games

A decent movie I think.
Although friends said that the book has a lot more depth and emotion than the movie, which focused more on the action (no surprise there!).
It has the theme of sacrifice and love, as well as the oppression/big-brother government.

What struck me was the evil-ness of the Capital.
I thought that the setting just wasn't realistic. I can imagine worlds with magic (harry potter! LOTR!) and weird worlds. But a nation where the large population accepts killing as a game show? Surely people will never do that.

And then I thought about the oppression in the Middle-east, and in the past, China, and North Korea, and the Roman Colloseum.. And realized that some degree of it is already working.
And while I grumble about study/work, people, and slight annoyance unfairness within group work, I am childish compared to being oppressed as a woman in the Middle East, or excessive work/bullying/unfairness in North Korea.



Perspective.

All the same

still feeling regretful and pessimistic at this time.
sigh.

Begin with the end in mind

Stumbled upon this, a helpful reminder.

Nurse reveals the top 5 regrets people make on their deathbed | Caroline Nettle 's Empower Network... For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality

I came back to this blog to read one of my favourite quotes.
I must caveat that joy and happiness are two different things.

**

I disagree with the popular statement "Love others, and others will love you".
I think that because God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. And love isn't just a feeling, it entails actions for nurturing the relationship.

1 John 4:9-11 says "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

**

Thankful and hopeful.

**

I liked an excerpt from "You Never Marry the Right Person"

The reason that marriage is so painful and yet wonderful is because it is a reflection of the Gospel, which is painful and wonderful at once. The Gospel is—we are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared to believe, and at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. This is the only kind of relationship that will really transform us. Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it. God’s saving love in Christ, however, is marked by both radical truthfulness about who we are and yet also radical, unconditional commitment to us. The merciful commitment strengthens us to see the truth about ourselves and repent. The conviction and repentance moves us to cling to and rest in God’s mercy and grace.

**

Oh yea, hello blog!

Not saying anything at all

Is sometimes worse than being blunt.

Destiny

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

Excerpt from As a Man Thinks by James Allen

Let a man radically alter his thoughts, and he will be astonished at the rapid transformation it will effect in the material conditions of his life.


Men imagine that thought can be kept secret, but it cannot; it rapidly crystallizes into habit, and habit solidifies into circumstance. Bestial thoughts crystallize into habits of drunkenness and sensuality, which solidify into circumstances of destitution and disease: impure thoughts of every kind crystallize into enervating and confusing habits, which solidify into distracting and adverse circumstances: thoughts of fear, doubt, and indecision crystallize into weak, unmanly, and irresolute habits, which solidify into circumstances of failure, indigence, and slavish dependence: lazy thoughts crystallize into habits of uncleanliness and dishonesty, which solidify into circumstances of foulness and beggary: hateful and condemnatory thoughts crystallize into habits of accusation and violence, which solidify into circumstances of injury and persecution: selfish thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of self-seeking, which solidify into circumstances more or less distressing.


On the other hand, beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances: pure thoughts crystallize into habits of temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of repose and peace: thoughts of courage, self-reliance, and decision crystallize into manly habits, which solidify into circumstances of success, plenty, and freedom: energetic thoughts crystallize into habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into circumstances of pleasantness: gentle and forgiving thoughts crystallize into habits of gentleness, which solidify into protective and preservative circumstances: loving and unselfish thoughts crystallize into habits of self-forgetfulness for others, which solidify into circumstances of sure and abiding prosperity and true riches.


A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.

Circle

The next worst thing to things getting worse, is getting stuck.
Well, technically the longer we're stuck, the harder it is to get out of it. So in that sense, things are getting worse.

I thought I moved forward. But then, I regressed.

Now I NEED to move forward again. Hopefully by two steps. Or at least 1.5, or maybe 1.1 steps.

On side note, I hate performing terribly in exams despite what I thought was full preparation for it. Luckily, it's a redeemable exam.

Now press on towards taking 1.1 steps forward!